In today's blog, we feature an In the Spotlight interview with Paul Dawson, CEO of Agena Group.
As the parking industry evolves, companies like Agena Group are at the forefront of innovation, tackling challenges in digital transformation and sustainability. In this article, we’re resharing our recent In the Spotlight interview with CEO Paul Dawson, where he discusses how Agena Group is shaping the future of parking through its growth, cutting-edge solutions, and strategic vision.
Exploring Innovation and Sustainability with Agena Group?
Q: Paul, could you give us a brief overview of Agena Group and the key companies within its portfolio?
Paul Dawson:
Agena Group is a UK-based private parking management company operating across multiple sectors. We focus on both invited and uninvited parking markets, using our subsidiaries and brands to tailor services to these areas.
Our technology business, Atria, provides an end-to-end platform supporting parking operations across the UK. Within parking management, we have several key brands:
- UK Car Park Management (UK CPM): Specializes in residential, healthcare, and education parking solutions.
- Premier Park: Focuses on retail, hospitality, and commercial parking.
- Park Watch: Primarily operates in retail and property management, and more recently, has expanded into self-ticketing solutions for clients.
Each of these brands helps us address unique parking challenges while maintaining a strong industry presence.
Q: You mentioned uninvited parking earlier. How does your team approach this issue differently?
Paul Dawson:
Uninvited parking management is about ensuring that parking assets are used by those with an express right to be there.
In healthcare and education settings, we manage permit allocations for staff members efficiently. Our platform, Sippi, simplifies this process by handling applications, approvals, and availability checks, ensuring a smooth and organized experience for clients.
In private residential and social housing, we also use Sippi, along with our field based teams and camera technology solutions, to manage people's entitlements and protect those assets from people who don't have a right to be there.
Q: The parking industry has undergone significant digital transformation. How do Atria and Sippi fit into this shift?
Paul Dawson:
At Agena, we prioritize understanding the motorist journey. Parking should seamlessly integrate into the overall visitor experience rather than be an inconvenience.
With digital solutions like Atria and Sippi, we enhance the parking process through technology. Our camera solutions provide valuable insights into asset usage and consumer behavior, helping clients optimize their operations. Sippi also automates key processes, from digital permits and cashless payments to contactless access control, enabling seamless pre-booked entry and secure facility access.
While digital transformation is essential, we understand that not everyone is ready to transition fully to digital solutions. Ensuring accessibility for all users remains a top priority.
Q: Sustainability is an important topic. How is Agena addressing its environmental impact?
Paul Dawson:
Sustainability is at the core of our operations. This year, we’re launching our Year Four ESG Plan, reinforcing our commitment to reducing environmental impact.
In 2023, we became carbon neutral, making us one of the few companies in our sector to achieve this milestone. We’ve also eliminated landfill waste, reinforcing our commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices.
Our Environmental Committee is at the forefront of these efforts, ensuring we actively reduce our environmental footprint. This dedication to sustainability is also driving business growth, as more clients prioritize working with companies that share these values.
Q: Does this sustainability focus influence your approach to revenue optimization?
Paul Dawson:
It does, absolutely. We have a fully deployable ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) solution, which allows previously inaccessible locations to transition into new parking models.
We are also looking at how pricing structures can evolve, particularly by varying parking costs based on vehicle emissions. Through our data insights platform, we can analyze vehicle behavior, such as the rise of electric vehicles in specific locations. This information helps car park owners and property managers refine their EV charging strategies and even calculate the carbon footprint of their facilities, ensuring a more data-driven approach to sustainable parking.
Q: The industry is evolving rapidly, with concepts like mobility hubs gaining traction. What’s your perspective on reimagining parking facilities?
Paul Dawson:
Parking assets have long been underutilized and often overlooked by property owners and managing agents. They've typically just been seen as land connected to another facility. But with major changes ahead—such as the rise of EV adoption, autonomous vehicles, and urban mobility solutions—these spaces have the potential to be so much more.
I truly feel these parking assets have the ability to unlock the concept of mobility—allowing a parking facility to serve multiple transport needs.
Yes, to park your car. Yes, to leave your bike. Yes, to connect to other facilities. These spaces have the potential to become key hubs for urban mobility, adapting to the changing landscape of transportation.
Q: Looking at the global parking market, what are your ambitions for Agena’s international growth?
Paul Dawson:
For me, having been in the UK parking industry for quite some time, I see a lot of similarities when looking across Europe. There are clear opportunities for businesses like ours to scale within these markets.
We’re very focused on internationalizing Agena and expanding into new geographic regions. While every country has unique needs, I believe the data, insights, and technology we use—particularly to understand consumer behavior—are crucial steps forward for many European cities.
The DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) is of particular interest to us, and it's a key part of our medium-to-long-term strategy. We’re looking closely at how we can integrate our existing portfolio and move forward with a more international approach.
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This conversation has provided valuable insights into how Agena Group is navigating key industry challenges and opportunities. From leveraging digital technology to embracing sustainability and international expansion, their approach highlights the evolving nature of parking and mobility. Stay tuned for more industry discussions as we continue to spotlight leading voices shaping the future.
About Agena Group
Founded in 2019, Agena Group is a growing portfolio of brands with a single mission to revolutionise the parking industry. Through step-changing innovation and data insights our aim is to deliver responsible and ethical car parking solutions and unparalleled customer experience.
As one of the leading providers of parking and software solutions, we unite technology and talent to go beyond parking. We aim to positively impact clients and customers alike with unparalleled experience, whilst unlocking unrivalled data and powerful insights to inform the future.
About Parking Network
Parking Network is the leading information source for parking. We connect professionals through our online and offline channels. On our online platform parking.net, we publish the latest news, product showcases, job openings, and tenders related to parking. On our platform, you can access the most complete industry and parking professionals directory. Offline, we host niche-specific networking events such as the Airport Parking Network Event.
