Escort is not just flying near someone and hoping nothing happens. Done properly, it is one of the more demanding things you can do in this game.
Good escort work comes down to a few things. First, positioning — you need to be close enough to respond but not so close that a single engagement catches both of you. Second, communication — the person you are protecting needs to know what you are seeing and what you are doing. Silence is a liability. Third, threat prioritisation — when multiple contacts appear, you need to decide quickly who is the immediate problem and who can wait.
The instinct to chase is one of the biggest mistakes escort pilots make. Your job is protection, not pursuit. If breaking off to chase a fleeing ship leaves your principal exposed, you have failed the contract regardless of whether you got the kill.
VYPR operatives drill this. It does not come naturally to everyone, but it is a learnable skill.