Bidvest Noonan

A leading provider of Facilities Management Servicess

Innovation

Award-Winning Innovation Set to Reduce Food Waste Volumes by up to 80% at UCD.

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Ireland’s largest university, University College Dublin, market-leading facilities management services company Bidvest Noonan, and Ireland’s leading waste-handling solutions company, Ancove, are proud winners of the Public Sector Magazine’s Excellence in Business Awards ‘Best Waste Handling Solution’ award, recognising innovation in on-site waste reduction and environmental performance.

Bidvest Noonan and Ancove support UCD with waste management solutions helping to improve performance and increase efficiency through practical, day-to-day improvements. Most recently, the partnership has delivered a new sustainability initiative focused on food waste: the installation of a cutting-edge, industrial grade bioprocessor designed for a large campus environment.

Positioned close to where food waste is produced, the system is expected to cut food waste volumes by up to 80%, while reducing the storage and transport typically required to manage organic waste at scale.

The bioprocessor is capable of digesting up to 1,000 litres of unavoidable food waste and other organic material each day. Operating within a sealed, controlled system, it breaks waste down aerobically using oxygen and microbes, converting organic material into a soil-enriching output. By processing waste on site, the system reduces the volume of material leaving campus and decreases the number of waste collections required.

For a campus of UCD’s scale, the operational benefits are significant. Fewer collections mean fewer vehicle movements, lower associated emissions, and less disruption to day-to-day campus activity. The system also reduces the manual handling involved in food waste management and supports a more circular approach to resource use, helping to divert organic waste away from traditional disposal routes.

The installation forms part of UCD’s broader programme to strengthen environmental performance through applied innovation. It also demonstrates how facilities management and waste-handling expertise can support large institutions in delivering practical sustainability outcomes, while improving efficiency across daily operations. As the system becomes embedded in campus routines, it is expected to contribute to UCD’s wider environmental goals over time, providing a scalable model for on-site organic waste processing.

The hidden change underway in today’s workplaces

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Peter Smyth, Director of Innovation & Technology at Bidvest Noonan, on how new technologies are changing how buildings operate.

For many years, changes in buildings and facilities arrived in steady steps. A new piece of equipment here, an updated procedure there and gradual improvements across sites.

That picture is beginning to change. A group of technologies is influencing how buildings operate, how teams organise their work and how people use the spaces around them. Four areas in particular are shaping much of this progress: automation, IoT sensors, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI). What’s different now is the speed and interconnectedness of these changes, driven by rising sustainability demands, cost pressures, and expectations for smarter, safer workplaces.

Automation has moved on from production lines and robotic arms. Today, some of the most interesting developments are appearing in far more familiar places: office buildings, hospitals, universities and transport hubs are beginning to use automation in practical and helpful ways, such as robotic cleaning machines.

As automation becomes more common, IoT sensors build awareness of what is happening inside a building, offering a rich and connected view of building activity.

Sensors can now track occupancy, temperature, air quality, water flow, vibration, light levels and other conditions. This allows buildings to respond based on what is happening.

Once organisations begin to collect richer information from sensors and systems, the next challenge is making sense of it all. Digitalisation helps by bringing all the data together in a way that is easy to work with.

One approach is the digital system twin, which helps people see how different components influence one another. If something begins to drift out of range, the model can reveal the knock-on effects, making it easier to pinpoint the problem and respond appropriately.

AI in this activity generates a growing amount of data, but data on its own does not create value. This is where AI is starting to play a distinct role in built environments, sitting inside other systems.

It is a layer of capability that makes other technologies more effective, for example robotic cleaners adjusting routes based on real-time conditions, or digital twins predicting how a system will respond under different loads or identifying early signs of failure.

Few organisations implement all four of these developments at once. Most begin with a single area, see the benefits and then explore the next step. Each development stands on its own and can bring clear value. At Bidvest Noonan, we’re seeing clients gain the most value when these technologies are introduced alongside strong frontline expertise and practical service design.

