Bidvest Noonan

A leading provider of facilities services and solutions

Social Value

Meet Darrin McCartney, our Director of Operations in Northern Ireland.

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We sat down with Darrin McCartney, our Director of Operations in Northern Ireland, to discuss his journey and insights as he embarks on a new chapter with the company having joined in 2023

In conversation, Darrin shares his perspectives on the exciting opportunities presented by recent acquisitions here at Bidvest Noonan, the dynamic leadership of our Managing Director for Northern Ireland, Jim O’Hagan, and his passion for innovation within the cleaning industry.

Tell us about your experience in the facilities industry.
I have been in the cleaning business since I was 16. Over the years, I have worked in practically every area of this industry. I worked in sectors such as aviation, pharmaceutical, and general offices. I also have experience in security.


What can you tell us about Bidvest Noonan in Northern Ireland?
In the past six months, I’ve witnessed a significant rise in Bidvest Noonan’s profile in the NI region. The acquisitions of Amber, Robinsons, and Swords Security send a strong message to competitors. Under Jim O’Hagan’s leadership, the company is making great progress in NI and we are here to do business.


You mentioned Jim’s leadership. What specifically about Jim and the developments in Northern Ireland caught your attention?
Jim’s arrival has brought a positive vibe to the team. The developments in Northern Ireland present a massive opportunity. Jim’s background in different industries adds a dynamic aspect, and I believe combining his leadership with the support of my operational experience creates a unique mix.


Can you elaborate on this unique skillset you bring to Bidvest Noonan?
My speciality is troubleshooting. I excel in situations where a site or contract faces challenges and I love getting into the nitty-gritty to find solutions. I often attend sites to see how our front-line teams operate. For instance, last year, I sat as a member of the public to observe operations, understand day-to-day behaviours, and then used this to formulate action plans based on what I learned.


How do you envision incorporating innovation into your role at Bidvest Noonan?
Innovation is crucial for staying ahead in our industry. At Bidvest Noonan, I see the company embracing change, and I aim to incorporate innovation into my approach. Understanding the complexities of challenges, listening to teams at all levels, and implementing innovative solutions will be key.


It was the innovation aspect of Bidvest Noonan that drew me in. I’m passionate about robotics and technology, and I look forward to working with our Director of Technology and Innovation, Peter Smyth, on innovative projects. Being part of a company that embraces change is exciting, and I see great potential for growth in this area.

Christina McDonald’s 8 Tips for Aspiring Managers: Navigating Success in Facility Management

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Christina McDonald is a seasoned professional with over 12 years of experience at Bidvest Noonan. Starting as a rostering helpdesk admin, she has climbed the ranks and now holds a leadership position as an Operations Manager, overseeing a team of managers across accounts from more than 20 customers. Christina’s journey to success has been marked by determination, hard work, and a commitment to continuous improvement. In this blog post, we will delve into eight valuable tips she shares for aspiring managers looking to advance their careers.

1) Believe in Yourself:


The first and foremost tip from Christina is to believe in yourself. If you aspire to climb the career ladder, you must trust your abilities and believe that you can achieve your goals. Don’t shy away from expressing your interest in promotions or taking on more responsibilities. By putting yourself forward, you demonstrate confidence and determination.

2) Find a Mentor and Set Up a Support Network:


Success is seldom achieved in isolation. Christina emphasises the importance of finding a mentor and establishing a strong support network. Seek guidance from experienced professionals who have led the way, can provide insights, advice, and encouragement as you navigate your career path. Having a support system is crucial for growth and overcoming challenges.

3) Stay Consistent at Building Relationships with Clients:


In the facilities services industry, strong customer relationships are paramount. Christina advises aspiring managers to consistently build and nurture relationships with clients. Understanding their needs and delivering exceptional service is key to success. Whenever possible, engage with clients in person to strengthen these connections.

