More than 200 staff from MAN Commercial Protection are set to help ensure the safety of over 56,000 runners and thousands of spectators at this year’s London Marathon.
The Solihull-based security company will be marking its tenth consecutive year supporting the event. Its responsibilities include supplying safety stewards, response teams, supervisors, control room operators, and crowd management personnel.
MAN Commercial Protection will oversee several key crossing points near the end of the race, including the Sportive Finish — a particularly busy section where runners exit the course after crossing the finish line.
“The London Marathon is one of the world’s biggest races and a fantastic opportunity for people to raise money for charities…it’s a real privilege to be part of it,” said Iain McCallister, CEO of MAN Commercial Protection.
“It will be our 10th year ensuring the safety of runners, supporters and all the race staff that are so crucial to making it happen. There is a lot of customer service involved in this assignment and a visible security presence acts as a welcome reassurance to athletes and spectators alike.”
McCallister added: “Over 200 staff will be on hand at various stages of the race, with our events manager Scott Broadway celebrating seven years of overseeing our operation in the capital. That is some achievement in its own right.”
The company, founded by Iain McCallister and his father Sam, has reported a 22% rise in revenue over the past year, reaching £67 million. During the same period, it has created 400 new jobs.
Recent work has included event security for major concerts, including performances by Taylor Swift, along with new corporate contracts across sectors such as automotive, banking, finance, property, and oil.
Sporting events continue to form a significant part of the company’s operations. Other assignments have included RIDE London, the World Snooker Championships, MACD Gymnastics, and boxing events in Saudi Arabia, including the Riyadh season promoted by Queensberry Promotions. These featured high-profile bouts such as Fury vs. Usyk and Beterbiev vs. Bivol.
McCallister concluded: “We have significant experience looking after some of the biggest sporting events in the world and ‘track record’ is so important in this sector.
“Promoters, athletes and entertainers don’t want to have to think about security, they just want to focus on delivering the best possible performance. This is where we come in…we provide the risk assessment, we identify the best strategy and we then slip into the background.
“The same applies to this Sunday’s event. Success for us will mean none of the TV viewers ever knowing of any incidents that might occur thanks to the smooth security and crowd management.”