Latest News

Kristina Koshmanova, Senior Technology & Innovation Manager, Martina Donohoe, Sustainability and Safety Director, and Katie Sneath, Director of People Business Partners

A packed hall at Queen’s University Belfast set the stage for a forward-looking discussion on the workplace of tomorrow. On 28th August 2025, leaders, innovators, and industry professionals gathered to explore how to design future workplaces around three urgent priorities: making them smart, ensuring they are sustainable, and keeping them profoundly human. 

The event, designed and delivered in partnership by Bidvest Noonan and the NI Chamber, opened with a powerful reminder from futurist Arthur C. Clarke. His 1964 vision that “only if what you describe appears absolutely unbelievable, do you have any chance of visualising the future as it really will be” felt as relevant today as ever. 

The morning keynote was delivered by Kristina Koshmanova, Senior Technology and Innovation Manager at Bidvest Noonan, who captured the imagination of the audience with Clarke’s words before grounding them in the very real technological shifts already shaping facilities management. 

She demonstrated how innovations such as smart headsets, digital twins, smart sensors, and robotics are transforming the workplace. These are not futuristic concepts, she argued, but present realities: today, an engineer can work on a building hundreds of miles away through a smart headset; robots are already working alongside people to keep buildings clean; digital platforms allow us to explore, train, and test in virtual replicas of our facilities; and connected systems show us how buildings are being used and where they can be made more efficient. Kristina’s central message was that “the future is already here, just not evenly distributed.” She highlighted that many of the technologies set to define tomorrow’s workplace are already within our reach today. The challenge, and the opportunity, lies in acting strategically now to unlock their benefits before they become pervasive. 

New technology is not here to replace jobs,” she reminded attendees. “Like the internet, it will eliminate some tasks, but it will create new ones too. Our role is to prepare people for that shift.” 

The panel discussion that followed, featuring industry leaders, reinforced these points. Panellists proposed that smart technology succeeds when it solves real problems. Safe environments for experimentation, clear problem statements, and, above all, listening to frontline staff were highlighted as the bedrock of successful adoption. One panellist captured it perfectly: “Start where people are struggling, if tech doesn’t solve their real issues, it won’t stick.” 

The takeaway was clear. In FM, digital transformation isn’t about adopting technology, it’s about solving frontline problems first. The examples (headsets, digital twins, robots) matter less as technologies and more as illustrations of a principle: innovation sticks only if it removes pain points. 

Sustainable: From Obligation to Advantage 

The second keynote, delivered by Martina Donohoe, Bidvest Noonan’s Sustainability and Safety Director, shifted the focus to sustainability and the powerful opportunities it presents for forward-looking organisations. Her message was uncompromising: Sustainability is no longer just an aspiration, it’s now a very real obligation, and with that shift comes extraordinary opportunity. 

She outlined the fast-changing regulatory landscape, from the UK’s forthcoming mandatory climate transition plans to new anti-greenwashing rules and procurement standards requiring organisations to consider social, economic, and environmental impacts. In this climate, she argued, businesses that adopt standards early, and integrate sustainability systemically will thrive. 

Martina shared that by 2030, over 70% of the workforce will be millennials and Gen Z. The first Gen Alphas will enter the workforce and this generation, raised in an era of climate activism, hold employers and brands to account for sustainability. “The future marketplace is telling us exactly where to focus,” she explained, noting that nearly two-thirds of these groups are willing to pay more for sustainable products and services. 

The panel brought theory to life with powerful case studies of transformation in action, highlighting real-world examples from across industries. Together, they showed how organisations across sectors are rethinking their operations to achieve ambitious sustainability goals while strengthening their communities. 

Human: Skills, Purpose, and Care 

Closing the day, Katie Sneath, Director of People Business Partners at Bidvest Noonan, brought the conversation back to what ultimately matters most: people. Her keynote centred on skills, purpose, and care as the foundations of thriving workplaces. 

Katie reminded the audience that while external factors like technology and regulation can drive change, the success of most transformation programmes depend on human engagement. She spoke about equipping colleagues with the right capabilities, from technical knowledge to core skills such as adaptability and collaboration. She highlighted Bidvest Noonan’s own initiatives, including new learning pathways and a multilingual learning management system designed to support every colleague. 

