Simon Holden

Simon Holden is the Founder of SafeHire.ai, an AI-powered safer recruitment platform helping schools and organisations detect hiring risks that traditional background checks can miss. SafeHire.ai brings modern digital safeguarding into recruitment, combining AI-driven insight with practical decision support, including the ability to surface relevant publicly available signals from the open, deep and dark web, so organisations can hire with confidence.

With experience as Director of Operations in two independent schools and 21 years as an Army Officer, Simon understands first-hand how safeguarding, compliance and operational risk collide in high-responsibility environments. He also leads CyBur Ltd (Cyber for Bursars), supporting independent schools and charities to strengthen cyber resilience.

Simon is active in education governance and community leadership. He is a trustee and committee chair within a Multi-Academy Trust, a trustee at a gymnastics centre of excellence, a parish councillor, and a mentor. He is passionate about making AI and cybersecurity practical, affordable safeguarding tools that protect communities without adding complexity.