4) Strive for Excellence:


Maintaining a commitment to excellence is vital in any managerial role. Christina recommends keeping a fresh perspective and always look for ways to improve both customer experience and team efficiency. Embrace a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

5) Don’t Underestimate the Power of Previous Experience:


Reflect on your past experiences, no matter how junior they may seem. Christina highlights the value of identifying transferable skills gained from previous roles. This can provide an advantage in understanding systems and procedures, positioning you for success in your next role.

6) Build Trust with Your Team:


Recognising her team as the biggest asset, Christina emphasises the importance of building trust with team members. Treat them with respect and kindness and create an environment of reliability and mutual trust. Acknowledge the crucial role your team plays in delivering quality services to customers.

7) Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions:


Asking questions is a sign of curiosity and a willingness to learn. Christina encourages aspiring managers not to fear seeking help when needed. By asking questions, you demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional growth, gaining valuable insights from those with more experience.

8) Challenge Yourself and Embrace Growth:


Finally, Christina advises against complacency. Challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone, and embrace a continuous learning mindset. Refuse to stay stagnant in one position, actively seeking opportunities for growth and advancement.

Conclusion:


Aspiring managers in Facilities Management can learn valuable lessons from Christina’s journey. By believing in yourself, seeking mentorship, building strong client relationships, striving for excellence, leveraging previous experience, fostering team trust, asking questions, and embracing growth, you can pave the way for a successful and fulfilling career in managerial roles within the industry.

A Year of Green Achievements: An Update from Environmental Manager Keerthana Sreenivasan

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As 2023 draws to a close, we at Bidvest Noonan take pride in reflecting on our environmental accomplishments. One of our colleagues guiding our success in sustainability is our Environmental Manager, Keerthana Sreenivasan. This year, we’ve made significant strides in reducing our environmental footprint, aligning our operations with eco-friendly principles and more. Keerthana shares some updates below:


Embracing Green Energy:


“Our journey towards sustainability took a great leap forward as we transitioned our offices to green energy. They are now powered by renewable sources, mainly wind farms. Shifting to green energy is not just a utility change for us; it truly shows our commitment to being more sustainable, and going forward we can exactly pinpoint the where our green energy comes from.”


Excellence in Sustainability Reporting:


“Our efforts in transparent and responsible environmental reporting have been recognised with awards from Ecovadis and CDP. These accolades reflect our commitment to sustainable practices, especially in managing our supply chain for a greener planet. I was very proud of these achievements.”


Innovative Waste Management:


“Innovating in waste management, we’ve not only found ways to turn waste into energy but also embraced processes that significantly cut down our landfill use. I am quite excited about exploring creative recycling initiatives, like transforming old uniforms into new ones, marking a step forward in our circular economy efforts.”


Smart Water Management:


“We focussed a lot on water conservation and integrated Smart Flow technology, enabling us to monitor water usage and carbon emissions in real time. This, along with the implementation of yet another Comac InAqua machine at a customer site, has helped us manage our resources even better and supported our customers with their sustainability goals.”


Sustainable Procurement:


“Our procurement team has been pivotal in implementing a product classification system – green, amber, and red – to gauge environmental impact. This approach ensures that our operations stay environmentally conscious, striking a balance between ecological responsibility and maintaining quality and efficiency.”


Looking Ahead:


“As we look to the future, I am quite excited for what’s ahead. We are committed to science based targets and that has to be announced first by the business. Also we are actively setting new standards, pushing boundaries in innovation and continuous improvement. Our focus is clear: to lead in environmental stewardship and shape a sustainable future. 2024 is shaping up to be a year of further progress”.

Read our Employability Report

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Employment brings positive change for individuals, society, and businesses. It helps people grow personally, boosts their well-being, and strengthens communities. Employment also supports economic stability and drives progress in society. When individuals succeed, businesses grow too, fueled by a dedicated and skilled workforce. In essence, employment is a tide that raises all boats.

However, many people face significant barriers to finding work. Individuals with disabilities often encounter societal barriers, lack of support, and accessibility issues. Language barriers can hold back those from non-English-speaking backgrounds, limiting their opportunities. Refugees struggle to integrate into new societies and find work. Additionally, people affected by homelessness and deprivation often find it hard to gain stable employment due to a lack of resources and support.