But it was her emphasis on purpose that left the greatest mark. Sharing the story of Marilyn, a frontline colleague who saved a life through her training and quick thinking, Katie showed how purpose is lived out in real moments, not corporate slogans. “Purpose is not a slogan,” she said. “It’s about connecting people’s daily tasks to something bigger.” 

Finally, she underlined the importance of care: wellbeing, inclusion, and psychological safety as essentials, not extras. From launching new colleague networks on accessibility, gender balance, menopause, and men’s health, to achieving Diversity Mark reaccreditation, Katie’s examples underscored that culture is built through daily investment in people. 

A panel of Northern Ireland business leaders reinforced these themes, highlighting the pivotal role FM professionals play in shaping everything from flexible workspaces to inclusive cultures. Their shared conviction was that without skilled, motivated, and cared-for people, neither smart technologies nor sustainability strategies will succeed. 

As one speaker put it: “Today is about moving from words to action. The future is already arriving. The question is whether we are ready to deliver it.” 

Building on its strong track record in the transport sector, Bidvest Noonan has been awarded the combined security services contract for Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, and Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus nationwide. This is one of the largest security contracts of its kind in the country.

This significant win highlights Bidvest Noonan’s leadership in providing security solutions for critical national infrastructure and reinforces its position as a trusted partner for large-scale contracts. The agreement brings together three of Ireland’s most important transport providers under a single contract, ensuring consistent, high-quality services across the national transport network.

As part of this new partnership, more than 300 people will be joining Bidvest Noonan, further strengthening the company’s team and capacity to deliver excellence at scale.

Under this partnership, Bidvest Noonan will deliver a wide range of services, including frontline and on-board security, mobile patrols, key-holding, opening and locking stations, and securing the Rosslare Europort, one of the largest and busiest ports in Ireland.

Innovation, quality, and safety will be at the core of Bidvest Noonan’s service delivery. The company will combine its industry expertise, highly trained teams, and dedicated support structures to safeguard passengers, staff, and assets across Ireland.

David Barker, Chief Growth Officer at Bidvest Noonan, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this landmark contract. This partnership reflects the confidence placed in our team to protect Ireland’s vital transport infrastructure. We are proud to bring our experience, scale, and innovative solutions to support Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, and Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus in delivering safe, secure environments for millions of passengers and staff across the country.”

Alan Durnan, Managing Director at Bidvest Noonan, added: “Securing this contract is a huge endorsement of our people, national infrastructure and our solution design capabilities. The scale of this partnership is unique, covering the entire country and uniting multiple public transport modes under a single security partnership. We are committed to providing a first-class service, with the flexibility, expertise, and technology needed to meet the requirements of Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, and Bus Átha Cliath – Dublin Bus today and into the future.”

This contract win is one of many recent successes for Bidvest Noonan in the transport sector, further cementing its reputation as a market leader and trusted partner for major public and private organisations across the UK and Ireland.

Declan Doyle, Chief Executive Officer at Bidvest Noonan, Julie Mernagh, Chief People Officer at Bidvest Noonan, Elizabeth Sheehan, Country Executive at the 30% Club, and Mary Kealy, Managing Director & EDI Ambassador at Bidvest Noonan

The 30% Club has today announced Bidvest Noonan as its newest member. Bidvest Noonan, headquartered in Dublin and with a heritage spanning nearly 50 years, is Ireland’s market leader in FM services. The customer-focused services group joins 30% Club’s global campaign supported by Board Chairs and CEOs, committed to achieving better gender balance at leadership levels and throughout their organisation, for better business outcomes.

Operating across the UK and Ireland, Bidvest Noonan has doubled in size over the past five years and now employs over 27,000 people to deliver a range of services including cleaning, security, and technical maintenance. Its membership reflects a deepening commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across its operations.

Bidvest Noonan is making significant strides in advancing its EDI agenda, with a strong focus on enhancing gender diversity in leadership. This has been a multi-year journey, and to strengthen this focus, this year the company has launched targeted talent programmes, for senior and middle management. Both are designed to strengthen the pipeline of internal female talent and increase the representation of women in leadership roles.

These programmes broaden access to development opportunities and help the organisation attract, retain and advance diverse talent. In addition, Bidvest Noonan is driving accountability across all leadership teams and has set long-term goals to improve representation across all levels of the organisation.

