As we shake off the dust from 2021 and dig in for what the next year has in store, we sit down with Abbey Petkar, Managing Director of Magenta Security, to reflect on the ups, downs and lessons learned from running a security company during yet another historic year. Looking back on 2021, how would you summarise Magenta Security’s year in business? It’s been a busy year and a difficult year due to COVID, but it hasn’t stopped us […]
With the vaccine rollout making a post-pandemic world feel tantalisingly close and restrictions gradually easing, there are finally reasons to feel hopeful in this ongoing pandemic. However, we must be cautious in our rush to return to normal, not just to prevent another spike in cases, but because we will be feeling the impact the pandemic had on our collective mental wellbeing for months, if not years, to come. Back to normal: exciting or overwhelming? After a year where no […]
In the 25 years that Magenta Security has been in business, thousands of people have left their mark on how we work and the causes we champion. But no one has had a greater impact than the person who’s been here from the start, Managing Director Abbey Petkar. As part of our series of articles on our quarter-century milestone, we sat down with Abbey Petkar to ask about his plans for the next 25 years of Magenta Security. Continuing to […]
I’m honoured to announce that I was recently voted CEO Of The Year in the Corporate Vision Magazine’s 2017 CEO Awards. Corporate Vision Magazine’s in-house teams voted for their favourite CEO from a shortlist of 12 from across the UK, across a broad range of sectors and businesses of every scale. Each of us were interviewed for our profile, which was presented for the consideration of the voters. I spoke about Magenta Security’s commitment to the environment through our Reuse, […]
As you are well aware if you’ve been following my articles, the security industry isn’t where it needs to be. For a variety of reasons, there are startling vulnerabilities in the very services that businesses, the police and public expect to keep us all safe. To put it simply, our security industry isn’t as secure as it needs to be. But there is good news: I’m not the only person who recognises the need for change and is willing to […]
The Christmas and New Year holidays provide a unique opportunity for criminals. For two weeks or more, many service businesses will be entirely empty, leaving their offices full of expensive, easy-to-sell equipment ripe for the picking. Don’t let your festive period be ruined by theft and damage. Here are some easy measures you can take to keep your service business safe over the Christmas period. Don’t overlook the basics People often overlook the most basic things, which end up coming […]
I’ve worked in the security industry for over 30 years, going from employee to business owner in one of the country’s most vital industries, one that provides safety for millions of UK businesses, workers and members of the public. It’s because I’m so proud of this industry that I’m so dedicated to seeing it change. The recent Uber case has given me hope that one of its glaring holes – the exploitation of the self-employment grey area – may soon […]
A UK employment court recently ruled that Uber drivers are not self-employed, and as such are entitled to benefits such as sick pay, holidays and a national minimum wage. Deliveroo and Hermes have since come under scrutiny as well, along with many other firms that may be contributing to the hundreds of thousands of falsely classified workers in the UK. I’ve never seen the topic of bogus self-employment gain so much attention, and it’s reassuring to see efforts being made […]
I believe business success should be used as a tool to make the world a better place, whether it’s through our charity work or our green initiatives. But even if I didn’t care at all about the fate of this planet, it would be bad business for me not to be pursuing green business initiatives. If your long term plan for your business doesn’t take energy efficiency and sustainability into account, that needs to change today. Recently, human industry reached […]
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 […]