At Bidvest Noonan, we believe that helping people improve their employability is one of the best ways to drive positive social change. We work very hard to make a difference in this area and are proud to have helped many thousands of people gain the benefits of employment.

To address these challenges, we provide support for individuals with disabilities through our partnerships with organisations like Rehab Enterprise. We have helped colleagues from diverse backgrounds improve their language skills, enhancing their career prospects. Collaborations with programmes such as EPIC and Employment4All offer essential job training and opportunities for disadvantaged groups.

We run programmes to support further education and boost our own people’s skills. Continuous learning and development benefit our people and helps us to deliver exceptional service to our clients.

At Bidvest Noonan, we are committed to creating opportunities and making a positive impact. To learn more about our initiatives and the difference we are making, we invite you to read our Employability Report. In this report, you’ll find information about our work in the following areas:

  • Employability Enablement, our initiatives to support refugees, individuals with disabilities, and people with other challenges.
  • Community Support, our work in areas such as the circular economy, veteran support, and the promotion of the Living Wage.
  • Investing in Our People, highlighting our dedication to employee growth, language support, and well-being.
  • Championing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, our strategies and initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion.

Bidvest-Noonan-Employability-Report-1Download

Bidvest Noonan achieves global sustainability accreditation

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Bidvest Noonan is pleased to announce we have been accredited by CDP for the actions we have taken in engaging with our suppliers on climate change.

CDP is a global environmental disclosure system that measures and manages how businesses engage with their suppliers, recognising best practices to reduce supply chain emissions. Our business has been awarded an A grade in Supplier Engagement, an A- in Scope 3 Emissions, and an overall grade of B, surpassing the global average rating of C.

This recognition is the result of the significant work done by our environmental and procurement teams to promote a greener future. Our recent commitment to reducing plastic waste across our business has led us to decrease our single-use plastic consumption by 95%. We have also moved to reduce the size of our packaging when ordering.

Commenting on our achievement, Bidvest Noonan Environmental Manager, Keerthana Sreenivasan, said:

“We are delighted to have been accredited by CDP, achieving ‘Management’ level status. This achievement highlights the coordinated action we are taking with our supply chain to deliver a greener world.

Our procurement teams and I have held regular meetings with our suppliers to ensure that the products we use and the way we source them are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

I am thrilled at the progress we have made, and receiving this accreditation is a testament to our work to date, but we are not stopping here. We look forward to continuing our engagement with our suppliers and enhancing our overall climate change actions.”

Making a positive impact on the way we think about employability

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This is Darren Mitchell, Gerry Draper, and Brian Hearne, three people who are making a positive impact on the way we think about employability.

Darren is our Head of Infrastructure and Networks here at Bidvest Noonan. On a recent visit to Rehab Recycle, our IT WEEE recycling partner, Darren saw an opportunity to support Rehab Enterprises – an organisation that strives to provide employment for disabled or disadvantaged people in Ireland.

Darren wanted to support Rehab’s objective of enabling people to access the job market through training, coaching, and work experience. Darren offered some work experience at Bidvest Noonan’s IT team for a member of their programme.

This is where Gerry comes in. Gerry is an Account Manager at Rehab, and was instrumental in finding the right person looking for some experience in IT. He worked closely with Darren to find the right match, and they selected Brian Hearne.

Brian was the first person to take part in this initiative here at Bidvest Noonan and what a difference he has made! Under Darren’s mentorship, Brian got an opportunity to gain new skills and experience in his favourite topic – IT. Throughout his time at Bidvest Noonan, Brian made some positive contributions to important projects underway by the team.

Darren commented:

“I am delighted to have had the opportunity to mentor and guide Brian. He provided well needed support for the IT team and his enthusiasm and dedication to the role was exceptional. I have no doubt he has the skills and knowhow to make a difference for any employer. I look forward to meeting him again.”

As part of the initiative, Darren worked on and identified IT training programmes that will further Brian’s skills for the future.