Iain McCallister, a figure driving tangible change in the UK security sector, has been named ‘Business Person of the Year’ at the recent Signature Awards.
The ceremony, held at The Vox in Birmingham, saw McCallister outperform several of the region’s leading entrepreneurs in front of 540 delegates from industry and commerce.
As CEO of MAN Commercial Protection, he impressed judges with his approach to building one of the UK’s largest privately-owned security firms, placing a clear emphasis on people and workplace culture.
The company, which employs 1,600 staff and generates annual revenues of £60 million, serves clients across commercial, property management, logistics, and manufacturing sectors. McCallister’s attention to detail and long-term business vision were highlighted during the judging process.
MAN Commercial Protection has also established a presence beyond traditional security services, gaining recognition in boxing and music events, and this season expanded into football stadium security with Solihull Moors FC.
Looking ahead, McCallister plans to grow the business through acquisitions, with talks currently underway with potential targets.
“When you consider the calibre of entrepreneurs I was up against, this is one of the biggest honours I’ve received,” said McCallister, who began his career working the doors at Birmingham clubs before founding MAN Commercial Protection 33 years ago.
“I’m rightly proud of the business we’ve built and that’s testament to all the team at HQ and those who represent us out in the field. They all embody the enterprising spirit and high levels of service we want the business to be known for – this award is as much for them as it is for me.”
He added: “I have been working hard alongside my industry peers to build the reputation of the security industry and being recognized like this helps change the narrative. We invest heavily in training, health and safety and, more recently, in the latest technology to ensure we can protect premises, events and, importantly, people.”
The Signature Awards, organized by Nachural, are designed to bring together business leaders and ambitious organizations to share insights, build connections, and recognize achievement. With events held across multiple UK cities, the awards have grown a national reputation for highlighting excellence.
The evening included a keynote address from Edwina Dunn, co-founder of dunnhumby and the strategist behind the Tesco Clubcard, and was supported by headline sponsors Bond Wolfe and KLSA PKF.
Ninder Johal, founder of the Nachural Group, said: “Iain is a fantastic ambassador for the West Midlands and someone who captivates the room when he speaks…it’s like a life lesson on how to do business. The growth of MAN Commercial Protection, both in the UK and at various overseas sporting events, has been a real joy to watch and, with exciting M&A activity planned, the next chapter is already being written. He’s a worthy winner of our ‘Business Person of the Year’ Award.”