Some of the MAN Team enjoyed an evening at the 7th Nachural Entrepreneurship Awards at the King Power Stadium in Leicester on 11th April.
Event creator Ninder Johal chose Iain as keynote speaker, at what was a vibrant and inspirational event, celebrating the very best entrepreneurs in the Midlands.
MAN Commercial were winners for the second year running at the Security and Safety Entrepreneur Awards held in Birmingham on April 8th.
Following last year’s success being named Family Business of the Year, it was CEO Iain McCallister who was awarded, taking home to coveted Lifetime Achievement award.
It was another proud moment for Team MAN, who enjoyed celebrating Iain’s well- deserved recognition for decades of positive work in the security industry. It is Iain’s incredible leadership that continues to drive MAN Commercial forward, and while he is honoured with the accolade, he has no plans to slow down any time soon!
Thanks to the SSEA team for a wonderful night, with great food, entertainment and company.
April saw the return of The Security Event at the NEC in Birmingham. The highly-anticipated event was bigger than ever this year, with so much opportunity to network, educate and innovate.
MAN Commercial CEO Iain McCallister was invited as a live speaker at ‘Professional Security Officer Live’, a new auditorium
event for industry leaders within the main exhibition.
His presentation, ‘From Frontline to CEO’, was a fantastic opportunity to not only share his success story, but to discuss the latest hot topics and focuses in the security industry. Iain’s speech was followed by Michelle Russell of the SIA, and an inspirational suicide prevention panel.
We were proud to see our CEO Iain McCallister named West Midlands ‘Company Leader of the Year’ (100+ employees) at a prestigious ceremony in Birmingham this month.
Huge congratulations to Iain, who topped the competition thanks to his entrepreneurial excellence and hands-on leadership.
The team enjoyed an evening out at the awards ceremony, celebrating the very best leaders in our region.
As CEO of Midlands-based security specialists MAN Commercial Protection Ltd, Iain McCallister’s industry experience is vast. MAN Commercial Protection was founded in 1993, and now employs 1500 people throughout the UK, operating across a wide range of locations and business sectors, offering security guarding, CCTV operation, loss prevention, reception and concierge services and event security management.
Recently celebrating 30 years in business, Iain focuses on providing excellent customer service and fulfilling his people’s potential. MAN operates from Solihull, West Midlands, with three office buildings and a Training Academy. Iain is an inspirational leader and entrepreneur and an exemplary industry ambassador.
Iain lives and breathes security; such rich personal experience allows him to be empathetic to the needs of his 1500-strong workforce, and has earned him their utmost respect, which is crucial for a business leader.
Iain says of the secret to industry longevity and becoming a driving force in modern security, “Our USP is ‘the personal touch’. Along with our drive to continually grow, we challenge ourselves to be better, with our 2023 ACS score of 130 putting us in the top 5% of UK security companies. Even with such significant rapid growth, we take pride in consistently delivering great service to our existing clients and as a result enjoy an extremely high retention rate of both employees and clients.” Having many loyal clients of over 20 years, the impact that Iain’s industry impact and reputation speaks for itself.
Even after 30 years, Iain continues to always lead by example and be an inspiration to his SLT, management and head office team, and the officers in the field. Iain remains hands-on and takes time to personally meet with new and prospective clients, creates bespoke security solutions and educates on the business benefits.
Iain enjoys networking and hosting, inviting clients and employees alike to visit Head Office for a game of pool on his MAN Commercial branded table! Since opening a third office, he has offered this area to the BSIA, Solihull Chamber of Commerce and many other organisations to utilise for networking to further raise the profile of our industry.
Iain possesses an infectious can-do attitude, which empowers his teams to believe anything is possible. Iain has always believed in achieving complete customer satisfaction and is renowned for never saying ‘no’ to a client’s request – if it can be done, it will be done and will be delivered exceptionally well. This quick and efficient decision-making cycle is rare in a company of MAN’s size.
Recommendations from clients are aplenty, but Iain always strives for ‘the next’; whether that is a new contract win, a process review or additional headcount to support his growing business. His continuous drive for growth and to be bigger and better is admired by all, and this is regularly communicated as company values.
