Bidvest Noonan

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Adrian Canale, Business Development Director, shares his journey and insights

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Adrian Canale is Business Development Director, Security Solutions at Bidvest Noonan. In this interview, Adrian shares his story, his insights on building a successful team and his optimistic view of the future.

What has been your journey to becoming Business Director at Bidvest Noonan?

I have been in sales leadership roles for almost 15 years. I was recruited into the security industry in 2005 following several years as a branch manager with a large building supplies firm. My first role in the industry was Security Portfolio Manager. This hands-on experience made a huge difference in my career. It gave me a deep understanding of security operations and the impact a well-designed security solution can make.

I discovered that solution design was my greatest strength, and I was passionate about it. I wanted a role that would allow me to focus on that. I had the opportunity to move into Business Development, and I took it and never looked back. Over the past 15 years, I’ve designed solutions for a wide range of clients, including some of our most iconic brands, important heritage sites and global technology leaders.

I had the opportunity to join Bidvest Noonan towards the end of 2020. Joining Bidvest Noonan was one of the easiest decisions I have ever made. Their approach to problem-solving and creating very innovative solutions was totally aligned with mine. I recognised that everyone at Bidvest Noonan, from the senior leadership team to the frontline staff, were motivated to deliver exceptional service and value to clients. This really resonated with me. 

What challenges has the pandemic posed for you in your new role?

Keeping people safe was, and remains, our first priority. I’m very proud of our response to the pandemic and how we protected each other, our clients and the general public. 

In the early months of the pandemic, many traditional business development activities were abruptly and severely disrupted by travel restrictions and other necessary safety measures. Tradeshows, business lunches and in-person meetings suddenly became a health risk. I miss meeting with my clients, many of whom are now friends, but my team and I have adapted. Today we use online technologies more than ever before to form, maintain and develop relationships with clients. 

The distribution of vaccines is ramping up, and I feel confident that there are brighter days ahead. Clients are preparing to return to a new normal. Many are redesigning their operations and examining how they can utilise their workplaces. Already we have seen a number of new mobilisations confirmed that indicate that market is returning. I’m excited about the opportunity that this presents, and I’m looking forward to presenting the new ideas and solutions that my team and I have been working on.

What makes a good business development team?

While I enjoy business development, it is not an easy job. We invest a lot of time and energy to understand our clients’ needs fully. It takes a lot of hard work to design innovative new solutions and to build successful proposals. This is why its important to hire energetic and hard-working people.

It’s important to surround yourself with people you trust. I’m grateful to have a team that I trust deeply. I trust them to take ownership of their workstreams and to be as focussed and committed to our mission as I am. 

To be successful in business development, you need to understand your client and be creative. I encourage my team to challenge the status quo and see long-observed conventions as an opportunity to deliver change and more value to clients.

I am very fortunate to have such a strong team. They have already proven their flexibility, commitment and willingness to go over and above to meet deadlines. Already we’ve had a number of great projects confirmed in December and the first few weeks of January so I have every faith that we will have a very successful year with their support, drive and passion. 

What does 2021 hold for our industry?

I am very optimistic about 2021. There is light on the horizon. By September, the majority of our population will be vaccinated against the virus. I see lots of positive movement.

Together we achieved a lot during the pandemic. This crisis has caused us to accelerate innovation to an unprecedented rate. We’ve brought highly experienced technology experts into our team, took a huge leap forward in our Digital Transformation and introduced a range of new smart technologies. 

In 2021 we are going to help clients transform their security solutions. Our new technologies and the processes we are developing will provide clients with greater security, better experiences and more value. I’m very excited about it.

Managing anxiety in the workplace

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The pandemic is causing more and more people to experience anxiety. Anxiety is a normal part of life. However, if it is not kept in check, it can damage your mental and physical health. If unmanaged, anxiety can take a physical toll weakening the immune system and reducing the ability to fight off viruses, like COVID-19, and other illnesses.

The travel restrictions and safety measures, such as self-isolation and social distancing, that are so important to protect our communities can leave us vulnerable to feelings of loneliness and anxiety. For these reasons and many more, Bidvest Noonan has implemented new measures to safeguard its peoples’ mental health during the pandemic.

Good communication is critical. We established a well-resourced pandemic safety communications team to ensure our people receive clear and expert guidance on measures they can take to protect their physical and mental health. These communications are issued frequently, and in real-time as needed, using multiple media formats such as guidance booklets, toolbox talks, emails and videos.

We have to know how to help others to cope. Our EHS teams provide our people with the information they need to identify signs of distress and the steps they need to take to ensure colleagues are well supported. We put systems in place to enable people to seek help and advice from managers, HR and EHS experts.

Feeling safe and secure is very important. We supplied our people with the PPE they need and made a wide range of operational changes to keep them safe while they work. We provided clear explanations about why we made these changes and how they reduce the threat of infection.

