News

The clocks have gone back, marking the start of the season of long nights and cold weather. But the winter months mean more than just darker commutes and higher heating bills, it’s also the time that businesses are most at risk of break ins. A 2013 study by the Office for National Statistics found a spike in business robberies starting in November, peaking at 22.8% in January. The numbers are clear: as the nights get longer, criminals get bolder. Throughout […]

Since I started Magenta, I put charity at the heart of this business. For over 25 years, we’ve been involved in numerous charitable efforts – which you can read about here – but that’s not all. I also advise other businesses, whether they’re clients, acquaintances or rivals, on how to increase their charitable giving. I’ve had countless such conversations over the years, so I thought it was about time to put some of the advice I’ve given down in writing. […]

From the day I founded Magenta more than 20 years ago, my objective has not only been to provide world class security services but also to make the world a better place. More than anything, it’s charitable giving that has motivated me to grow the business: the more profitable we are, the more we’re able to give. The more staff we have, the more people power we can put behind charitable projects. From the get go, I set aside at […]

Security and technology have always been tied. From the invention of the lock and key all the way to IPCCTV systems, technology is constantly evolving to make our world safer. Just in the past 20 years that I’ve been running Magenta Security, technology has transformed nearly every aspect of how a security company operates. Here’s a few of the ways recent technological advances have helped us to protect sites across the UK and even the world. You Know What We’re […]

Magenta Security was the first manned security service in Europe to fully comply to the ISO 14001 environmental standard. Since then, we’ve continued to reduce our carbon footprint and be an industry leader in environmental responsibility and energy efficiency, achieving and maintaining a carbon neutral status for many years. Clients often come to me for advice on how to reduce their impact on the environment, especially now that many businesses won’t work with companies who can’t prove their environmental credentials. […]

Over the years, we’ve developed a robust infrastructure of 24 hour control rooms and mobile patrols to keep our guards and our clients’ interests safe every minute of every day. Security just isn’t secure without this level of back up for our guards, especially out of hours. Things don’t tend to go wrong during the nine-to-five; it’s in the dark hours of the night that you need us to be paying full attention to the security of your business. Unfortunately, […]

In April, the government introduced a new minimum wage of £7.20 per hour. This wasn’t much of an issue for us, as we already provided that level of pay or even greater for our staff, but it did mean renegotiating some historic contracts to bring them in line. Such negotiations were happening across the country between reputable security companies and their clients. But for the rogue operators, who I’ve written about extensively in the past, this provided an opportunity. When […]

For most people in the UK, bank holidays are an opportunity to kick back and relax or get out and make the most of an extra long weekend. But there’s a small part of the population that’s excited for bank holidays for all the wrong reasons. Every empty home and every vacant business is vulnerable to break ins, vandalism and theft from criminals if left unprotected. Bank holidays see a spike in burglaries as people leave their homes and businesses […]

Before we start a contract with any customer we have to carry out a full, on site risk assessment. This involves one of our managers visiting the site we’re to provide security for and carrying a thorough and detailed investigation to uncover any potential risks to the staff that we provide. These managers are fully qualified in health and safety with the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and it’s important that you verify the qualifications of anyone performing a risk […]

No matter how much we develop our infrastructure and hone our customer service, a security company is only as good as its security guards. That’s why we spend over half a million pounds a year providing training for our security guards above and beyond the mandatory qualifications in basic guarding and basic first aid from City and Guilds or other SIA endorsed organisations. Every security guard in the country needs a security license from the SIA but beyond that it’s […]