Together, they show how buildings and facilities are changing. Automation supports teams with routine work. Sensors help buildings sense and respond. Digitalisation gives people a clearer picture of how everything fits together. AI helps that connected environment learn, adapt and improve over time.

None of this replaces the need for experienced facilities and estates professionals. It gives them better tools and better information to manage buildings that are becoming more capable and more essential to how organisations operate. The most effective estates teams will be those who combine human judgement with data-led insight, turning buildings into partners in performance rather than passive infrastructure.

Peter Smyth, Director of Innovation & Technology

Bidvest Noonan Becomes First FM Services Company to Introduce New Specialist Cleaning Technology

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Bidvest Noonan is the first in its industry across the UK and Ireland to introduce a brand-new range of specialist cleaning technology for its customers. Developed for cleanroom environments, where contamination control is critical, this technology enables the high standards of cleaning required in these spaces to be achieved with greater efficiency than ever before.

The SAFE-T range was developed to meet the needs of a Bidvest Noonan customer, a globally renowned technology brand, that sought a more advanced and specialised solution for its world-class cleanrooms. To support its customer, Bidvest Noonan engaged Clenli Direct, who worked closely with i-Team Global, the manufacturers, to bring the range to market.

“Our strategic partner Bidvest Noonan introduced JLL to Clenli Direct and i-Team Global, their excellent engineers worked with our problem statement and design ideas, this collaboration of engineering and cleanroom expertise has resulted in an innovative product and relationship that we at JLL are proud to be part of.” said Spencer Price, Cleanroom Facilities Manager at JLL.

“We are proud to have played a role in the inception of this new range of technology,” said David Barker, Chief Growth Officer at Bidvest Noonan. “We have a long track record of innovating to help our customers overcome challenges, and strong partnerships have always been central to that success. We were delighted to mark the launch of the SAFE-T range alongside JLL, Clenli Direct and i-Team Global, and we look forward to bringing the benefits of this technology to our customers across the UK and Ireland.”

Officially launched in Dublin on 12 March 2025 at an event attended by industry leaders and experts, the SAFE-T line brings vast improvements to cleanroom cleaning. One of the machines in its range is the SAFE-T-IMOP, the first battery-powered scrubber dryer designed for both cleanroom and general use. It reduces cleaning time by up to 50% compared to traditional flat mopping and has been independently tested to meet ISO 14644 cleanroom standards.

Bidvest Noonan’s adoption of this technology reinforces its leadership in the FM industry, particularly in high-tech and regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, technology, and life sciences.

Bidvest Noonan Launches TwinSpace, its Digital Twin Solution

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Bidvest Noonan has launched TwinSpace, its new digital twin technology solution. TwinSpace provides our clients with 3D virtual replicas of their facilities to improve training, project management, occupancy planning, and more.

TwinSpace is gaining fast traction, particularly in sectors where training and space utilisation are critical. Its accurate 3D models of facilities allow our teams to complete site-specific training remotely. New team members can familiarise themselves with the facility before arriving on-site, ensuring they are well-prepared from day one.

TwinSpace captures precise spatial data to create highly accurate floor plans. These schematic plans include precise measurements and define floor areas within buildings. This level of detail enables our teams to plan for work schedules, space management, and optimising resource allocation more effectively.

Our TwinSpace technicians can create virtual models for clients within hours, using unobtrusive, lightweight technologies. The models offer an intuitive, user-friendly experience and require minimal onboarding.

Whether visualising a room layout or navigating an entire building, TwinSpace simplifies space analysis and decision-making, providing a realistic view without the need for on-site visits. Embedded resources such as PDFs and videos provide detailed instructions and insights for tenants, maintenance teams, and facility managers, improving overall operational efficiency.

Peter Smyth, Director of Technology and Innovation, said, “TwinSpace enhances training, supports space planning, and enables better operational decision-making. It equips teams and managers with the critical information they need, whether planning projects or managing day-to-day tasks. This tool is a valuable asset for our customers across all sectors.”