Iain invests in his people, through apprenticeships in Finance, HR and Management. Iain recognises the importance of celebrating the achievements of MAN’s officers. MAN Commercial runs an Employee of the Month scheme, introduced by Iain nearly 20 years ago. Iain relishes receiving nominations and proudly selects winners. Iain has launched a new recognition scheme ‘Outstanding Act’ which celebrates officers who have courageously gone above and beyond, often with life-preserving results. Iain also mentors within the industry; both for start-up businesses and more established leaders. He also records podcasts, the most recent focusing on business culture.
MAN’s motto is “The heart of our Business is our People”. Reflecting this ethos, Iain is pro-active in the day-to-day running of the company. Always pushing forward, Iain’s personal mantra is ‘Believe in the Brand and Invest in People’, often recited in his pep-talks to management, team members and new recruits to the industry at the MAN Commercial Training Academy.
The Training Academy was launched by Iain in 2023, and came from a long-term desire to promote security as a career, help with recruitment and retention issues and attract new talent to join MAN. The Academy offers SIA courses and First Aid, plus much more, and has trained hundreds of MAN Commercial employees already, as well as taking public bookings, who are offered an interview to join MAN after successful course completion.
Iain’s entrepreneurial excellence shines in many ways. A hands-on CEO, Iain rarely takes a day off! He will usually be found in his office at MAN’s Solihull HQ by 7am, or attending meetings with potential or existing clients, visiting sites across the country or working in uniform at an event, often heading-up the ringside security at high-profile boxing shows. Iain loves getting back to his roots and what he knows best, along with teaching his tips and tricks of the trade – after all, what better way to lead and influence than by example? Recently, Iain has led our Events Team at a string of international shows for Queensberry Promotions, having been a longtime friend and security supplier to Frank Warren. Taking place in Saudi Arabia as part of the world-famous Riyadh Season, the shows are televised around the globe. MAN working internationally and showcasing the brand on such an enormous scale has been a true achievement for Iain.
ACS accredited since 2005, MAN has continued to stay at the forefront of the industry by embracing new standards not just to comply but to drive the business forward. Iain led the Company into the UKCMA as a founder member and has hosted the AGM at MAN Commercial HQ. Iain is actively involved with the BSIA and takes part in regular forums alongside hosting the Midlands Regional Meeting at MAN HQ. Iain is passionate about altering the perception of the industry and promoting positive change – using his voice to educate businesses on the added value a great security team and advancing technology provides. Iain is active on social media, boasting 5000 LinkedIn followers.
Iain has recently purchased additional office space next door to the current HQ and his relentless energy has continued to drive consistent growth for the last ten years. A high demand for Iain to tell his story as an ‘After Dinner’ speaker as well as hosting and supporting charity events (with £30,000 in fundraising last year) further demonstrate Iain’s achievements.
Iain is well known within the industry and has an extensive network. Iain is an inspirational leader and an exemplary ambassador for the sector, and deserves recognising for his outstanding contribution over the past 30 years.
MAN Commercial CEO Iain McCallister enjoyed the opportunity to be interviewed live on BBC WM last week. Taking place at Birmingham’s BBC studios, Iain chatted to Kath Stanczyszyn about his Birmingham roots, how he has built the West Midlands largest ever privately-owned security company, and MAN Commercial’s position as a significant local employer.
There was also time to touch on some iconic stories from Iain’s days as doorman at Birmingham’s famed Liberty’s nightclub, including the time that Prince popped in!
Follow the link below to hear the full interview:
MAN Commercial Protection were delighted to host the Midlands Forum at MAN HQ on behalf of the BSIA for the second year running!
The Forum, which connects industry experts and professionals, proved to be a very popular event, with over 80 attendees representing various companies across two days.
Day One’s agenda focused on Technical Services, with speakers from NPCC, SSAIB, SecureIT and more. The panel discussion were very insightful and raised good conversations, which led nicely into a networking lunch. MAN Commercial also had the opportunity to promote and demonstrate our new E-Guard intruder detection system, which was very well-received.
Day 2 of the Forum was focused on Security Officer Services with speakers discussing training, recruitment, Martyn’s Law and updates from the SIA. BSIA Chief Commercial Officer Paddy Kyle also hosted an interactive panel discussion.
The MAN Commercial team thoroughly enjoyed hosting the event and the opportunity to network with our industry peers and meet some new contacts. It was a pleasure to work alongside our friends at the BSIA, and together we made the event one to remember.
