In the wake of Animal Rising's Saturday protest at the Grand National and yesterday's disruption of the World Snooker Championship by Just Stop Oil, security experts in Gloucestershire say their work has shifted up a gear – and they are consequently seeking to put more boots on the ground.

Glevum Security, based in Quedgeley, said risks are now coming "from all angles" and businesses it works with across the county are shifting their attitude towards security as a preventative investment, instead of an after-the-event reaction.

Glevum's call for "several" more staff for CCTV and patrol work comes as the Cotswolds' globally viewed equestrian event, Badminton Horse Trials, is just a fortnight away. 

A key sponsor for the event is oil giant BP's solar tech arm Lightsource, while pick-up makers Isuzu also sponsor the show and equipment is loaned from affiliate Hartpury College and Cirencester-based tractor suppliers Lister Wilder.

The event offers self-furnish show space for businesses at a rate of £62.77 per square metre (plus VAT), although enquiries from Punchline drew no comment on whether space remains – or whether the event is now heightening its security cordon.

However, a Gloucestershire-based animal protestor, who has asked not to be named, has told Punchline that the huge equestrian event is "a likely platform" for protest and interference. 

In the light of past horse deaths at Badminton and January's suspension of Olympic showjumper Paul Estermann, following a proven case of cruelty in Switzerland, he said attitudes to horses being used in sport are changing.

He said: "When you look at this being an event where animals are forced to perform against their will, and the fact that fox hunting, with the integral display of the Duke of Beaufort's hunt, Badminton's event could well be a likely platform for people seeking to protest and change public perception."

Glevum Security said business is getting wiser to the methods of protecting its premises and staff - essentially by budgeting in advance.

Derek Martin, manager, said: "Risks are coming from all angles now. In the wake of high-level protests such as in racing and snooker, we are finding businesses are thinking about the security – and not just of their premises but also their staff.

"We operate a 24/7 control room and of late there has been an uplift in CCTV monitoring activity which has also led to an increase in mobile response callouts."

As a direct consequence of increasing demand, he said, Glevum is actively seeking to take on more Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensed employees.

He added: "We employ around 50 people but this is rising as we are looking for more of the right people because of increasing demand – businesses and events perhaps saw security as a 'grudge' purchase, but as we saw at Aintree, an investment in prevention, rather than chasing after the problem has occurred with deterrence, is key. By prevention and risk assessment, you avoid mayhem."