Corporate Vision December 2017

30 CORPORATE VISION / December 2017 , Magenta Security provides high quality, bespoke security solutions to clients within the retail, healthcare and commercial sectors across the UK. Recently, Managing Director forMagenta Security, Abbey Petkar took time to tell us more about his role and the innovative work provided by the successful company. Security Services Tailored to You Magenta Security provides high quality, bespoke security solutions to clients within the retail, healthcare and commercial sectors across the UK. With our head office in Hounslow, we also have operations in Birmingham, Kent, Swindon and Manchester. Our tailor-made security packages are devised to suit client’s individual requirements, and our service-based ethos ensures high levels of customer satisfaction. On the topic of services, Magenta Security provides security officers, mobile services, as well as a range of bespoke security solutions. In addition to these services, our partnerships with external suppliers means we can provide a variety of additional services. Also, we hold ACS accreditation for security guarding, keyholding services and door supervision. Magenta has grown 20% year on year by retaining existing customers, providing new services and winning new customers. However, this is just one of our headline statistics. Gross profit has increased 2% year on year. Magenta has a five-year growth plan which is based on the company growing organically. This will primarily focus on winning contracts for the operation of further sites for existing customers, and investing in marketing to help win new business. As Managing Director of Magenta Security, I established Magenta Security Services with one security officer and one customer more than 22 years ago. Today, it is an award- winning company which is recognised as a leader in its field. Before setting up Magenta, I spent eight years at one of the UK’s largest security firms, rising from the role of security guard to middle management. However, I was unable to progress any further. Instead, I set up Magenta, providing me with an opportunity where I could make a real difference to the industry. People would be hired and promoted on merit - regardless of colour or gender, we would be CSR focused and deliver great value for customers. Ethics were also a key factor in the founding of Magenta, which is why I didn’t take any clients from my old role and built the business from scratch. Throughout the years, I have worked hard – some might even say crusaded - to change the perception of the security industry through market leading initiatives. One of these was the publication of a whitepaper which offers businesses advice on selecting a security provider. ‘Managing Your Security’ looks at the key criteria businesses should consider when looking at a security provider including licensing, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and customer service. I wrote the whitepaper because I believe selecting a security company should go far beyond looking at how much it cost. The informative guide has given businesses the insight they need in order to make an informed decision. Also, I have been dedicated to raising standards within the security industry by promoting key issues to a wider audience, talking on a wide range of issues; offering advice to other businesses and helping others implement best practice. Through this, my reach goes beyond the security industry, and my achievements have been recognised by the wider business community. Two key issues in particular have been CSR and licensing. In both instances, I have and continue to lobby my peers, clients and even the government to improve standards. Whether it be voluntarily or through BIN17059 legislation, we must continue to improve in both areas. In terms of CSR, we should all be more environmentally friendly, we should all be more philanthropic, and these are issues I have raised time and again, whilst instilling into Magenta’s operations and ethos. As a result, CSR has become an integral part of Magenta’s business strategy. Magenta was the first manned guarding company to achieve ISO 14001, and since then has gone on to create a business founded on sustainability. Security industry licensing on the other hand is a political minefield, but it cannot be ignored. As an industry, we are plagued by rouge operators and I see it in black and white. Clients need to understand the difference between the good and the bad, a better system of licensing can achieve that, and I will not stop lobbying for change. To achieve this, I have joined the security industry’s small business board – which focuses on achieving change at governmental level. Such political matters don’t however get in the way of success, and I am delighted to say that Magenta has a portfolio of clients including embassies, educational establishments, heritage sites, blue chip