On a cold January night around 11:00 p.m., James was just starting his shift when a call came in from security. A young woman, barefoot and in pyjamas, was seen wandering near the power station. As James got closer, he noticed she had visible signs of self-harm. What happened next was far from ordinary…
WATCH: Purpose Hero – Marilyn Haddington
As our colleague, Marilyn carried out her duties at Dinnington Interchange, she noticed a man in distress and took action. What happened next revealed the true meaning of quick thinking and compassion in the face of an emergency.
WATCH: Purpose Hero – Elohim Zama
This is the touching story of a woman who, while battling a long-term illness, found herself alone as a patient in the oncology ward at University Hospital Galway (UHG). Elohim, our dedicated contract manager, learned that she had no family in Ireland. Without hesitation, he began visiting her regularly, offering companionship and support during each of his shifts. Watch as Elohim shares his story, embodying our purpose to create healthier, safer communities today, for a better tomorrow.
Bidvest Noonan Achieves Milestone with First Comprehensive Carbon Footprint Assessment
We are delighted to announce the completion of our first comprehensive carbon footprint assessment. This landmark achievement underscores our commitment to sustainability and our mission to create safer and healthier communities.
“Our first full carbon footprint assessment is a testament to our transparency and accountability,” said John King, ESG Director of Bidvest Noonan. “Our footprint demonstrates the work we have done in recent years. Understanding our emissions allows us to take meaningful steps to reduce our environmental impact and provide sustainable solutions for our clients.”
The assessment adheres to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) standards.
The process involved a detailed analysis of emissions from the supply chain, employee commuting, fleet operations, and more. By engaging with suppliers and various departments, we identified key impact areas and opportunities for emission reductions.
“For customers, this signifies that Bidvest Noonan offers not only market-leading services but also environmentally conscious solutions, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable practices,” added John King.
Key findings showed that the supply chain and employee commuting are primary contributors to emissions, accounting for the vast majority of our footprint. Our business, which has adopted an electric-first policy for our fleet, has also implemented local recruitment policies, cycle-to-work schemes, and public transport initiatives to promote sustainable commuting for our 27,000 people. Additionally, we are working collaboratively with supply chain partners to further reduce scope 3 emissions.
Andrew Doyle, Procurement Director, commented on our efforts to assist the supply chain in becoming more sustainable: “We are actively working with our suppliers to enhance their sustainability practices. By collaborating closely and sharing best practices, we aim to reduce the overall environmental impact of our supply chain.”
Bidvest Noonan installs ‘world-first’ airport waste recycling solution at Birmingham
Bidvest Noonan has been appointed as Birmingham Airport’s (BHX) new waste contractor to help the two-terminal building fulfil its sustainability strategy.
Working in partnership with The Green Block, our business has installed a mobile segregation unit (MSU) at the airport – the UK’s third-largest airport outside London.
The unit, which enables the separating, washing, compacting, baling, weighing, and electronic tagging of waste through sorting and segregation processes, will allow the airport to achieve higher recycling rates. The MSU also reduces contamination of recyclable materials, and since being installed, has prevented 264 tonnes of waste from going into non-recyclable general waste.
The MSU will also give data insights into the breakdown of waste for individual on-site partners and specific areas, to allow targeted improvements across the airfield. The airport is the first worldwide to implement an MSU solution.
Tom Denton, Birmingham Airport’s Head of Sustainability, said: “Birmingham Airport is committed to improving recycling rates, focusing primarily on reducing and reusing waste, then recycling wherever possible. Our sustainability strategy sets out our waste, supply chain and circular economy commitments, and we are always determined to find innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact.”
“The MSU installation is facilitating much more efficient segregation of our recyclable materials, with real-time data breakdown allowing us to drive that all-important behavioural change needed to see continual improvements in waste reduction and disposal best practice.”
Deane Arnold, Terminal Operations Manager, said: “Prior to the implementation of our new waste solution, our recycling figures off-site were averaging between 50% to -55%. Recognising the opportunity to enhance this rate, we embarked on a collaborative effort involving our Operations, Procurement, and Sustainability departments… Just four months into the implementation of this initiative, we have witnessed a significant surge in our recycling rates. In February, our recycling rate reached 68%, and in March, it soared to an impressive 83.2%.”
Keith Middleton, Managing Director, Transport, at Bidvest Noonan, added: “Our partnership has proven that through collaboration and a focus on innovative solutions, we can achieve significant advancements in sustainability. We believe our partnership will inspire others and lead to greater environmental progress across our industries.”
Read our Employability Report
Employment brings positive change for individuals, society, and businesses. It helps people grow personally, boosts their well-being, and strengthens communities. Employment also supports economic stability and drives progress in society. When individuals succeed, businesses grow too, fueled by a dedicated and skilled workforce. In essence, employment is a tide that raises all boats.
However, many people face significant barriers to finding work. Individuals with disabilities often encounter societal barriers, lack of support, and accessibility issues. Language barriers can hold back those from non-English-speaking backgrounds, limiting their opportunities. Refugees struggle to integrate into new societies and find work. Additionally, people affected by homelessness and deprivation often find it hard to gain stable employment due to a lack of resources and support.
At Bidvest Noonan, we believe that helping people improve their employability is one of the best ways to drive positive social change. We work very hard to make a difference in this area and are proud to have helped many thousands of people gain the benefits of employment.
To address these challenges, we provide support for individuals with disabilities through our partnerships with organisations like Rehab Enterprise. We have helped colleagues from diverse backgrounds improve their language skills, enhancing their career prospects. Collaborations with programmes such as EPIC and Employment4All offer essential job training and opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
We run programmes to support further education and boost our own people’s skills. Continuous learning and development benefit our people and helps us to deliver exceptional service to our clients.
At Bidvest Noonan, we are committed to creating opportunities and making a positive impact. To learn more about our initiatives and the difference we are making, we invite you to read our Employability Report. In this report, you’ll find information about our work in the following areas:
- Employability Enablement, our initiatives to support refugees, individuals with disabilities, and people with other challenges.
- Community Support, our work in areas such as the circular economy, veteran support, and the promotion of the Living Wage.
- Investing in Our People, highlighting our dedication to employee growth, language support, and well-being.
- Championing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, our strategies and initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion.
