Protecting people and property from fire is the job of Millwood Servicing. The London-based fire-safety engineering company designs, installs, maintains, repairs and commissions safety systems found in any purpose-built structure.

It was set up in 1993 by Trevor Wood in his back bedroom in Surrey, with just one other member of staff. The company soon became an industry leader, working in the public and private sectors.

The company, now in its 28th year, protects thousands of lives, at places of work, rest, faith, education and play, and in doing so it focuses its results on all of its stakeholders, including staff, the supply chain and marginalised sectors of society.

In 2020 Matt Wood, Millwood's chief executive, started the WoodMor Foundation, which is seed-funded by Millwood, to support disadvantaged people to prepare for employment. The foundation aims to increase job opportunities for disabled, vulnerable or disadvantaged people, aged 25 and above.

Wood says the company offers a career, rather than just a job and staff are given a tailor-made programme that allows them to progress at their own pace. He joined Millwood 22 years ago as a junior engineer and learnt every role within the company that he now co-owns.

"As a hobbiest beekeeper of eight years, I see a symbiotic relationship between bees and our business (the team) — we both look after each other so that each other can survive and thrive," he says.