Bidvest Noonan

A leading provider of facilities services and solutions

Our Business

60 Seconds with Phil Payne

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Phil Payne, Group Director of IT Customer Experience, joined us on our 60-Second interview series. Phil tells us about his role at Bidvest Noonan and shares insights he has learned throughout his life.

In one sentence, how would you define what you do at Bidvest Noonan?
I am here to own the engagement between IT and the business, ensuring that we support any issues or requirements that come up as part of delivering on the corporate vision.

What has been your best day at Bidvest Noonan?
We recently got my whole team together in person for the first time. Although one person was unable to travel, just getting everyone together and seeing them interact with the wider IT team has given me confidence we have the right people to deliver great service to the business.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Over my career, I’ve been given lots of excellent guidance and advice, but I think the best bit of advice I’ve ever been given is just to manage expectations. IT can go wrong, people understand that, but typically, as long as you’re managing expectations and communicating well, they will be more forgiving!

How do you motivate yourself?
I always try to focus on the “bigger picture” – whether it’s work or home life. I try to focus on what really matters and not get bogged down by any knockbacks along the way – as long as I learn my lessons as I go.
Outside of work, I am married with two kids. Spending time with my family is my favourite thing to do, although that’s not always relaxing!

Who or what has inspired you the most?
Don’t tell her I told you, but probably my wife! Not only does she have to put up with me, but the way she goes about her life and juggles work, exercise, friendship, and parenting inspires me to be a better person. Without her support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

If you had a motto, what would it be?
I can’t think of a catchy tagline, but if I could, it would be around always treating others how you wish to be treated, being empathetic, and not jumping to conclusions without having all the information available to you.

The Importance of Training in the Healthcare Sector

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We caught up with Brigid Ryan, Operations Manager for the Healthcare sector. Brigid shares her career journey and her perspective on how Bidvest Noonan has been so successful in the sector.

How did you get started in the industry?

I started working at Bidvest Noonan in 1999 as a Mobile Area Manager. Prior to joining Bidvest Noonan, I had worked as a Healthcare Professional and I was able to use this experience to progress to the role of Operations Manager in our Healthcare Division. My first contract was at one of Cork’s busiest hospitals, and now as Operations Manager, it remains one of my key accounts to this day. It grew from there, and I have had many other healthcare partnerships since.

What sets us apart in the industry?

We were one of the first companies to introduce rigorous site auditing. I remember explaining the concept to our clients at the time. It was basically a way to provide evidence of the quality of our service and to provide a history of consistent quality of service.  Many standard practices that the industry takes for granted now were innovations that we were the first to introduce.

What is unique to working in healthcare?

I believe it is the nature of the working environment and the level of training and IPC knowledge required to perform our work in a healthcare facility. Our people are working in very challenging environments surrounded by vulnerable patients, busy staff, and visitors. Our teams have constant interaction with people while working and this can be both rewarding and challenging. Our work plays a key role in breaking the chain of infection in a healthcare environment. That is why our people must complete a wide range of infection, prevention, and control training to ensure a safe, clean environment for patients, staff, and visitors.

Is Infection Prevention and Control important to the sector?

It is hugely important, and I believe we have extensive expertise in this area. Our Healthcare Division now has an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) nurse specialist on the team. Through this investment, we have been able to expand our IPC expertise and continue to improve the service we provide. We have been able to further support our site-based teams by empowering them with the knowledge to ensure that Infection Prevention and Control is at the heart of our cleaning activities on site.

Photo of Bidvest Noonan Cleaning operative in an hospital

Bidvest Noonan partners with Enable Ireland

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Bidvest Noonan, Ireland’s market-leading facilities services provider, and Enable Ireland Disability Services, have launched their new charity partnership for the next two years. The agreement will see Enable Ireland become Bidvest Noonan’s official charity partner.

Bidvest Noonan has committed to using its considerable resources to support Enable Ireland’s services for children and young people with disabilities. The business will work with Enable Ireland to raise funds for crucial projects across its children’s service centres.

Commenting on the new charity partnerships announcement, Bidvest Noonan’s ESG Director, John King, said: “We’re proud to launch this charity partnership with Enable Ireland. We believe that Enable Ireland’s work is vital, and we are delighted that Bidvest Noonan can help support them to create a better future for children with disabilities in Ireland.”

Further to the announcement, Enable Ireland’s National Fundraising Manager Dónal Kitt said: “We’re delighted to launch this partnership with Bidvest Noonan which will support our essential services for children and young people with disabilities. After a challenging number of years, we look forward to working with Bidvest Noonan on a number of events and activities to raise funds for crucial projects in our children’s service centres.”

About Enable Ireland

Enable Ireland provides services to children and adults with disabilities and their families in 15 counties. Covering childhood to adulthood its expert teams work with the individual and their family on a plan for each life stage. Its services for children and their families cover all aspects of a child’s physical, educational, and social development from early infancy through adolescence. They offer a range of services to adults with disabilities which include day services, training, personal development, supported and independent living, and social and leisure activities.

About Bidvest Noonan

Bidvest Noonan is an award-winning and highly accredited customer-focused services group. They employ over 27,000 people across the UK & Ireland. The business is a market leader for a wide range of facilities services across the UK & Ireland. These services include cleaning, security, reception, decontamination, electronic security, industrial services, and many more. Its success has been achieved by designing and delivering facilities solutions that provide exceptional quality and value for customers.

Introducing our new Sourcing Solutions business unit

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Bidvest Noonan is delighted to announce the launch of Sourcing Solutions, our newest business unit.

