Commitment announced at the opening of the company’s new A-rated Dublin headquarters, attended by Minister Darragh O’Brien, as Bidvest Noonan launches its Purpose in Action strategy ahead of its 50th anniversary.
Bidvest Noonan, one of Ireland’s largest private-sector employers, has pledged to help 10,000 people into employment and training by 2030, with a particular focus on those who face the greatest barriers to work.
The commitment was announced today at the official opening of the company’s new A-rated headquarters at Airside Green in Swords, Co. Dublin. The event was attended by Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Minister for Transport, and by Mpumi Madisa, Chief Executive of the Bidvest Group, the Johannesburg-listed parent company and the first Black woman to lead a JSE Top 40 company. Bidvest Noonan, which provides cleaning, security and facilities services, marks its 50th anniversary in 2027.
The pledge sits at the heart of Purpose in Action, the company’s new social value strategy, launched at the event. It commits Bidvest Noonan to two goals by 2030: supporting 10,000 people into employment and future skills, and delivering one million hours of community impact through volunteering, fundraising and local partnerships. Those supported will include people with disabilities, refugees, women returning to the workforce and the long-term unemployed, helped through work placements, recruitment mentoring, employability workshops and training.
The commitment builds on Bidvest Noonan’s partnerships with organisations such as Business in the Community Ireland, whose EPIC programme supports migrants and refugees into employment.
Ola is one example of how that support can lead to a real opportunity. Originally from Nigeria, Ola, 33, came to Ireland in 2024 and struggled to find work despite a background in hospitality and IT, unsure how to navigate an unfamiliar jobs market. As an EPIC participant, he received CV and interview support before completing the training, vetting and licensing required to become a Security Officer. He is now building a career with Bidvest Noonan.
“When I arrived, I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t know how the system worked here. I kept applying for jobs and hearing nothing back, and I started to wonder if I’d ever get settled. The support I received helped me understand the process and gave me the confidence to go for it. Now I have a job I’m proud of and a future I can plan for.” Ola, Security Officer at Bidvest Noonan.
Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment and Minister for Transport, said:
“I am delighted to join Bidvest Noonan for the opening of its new headquarters and to welcome this important commitment. For those who face barriers to entering the workforce, the right support at the right time can make a transformative difference. As major employers, companies like Bidvest Noonan have both the reach and the opportunity to help people access meaningful employment and realise their potential. It is particularly fitting that, as the company approaches its 50th year in Ireland, it is making this pledge from a headquarters built to the highest modern energy-efficiency standards.”
Julie Mernagh, Chief People and Culture Officer at Bidvest Noonan, said:
“Talent and potential exist in every community we are part of. Access to opportunity does not. Purpose in Action is our commitment to help close that gap. Through our colleagues and partnerships, we can open doors for people, whether that is a first job, a step up in their career or new skills for the future.”
Declan Doyle, Chief Executive Officer of Bidvest Noonan, said:
“Bidvest Noonan has grown over almost 50 years because of the people who deliver its services every day. A job can be a first opportunity, but people also need the chance to learn and progress, and this commitment brings the two together. As the company approaches its 50th anniversary, we want it to be known not only for the services it delivers, but for the opportunities it creates.”
Purpose in Action is organised around four pillars: Employability and Future Skills; Community; Sustainable and Responsible Supply Chain; and Environment.