For a man who has spent so much of his life in the shadows, the glare of the international spotlight must feel blindingly bright to Christopher Steele.

The 52-year-old, who is believed to have compiled the now-infamous dossier that alleged Russia possesses lurid material that could be used to blackmail a certain Donald Trump, has spent much of the new year in hiding, but will know that his work – and, indeed, his life – has been thrust on to the most global of stages.

So too has his industry. A former MI6 spy who founded his own intelligence company upon leaving public service, Mr Steele is one of many former spooks who have decided to put their considerable skills to use in the private sector.

By its very nature, the “intelligence” industry is a secretive one. What we do know, though, is that it is thriving – at least in terms of the numbers of companies providing these services. More and more agencies are springing up, creating a market that is both growing and increasingly competitive.