Cormac Sheils, Chief Operating Officer, added, “TwinSpace has already made a significant impact, with clients seeing real improvements in training efficiency, space management, and decision-making. I’m confident that TwinSpace will continue to deliver exceptional value for our customers.”

Read our exclusive TwinSpace brochure

Bidvest_Noonan_TwinSpace Brochure (1)Download

Bidvest Noonan’s Altius VR onboards 1,600 officers in phase one

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We are delighted to announce the launch of our VR training programme, Altius, with more than 1,600 security officers onboarded for phase one of the programme. Altius see security officers train in virtual environments using VR headsets. These environments are perfect replicas of their actual workplaces, each recreated from real settings with advanced 3D camera technology.

The training immerses officers in highly realistic simulations where they are challenged to resolve a wide range of security issues, developing their skills, and honing their reactions in a low-risk environment. Through the creation of vivid deeply engaging experiences, Altius aims to close the gap between training and the real world.

The officers are using VR headsets, which have been designed by Meta to be lightweight, ergonomic highly performant. The headsets and their accompanying wireless handheld controllers are shipped to our sites, enabling officers to access bespoke immersive training where they work. This means the programme can scale to tens of thousands while the company can measure performance down to the individual level, pinpointing specific aspects of training an officer needs help with, and ensuring each officer can get the best possible outcome.

There is robust evidence supporting the effectiveness of VR training. According to a PwC study, VR not only enhances participant confidence by up to 40% compared to traditional methods but also achieves significant cost savings and greater emotional engagement when scaled. Learners complete training four times faster and are substantially more focused and inclusive post-training.

Raj Pradhan, Operations Director and Altius lead said “our Altius programme delivers an unparalleled learning experience and unmatched results. We have found that our officers are eager and excited to participate. They emerge from their training with more skills and confidence than can be achieved through conventional classroom and online approaches. Our programmes have been carefully designed to ensure our officers have all of the skills they need to perform at the highest levels and we are very impressed with the improvements we have seen in officers who have completed the programme.”

Liz Cummins, Managing Director “this technology is enabling us to close the gap between the training room and real-world situations. We are excited about the difference it is making for our people and the benefits it is delivering for all the customers who adopted it. We believe that in the coming years, more companies in our industry will develop and deploy VR training programmes and this will substantially improve security and service quality across the industry.”

Bidvest Noonan Has Launched Task – Our Cloud-Based Operations Platform for Intelligence-Driven Services

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We are delighted to announce the launch of Task, a cutting-edge cloud-based operations platform. Developed for our 27,000-strong workforce, Task was engineered to enhance service processes, employee management, and asset tracking, transforming the way our company operates in the field.

Task will change the way service teams work, allowing them to leverage real-time data generation and analysis to provide actionable insights for continual service improvement. Its comprehensive suite of applications caters to diverse operational needs across the company, ensuring enhanced quality, accountability, and consistency in our service delivery.

The platform’s capability to attach detailed instructions and guides to tasks ensures consistently high service standards, focusing on safety and professionalism. Our cleaning teams can access specific instructions for impeccable results, boosting client satisfaction. Teams can access integrated Risk Assessment and Method Statements (RAMS) and Schedules. Security colleagues benefit from Task’s GPS and NFC technologies, which ensure proof of presence and detailed digital audit trails, thereby offering clients enhanced assurance. The integrated panic button is a highly valuable safety feature, ensuring swift emergency responses for security personnel.

Task’s digital approach to operational documents plays a crucial role in supporting Bidvest Noonan’s commitment to environmental sustainability, significantly reducing paper usage and contributing to broader environmental goals.

Eddie Ingram, our Transformation Director comments, “With Task, we’re taking a significant step towards a more efficient, technology-driven future. It’s a standout platform, fit for the data-oriented and innovative company we have become. Task is key in our strategy to transform how we work and lead in our industry.”