Joining the 30% Club enables Bidvest Noonan to collaborate with a robust network of CEOs, board chairs, policymakers, investors and educators who are committed to driving meaningful change. The company will benefit from access to development programmes, sectoral working groups, research, events, mentoring, board ready programmes and senior women in leadership programmes.

Declan Doyle, CEO of Bidvest Noonan, commented: “Joining the 30% Club marks a significant milestone in our journey toward greater inclusion. We believe that a diverse and inclusive culture is essential to delivering long-term value for our customers, our people, and the communities we serve. While we’ve made strong progress, we recognise there is always more to do. We’re excited to learn from and contribute to the 30% Club as we continue to build a balanced and innovative leadership structure.”

Elizabeth Sheehan, Country Executive at the 30% Club, added: “We are delighted to welcome Bidvest Noonan to our growing network of supporters across Ireland. As a major employer in the UK and Ireland, their influence and actions have the potential to

drive meaningful change not only within their own organisation but across the wider industry. We look forward to collaborating with Bidvest Noonan as they continue to champion diversity and empower women in leadership.”

Julie Mernagh, Chief People & Culture Officer at Bidvest Noonan, said: “We are both proud and excited to be joining the 30% Club and to stand alongside its mission to drive meaningful progress in gender equality. At Bidvest Noonan, we are investing in programmes that empower women, foster inclusive cultures, and create pathways to leadership. Joining the 30% Club is a powerful step forward in our journey, and we’re excited to collaborate, learn, and lead as part of this impactful network.”

Further benefits of the 30% Club membership include enhanced employee engagement, consumer trust, and access to cross-company mentoring, scholarships, and industry-specific networking events.

Bidvest Noonan recently retained its Diversity Mark accreditation, in recognition of the company’s sustained progress in building a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

Todd Engman, Head of Business Development at Diversity Mark, Julie Mernagh, Chief People Officer at Bidvest Noonan, and Chandrika Deshpande, Director of Organisational Development at Bidvest Noonan

Bidvest Noonan, a leading FM services provider across the UK and Ireland, today announced it has retained its Diversity Mark Accreditation, reaffirming its commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I). At a time when a growing number of companies are scaling back their diversity and inclusion efforts, Bidvest Noonan continues to place ED&I at the heart of its business strategy.

This achievement recognises the company’s sustained progress in building a more diverse and inclusive workplace. The accreditation is awarded following an independent assessment process that verifies an organisation’s commitment to advancing ED&I. By retaining this status, Bidvest Noonan demonstrates that it has built a strong and enduring foundation for inclusion, one that reflects its values and deep commitment to its people.

Bidvest Noonan has accelerated its ED&I journey with the launch of its ED&I strategy focused on three key priorities: Enabling Experiences, Belonging, and Inclusive Society. Guided by a vision of a workplace where inclusion is at the core of everything the company does, diversity is celebrated, and every voice is heard, the company has implemented a wide range of impactful initiatives.

These include the establishment of a new ED&I Council to steer its strategy and ensure accountability at the highest level, as well as the launch of multiple colleague-led communities focused on Gender Balance, Accessibility, Race & Ethnicity, and Wellbeing. The business has also introduced inclusive leadership development, inclusive recruitment and talent practices, wellbeing programmes, and a series of social value initiatives that extend its impact beyond the workplace and into the communities it serves.

Julie Mernagh, Chief People Officer at Bidvest Noonan, commented:

“Our people are our greatest strength, and creating an inclusive culture for them is important to our success. Retaining the Diversity Mark accreditation shows the commitment and hard work of our teams to make diversity and inclusion part of our DNA. We are incredibly proud of this achievement, and it energises us to continue building on this momentum.”

Chandrika Deshpande, Director of Organisational Development at Bidvest Noonan, said:

“This achievement marks an important milestone in Bidvest Noonan’s ED&I journey. Over the past year, we launched an ambitious ED&I strategy with clear goals to embed inclusion at every level of our organisation. It’s an exciting time inside our business and incredibly rewarding to see our efforts recognised in this way.”

Lesley Miller, Strategic Project Lead at Diversity Mark, said:

“Congratulations to Bidvest Noonan for retaining their Diversity Mark Accreditation. This is a significant milestone that demonstrates their commitment to ED&I in challenging times. Diversity Mark applauds Bidvest Noonan for their focus on Culture, ERGs, Recruitment and Leadership Development as well as providing an example of what can be achieved in their industry.”