For many years, cleaning, security, and technical services have been the core pillars of Bidvest Noonan’s business in Ireland. However, this year we are adding a new pillar to meet our clients’ needs across a wide range of ancillary FM services.

Our Sourcing Solutions business unit will provide single and bundled service solutions that span areas ranging from janitorial supplies, washroom services, pest control, and many more.

We have appointed David Casey as Managing Director of the new business unit. David has over 20 years of industry experience and is a long-serving member of our senior leadership team. Under David’s leadership, our Sourcing Solutions business unit will leverage our group’s expertise and purchasing power to maximise the value we deliver to clients. David and his team will help our clients reduce their costs and carbon footprint while providing them with the convenience and reassurance of a single point of contact.

Watch our video below, where David Casey introduces our newest business unit.

Annual Awards 2021 event

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Our teams came together on November 3rd for our Annual Awards event 2021 in recognition of some of the outstanding people from our business in Ireland. The event was a success and it was a fantastic night to celebrate the achievements of our people. Huge congratulations to all finalists and winners!

See the winners
Watch the video
See the photos

Winners of the 2021 Bidvest Noonan Annual Awards

Business UnitCategoryNameSite/ Team
Workplace SolutionsCleaning Operative of the YearRaymond BurkeIndustrial Team, Cork 
Workplace SolutionsCleaning Supervisor of the YearPhyllis StrahanServier 
Workplace SolutionsSecurity Officer of the YearVaidas Budrys Beaux Lane House
Workplace SolutionsSecurity Supervisor of the YearWilliam Doyle  SSE Great Island Power Station 
Workplace SolutionsInnovation AwardSoftwash Industrial Team
Workplace SolutionsSuperstar of the YearJohn Delaney Tesco
Workplace SolutionsBest Managed Contract Small TeamState StreetState Street Sir John Rogerson’s Quay
Workplace SolutionsBest Managed Contract Medium TeamWoodiesWoodies
Workplace SolutionsBest Managed Contract Large TeamBus Eireann Bus Eireann 
Integrated SolutionsCleaning Operative of the YearTeofilo BobiasSt. Vincent’s University Hospital
Integrated SolutionsCleaning Supervisor of the YearPaloma PerroneUCD
Integrated SolutionsSecurity Officer of the YearIsrael  Edosa IgbinosunPrimark
Integrated SolutionsSecurity Supervisor of the YearIan MitchellUlster University
Integrated SolutionsFront of House Person of the YearJames HoulihanAnalog
Integrated SolutionsFront of House Supervisor of the YearMark ReidAIB 
Integrated SolutionsInnovation AwardTersano InstallationFacebook
Integrated SolutionsSuperstar of the YearAntonio LoboschiSt.Patricks Hospital
Integrated SolutionsBest Managed Contract Small TeamMahon Point Shopping CentreMahon Point Shopping Centre
Integrated SolutionsBest Managed Contract Medium TeamMSD BrinnyMSD Brinny
Integrated SolutionsBest Managed Contract Large TeamAIBAIB
Northern IrelandCleaning Operative of the YearDarren GardinerVarious Contracts
Northern IrelandCleaning Supervisor of the YearGary EvansDanske Bank
Northern IrelandSecurity Officer of the YearMark ClydesdaleIntertrade Ireland
Northern IrelandSecurity Supervisor/ Manager of the YearAdrian McCauleyBelfast Harbour
Northern IrelandSuperstar of the Year 2022Darren GardinerVarious contracts 
Northern IrelandBest Managed ContractEmerson/CopelandEmerson/Copeland
InteractEngineer of the YearConor McCarthyTeva Waterford
InteractEngineering Supervisor of the YearGraham TyrellGlanbia
InteractMobile Operative of the YearConor HarringtonFlye Fit Gyms Mechanical & Electrical 
InteractSuperstar of the Year Philip Walsh Mobile Technical Team
InteractBest Managed ContractWorkdayWorkday

Video

Photos

Check out photos from our Annual Awards 2021 gala event in Ireland.

COP26: What Does This Mean for Bidvest Noonan?

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COP26 (Conference of the Parties, 26th event) will be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 31st October -12th November 2021. It is a global United Nations summit about climate change and will be attended by representatives of the 154 countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This year it will be attended by 190 world leaders, with the UK as president.

COP26 has been described by climate change experts as the most significant climate event since the 2015 Paris Agreement as we still have a long way to go to ensure global temperatures are less than 1.5⁰ C above pre-industrial levels. At COP26, it will be the first time countries must report back on their progress since they signed the Paris Agreement and set out more ambitious goals for reducing their contribution to climate change.

“These talks are vital as they will shape the world’s response to our biggest challenge: the Climate Crisis, and provide an arena for all countries, large and small, to share ideas, agree on goals and targets moving forward. It is time for world leaders to lead, show ambition and set an example for us all.”

John King, Environmental, Social & Governance Director, Bidvest Noonan

In 2021, Bidvest Noonan signed up to the Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) Low Carbon Pledge and we are proud to be one of c.60 companies that vowed to support this initiative. The Pledge commits us to a 50% reduction in our carbon footprint by 2030 through carbon emission baselining and setting Science-Based Targets (SBTs) by 2024. We are looking to implement initiatives to reach our goal well in advance of the 2030 target. Initiatives include reducing our buildings’ energy usage, reducing our fleet’s fuel usage, removing the use of single use plastics, moving to more sustainable fabrics in our uniform, and looking at eco-friendlier commuting options for our colleagues.

We would love to hear your ideas around reducing your impact on the environment by sending your stories and pictures to [email protected].