It is critical to know the signs and symptoms of anxiety.

Emotional signs and symptoms include:

  • Fear of Leaving the House, Social Withdrawal
  • Unwarranted Fear of Particular Situations or Things
  • Changes in Personality, e.g. suddenly becoming angry or suddenly bursting into tears.
  • Depression or Suicidal Thoughts
  • Difficulty relaxing

Physical signs and symptoms include:

  • Compulsive or Repetitive Behaviours
  • Irritability, nervousness, restlessness
  • Excessive sweating, perspiration, feeling cold or overheated
  • Increased smoking or drinking
  • Aches and pains
  • Changes in appetite
  • Light headiness, headaches, dizziness, weakness
  • Upset Stomach
  • Changes in sleep patterns, fatigue
  • Trouble concentrating and taking in information
  • Shortness of breath or rapid breathing & hyperventilation
  • Rapid heartbeat, palpitations, and chest pain

If you have signs of anxiety disorder over an extended period, see your doctor or make an appointment with a mental health professional.

Managing emotions during the Pandemic

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We asked Helen Emerson, an EHS expert and a member of our pandemic response team, to share some strategies for managing our emotions during the latest wave of the pandemic.

Feeling hard done by and cheated by Covid 19? You’re not alone.

We all want to achieve things in both our personal and work lives, and with some of our dreams and aspirations thwarted in 2020, combined with uncertainty about what’s ahead and how long the pandemic will last, it’s natural to feel wounded and aggrieved.

These strategies can help you manage your feelings.

Call it what it is. To address your feelings and emotions, you need to acknowledge them. Name them – whether it’s fear, sadness, anxiety, or anger. Admit what you are feeling, with no apology. Once you acknowledge your emotions, you can then start to address them. It’s truly the first step.

Control what you can. You are not going to be able to impact what is happening in another part of the world. You can, however, control what is happening in your home and community. Continue to keep you and your family safe. Eat well. If you’re worried about bills, be proactive. Call the Companies or Bank. Many are offering flexible schedules or lower payments. Make sure you have enough food and medicine in case you need to self-isolate. Control is power.

Consistency is key. We are creatures of habit. Losing routines can increase stress. If you lost some routines such as going to/from work, make new ones. Wake up and go to sleep at the same time. Plan your work schedule ahead of time. Build in exercise to your routine. Consistency in your day will help decrease some anxiety you might be feeling by not having a routine.

Congratulate yourself.  When you achieve or do something that is good for you or anyone else, pat yourself on the back. Whether it’s reading a book to your child, staying connected with family and friends, going for a walk, or taking time to relax.  Acknowledge those things you do that make you and others feel better.

Compassion in a time of Covid. You can do everything right as an individual, and still get this virus, and this is especially true in relation to the new variants. Parts of media have blamed the spread of the virus on the young, the old, even Father Christmas was blamed. Blame is unhelpful – those affected need our support, not our judgment. Be kind to others and yourself.

Closure will come. This pandemic will end. We may not know yet how, or exactly when, but we do know that what you are going through now is temporary. Therefore, focus on the present. Go to trusted sources for information while also limiting the amount of time you spend on the coronavirus topic. Avoid information overload. Become aware but not scared.

Case Study: Coronavirus Disinfection

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In March 2020, we received a call from a pharmaceutical site in Wicklow. Our client had experienced a suspected case of COVID-19. The site, which has an area of over 40 thousand square feet, had been evacuated. Our client needed us to disinfect the site and return it for use as quickly as possible.

Our industrial division quickly deployed a highly trained disinfection team and developed a plan which would enable us to return areas for use in line with our client’s business requirements.

The team used EcoStatic technology to speed up the application of the disinfectant solution.  This technology allowed the team to work up to 5 times faster than is possible with conventional sprayers. The team applied powerful disinfectants that are non-irritant, non-toxic, non-corrosive, which means they would not have a harmful effect on our client’s people. The disinfectant remains active on surfaces for up to 28 days, providing the site with additional protections.

We returned an area of over 14,000ft2 to our client every 1.25 hours. We returned the entire site for use in less than 4 hours.

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Security Manager David Cullen shares his career journey

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We sat down with David Cullen, our Security Manager in Whitewater Shopping Centre, to discuss his fantastic 11-year journey with Bidvest Noonan. David tells us about his progression through the company and the training and mentorship he received from his Retail Security colleagues along the way. He shares his view on how leadership and tells us how he achieve his primary objective of creating a safe and welcoming environment for customers.

In November 2019, David and his team were awarded the ISIA Client Service award. This award was recognised all the hard work David and his team put in for his client.

Donating £10,000 to KidsOut

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We are very proud to have supported the charity KidsOut. We believe that our donation of £10,000 and all the individual gift contributions of our team to the Giving Tree have helped to bring joy to children in refuge homes over the festive season.