Bidvest Noonan, a leading provider of FM services to the transport sector across the UK and Ireland, has expanded its long-standing partnership with Translink, Northern Ireland’s public transport provider. The business retained its cleaning services contract and added catering support and consumable supplies. This is the latest in a growing number of customers who have transitioned to bundled and integrated solutions, reflecting a wider trend across the organisation.

David Barker, Chief Growth Officer at Bidvest Noonan, said:
“This expansion reflects the incredible service our teams deliver and the strength of our business in Northern Ireland. We’re seeing real momentum in bundled and integrated solutions as more organisations look to manage costs, reduce complexity, and improve outcomes.”

Operating an extensive network of bus and rail services, Translink is one of Northern Ireland’s most significant public service organisations. It plays a critical role in connecting communities, supporting the economy, and advancing sustainable transport across the region.

This expanded contract marks a major milestone in Bidvest Noonan’s partnership with Translink, which began in 2012. It reflects the continued success of Bidvest Noonan’s teams in delivering exceptional service and its growing role in the region’s transport sector.

As part of the new multiservice agreement, Bidvest Noonan will introduce a suite of innovations to support operational efficiency and enhance the passenger experience. These include cobotic cleaning solutions, sensor-based monitoring, and non-chemical cleaning systems, all designed to deliver cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environments.

Bidvest Noonan will also implement a range of sustainability initiatives to reduce environmental impact. These include cutting plastic and packaging use, switching to green product alternatives, and eliminating harmful chemicals from cleaning processes.

The contract also paves the way for new community engagement initiatives, beginning with a social value programme at the landmark Grand Central Station in Belfast. Through this programme, Bidvest Noonan and Translink aim to make a lasting, positive impact across the communities they serve.

Jim O’Hagan, Managing Director for Northern Ireland at Bidvest Noonan, said:
“We are incredibly proud to expand our partnership with Translink. This is a flagship, multiservice contract for us in Northern Ireland, and its retention and growth reflect the trust we’ve built through years of strong performance. By delivering a broader range of services, we’re able to deliver greater value and create even better experiences for passengers and colleagues alike.”

This contract forms part of Bidvest Noonan’s growing portfolio of major transport partnerships across the UK and Ireland, reinforcing its position as a market leader in delivering high-performing FM services for the transport sector.

Bidvest Noonan has launched a new Customer Value function, bringing together a number of its key teams under one integrated structure. Designed to strengthen customer partnerships and improve outcomes, the function combines expertise in areas such as innovation, environmental sustainability, health and safety, operational excellence and customer experience, creating a more connected approach to delivering insight, improvement and impact for clients.

This move reflects Bidvest Noonan’s commitment to its vision:

To be the best FM business; known for exceptional people, sustainable solutions and disruptive innovation that enables our customers, colleagues and communities to thrive.

The function is led by Cornelia Olivier, who has been promoted to Managing Director of Customer Value. A member of the business for the past five years, Olivier previously served as Customer Relationship Director and now reports to Chief Operations Officer Cormac Sheils, positioning her and her team to influence operational delivery across the business.

Olivier began her career in consulting with EY and later joined 4C Associates, a UK-based consultancy specialising in procurement and supply chain performance. She went on to hold a senior role at Barclays. Her experience across both advisory and in-house environments gives her a valuable perspective on how to build partnerships, lead change and deliver value at scale.

Cormac Sheils, Chief Operations Officer, commented:

“This new function brings together critical capabilities from across our business, aligned around a shared goal: to deliver greater value for our clients. Cornelia brings the leadership and clarity needed to turn this into a real engine for client success and operational progress.”

The Customer Value function will work in close partnership with operational teams across the UK and Ireland to strengthen client relationships, generate insight to inform service strategy, deliver innovative and customer-centered solutions, drive excellence in health, safety and sustainability, and embed continuous improvement across all sectors.

Cornelia Olivier, Managing Director of Customer Value, said:

“ The Customer Value function brings together teams with specialist expertise to drive improvements in areas such as service quality, innovation delivery, sustainability, safety and client satisfaction. It gives us a clear point of difference in how we support our clients and respond to their needs.

The creation of the Customer Value function reflects Bidvest Noonan’s ongoing investment in leadership, capability and long-term client success across its operations in the UK and Ireland.