A London-based guarding company has launched a programme to provide mental health and general well-being support to staff. Magenta Security Services is partnering with a care and mental heath consultancy, an employee assistance solutions provider, to offer free services to staff. This can include one-to-one counselling sessions and advice sessions on such matters as debt and finance, relationships and general anxiety.
Magenta points to mental health issues originally raised by the pandemic and by the cost of living crisis. Abbey Petkar, Magentaโs Managing Director, pictured, says that mental health awareness and support is vital particularly in the security sector.
He says: โI cannot express how strongly I feel that managers and directors within the security sector have responsibility for the lives of our dedicated workforce of professional guards and other team members. The ethnic diversity of our workforce comes with its own challenges when providing mental health support. Speaking from experience amongst our team, BAME men โ who make up a large proportion of our workforce โ are both less likely to open up about their mental health issues due to cultural stigma, as well as being more likely to encounter barriers when trying to access support. This is why weโve launched an internal support programme.
โFor the BAME men of Magenta Security, and anyone else reluctant to seek help, we also encourage them to speak to their most direct colleagues, with whom they often feel more comfortable. What we never want is for anyone to feel isolated, so we regularly reassure staff that we will always respond with kindness and understanding if they come forward about their mental health challenges.โ
In 2020, Petkar spoke out about the prevalence of modern-day slavery in the security sector. He says that โMagenta lost tenders against low-cost security providers that charge workers out at less than ยฃ10 an hourโ which he believes is commercially unsustainable. Hence, Magenta uses the London Living Wage as a baseline (as an aside, that’s ยฃ13.15 an hour, set by the Living Wage Foundation, compared to the UK national minimum wage set by Government of ยฃ11.44 an hour, since April 2024). The guard firm offers additional rewards for long-term or exceptional employees and offers career-progressing training. As a result of these policies, the firm has seen a staff turnover of just 11 per cent (way lower than the industry average).
Petkar says: โThe security industry is notorious for long shifts and low pay, compounding mental health issues by depriving security officers of the free time they need to recoup and connect with loved ones. We make sure we work closely with individual security officers to fit their shifts around their personal commitments. We also keep commuting times down by ensuring staff sites are close to home.โ
Magenta is involved in Security Minds Matter, a campaign to improve the mental health and wellbeing of security people, especially those on the frontline. The campaign is one of those supported by the UK regulator the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
Petkar also uses his position on the advisory board of the security industry body IFPO UK to advocate for greater support and awareness for mental health and well-being in the security industry. He says: โWe owe it to the people who give their time and energy to look after others to look after them as well. If we donโt, the industry will never attract and retain the talent it needs.โ