BSIA Chief Executive Mike Reddington said, “ I would like to thank Iain McCallister and the MAN Commercial team for providing the venue and catering. If you didn’t manage to attend this time I would suggest you keep a look out for our next event where we will be covering additional important subjects that effect and shape the professional security industry”.
Our CEO Iain McCallister recently featured on the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce’s CEO Stories podcast. In his episode, Iain shared insights into his journey from a nightclub doorman in Birmingham to establishing and leading the biggest privately – owned security company, throwing in a few celebrity anecdotes along the way! Iain also spoke about opportunities within MAN Commercial across the UK, with a spotlight on our local recruitment drives and event work.
Thank you to The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for spotlighting MAN Commercial Iain’s inspirational story – we really enjoyed taking part!
To access the full podcast, follow the link here: Podcasts | Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
MAN Commercial Protection are proud to have been awarded Business Desk’s Family Business of the Year, beating off competition from some high profile names, including Rigby Group, Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld and Virtus Brands.
Judges praised noted how the company has maintained its close-knit culture despite increasing its workforce to 1700 people, with a strong internal comms strategy and an open-door policy so every member of the team feels valued and looked after. We were also praised for our community spirit, with several security officers having been with us for ten or twenty years, which stands out in our industry.
“We’ve had a quite a year of being recognised, with this award taking the number of accolades we have won to seven,” explained Iain McCallister, who runs MAN Commercial Protection with his wife, HR Director Traci McCallister.
“This one means a lot as we are very proud of our ‘people first’ culture that we feel is reflected in the way we work; whether you are a team member, supplier or a customer”
He continued: “We’re growing rapidly with over 100 new sites taken on since the beginning of 2024. However, as we get bigger, we never lose sight of what makes us different and that’s ensuring our family values are at the heart of everything we do.”
2024 was MAN Commercial Protection’s busiest year yet for event work, covering the London Marathon, the record-breaking Taylor Swift concerts and major assignments for Queensberry Promotions in the UK and overseas, including the world-famous Fury v Usyk fights.
There has been significant growth in the corporate world with new contracts secured to provide guarding, CCTV, keyholding, concierge and close protection services for high profile names in the automotive, banking, finance, property and oil sectors.
It has also been a landmark year for the firm’s Training Academy, which was founded by the family in 2023 with a focus on giving MAN staff and those in the wider industry access to First Aid and SIA training, and further development opportunities.
We are delighted to announce that MAN Commercial have partnered with Solihull businessman Ian Rogers and the team behind Solihull Summerfest! We will be providing the security at this year’s 4-day Solihull Summerfest extravaganza.
The event is the highlight of Solihull’s Summer social calendar, with over 22,000 revellers travelling from around the UK to our town for 4 days of music and more.
Our team will be responsible for providing security across the site for all events, which include an open-air cinema and performances from UB40 and Artful Dodger. We will be checking tickets, bag searches, patrols, stage and VIP security as well as ensuring an excellent customer service for the public.
Pictured at last week’s launch event, Ian Rogers and MAN CEO Iain McCallister are excited to be working together, and for the benefits for the local community. “This is another fantastic opportunity for us to recruit in the local area, and expand our stewarding and event teams,” said Iain McCallister, “Its great to be such a big part of the area’s biggest annual event, and we are looking forward to ensuring everything runs smoothly.”
For more information about our the Event Security we offer, please contact us.
At MAN Commercial Protection, we are excited to announce the expansion of our services to include advanced technological security solutions. As part of our commitment to delivering cutting-edge security, we have introduced new remote monitoring, drone surveillance, and advanced detection technology to enhance site security while reducing costs for our clients.
A key highlight of this expansion is the launch of our E-Guard intruder detection system. Designed for temporary or semi-permanent site protection, the E-Guard provides robust security for a range of environments, from vacant properties to high-risk locations.
Key Features of E-Guard:
Alongside E-Guard, we have heavily invested in remote monitoring and drone surveillance to offer enhanced, real-time protection for businesses and property owners. Our 24-hour control room now provides live monitoring services, ensuring constant oversight and rapid response capabilities for our clients.
This expansion complements our existing security solutions, including CCTV monitoring, keyholding, event security, and manned guarding. By integrating technology into our operations, we continue to evolve and adapt to modern security challenges, offering comprehensive protection tailored to our clients’ needs.
For more information on how our new technology solutions can enhance your security, contact our team today.
