Bidvest Noonan
A leading provider of facilities services and solutions
Perspective is our monthly newsletter. It is packed full of insights, stories, and valuable resources. Don’t miss out!
Perspective is our monthly newsletter. It is packed full of insights, stories, and valuable resources. Don’t miss out!
We are fortunate to have some incredible people in our business who are passionate about what we do. Having these people has been the key to our success. We do our utmost to keep our people happy and train them to become future leaders. One of these people is Tony Noonan.
Tony Noonan has been with Bidvest Noonan for 29 years. Tony has worked his way up through the business to become a Soft Services Manager.
Throughout his time here, Tony has not only developed his skills but has become a trailblazer. He has overseen some innovative projects that have benefited the business and our clients. Tony is a role model for those who aspire to forge a long and successful career and a perfect example of someone who lives our credo.
We recently asked Tony why he stayed, what he has learned, and what his experience brings to our business.
What has made you stay?
“The company recognised my potential from early on and gave me plenty of opportunities to progress. This was important to me. As a family man with a wife and three children, Bidvest Noonan offered me the stability and assurance to provide for my family.
Over the years I have built up strong relationships with many people across the business. A lot of these colleagues have become lifelong personal friends of mine and have contributed to my stay here.”
What have you learned along the way?
“I have learned many things since joining the business, but I believe that getting the basics right, having patience in everything you do, and building trust are the most important principles that have stuck with me.
For me, if you want to get any job done, you must first get the basics right, every time. I am a firm believer that something years in the making can fail overnight, so if you don’t get the simple things right, you’ve already lost half the battle.
I understand the importance of maintaining a professional and healthy relationship with clients. I have learned that if I want clients to believe in my way of thinking, I have to build a high level of trust with them. I never compromise on this.”
What qualities do you think you bring to the business?
I believe every person brings a unique ability to a job, but there is no real substitute for experience. It is important to apply what you have learned over time to everything you do. One of the qualities I feel I developed and can bring to any job is patience.
I spent five years overseeing a project that involved the introduction of anti-statics sealers in a client site that covered a floor space of over 280,000 sq2. There were many ups and downs but I kept patient, remained focussed, and believed in what I was doing. That mentality helped the project become a huge success. The client continues to apply these sealers on an ongoing basis.
Tony’s colleagues recently recognised his long-standing commitment to the business by celebrating his 29th work anniversary. Integrated Accounts Life Science Lead, Sarah Scanlon has said:
“I have known Tony since I joined the business over 14 years ago. Tony has always worked well with clients and staff, and he is the go-to guy to get a read of a situation. He is very loyal and extremely hard working. He was very supportive of me when I joined the business and continues to be so. He is like that with many other staff and managers within the business too. He really is an asset to this company.”
What defines a great leader and what do women leaders bring that is unique?
I think great leaders need vision, integrity, self-awareness, and the ability to ensure everyone in a room has their voice heard within a constructive and safe space.
Good leadership is not gender-specific, but having a diverse leadership team brings different perspectives to the table. This, in turn, drives innovation and more effective solutions.
Why is it so important that women have leadership positions?
It is proven that companies with greater gender equality at a senior level perform better. However, the fact is that diversity in leadership roles allows for people to be seen and thereby be role models for others.
I think female leaders can be seen as powerful allies and champions by other women at all levels. To be the first or to be in the minority of anything can be difficult. Those first voices can always help ease the way for others, and areas that may have been difficult initially become less so.
How do you think women in leadership can drive important changes in the workplace?
Sometimes there are assumptions made about women in the workplace. It can be assumed that some, due to circumstances, may not have a willingness to take on challenging assignments or travel. As a parent to two young children, I embrace the opportunity to demonstrate that a flexible company approach allows me to be open to any opportunities that may be presented.
Which woman has inspired you the most and why?
That is easy, my own mother. She is a lady who will do what needs to be done to achieve an end goal. She sees the world through a lens of honesty, integrity, and empathy, who always knows both how and when to empower people in order to give them the confidence to achieve their goals.
How have you developed your confidence as a leader?
Once I have realised that very few people are 100% confident and that some are just better at hiding it, that made it easier! Everyone second guesses themselves at some stage, it’s human nature.
What advice do you have for women aiming for leadership positions?
Just go for it, and remember there is never a perfect time for anyone. Although I do recognise that there may be times that are less perfect than others!
Also, never underestimate how valuable it is to ask or offer other people advice or support. I have been lucky in this regard, and hope that I can repay that for anyone who may want it.
In your opinion, what are the characteristics of a great leader?
A great leader is someone who has integrity, is professional, and inspirational. They promote balance, focus on others, are able to plan and lead. For me, a leader needs to show empathy, be open, and listen to other people’s ideas, I see that as a strength. A great leader delegates, praises, and empowers others. I think they should have an element of fun about them too.
Women leaders bring balance and look at things holistically and encompass the work/life balance into the delivery of what is required.
Why is it so important that women have leadership positions?
It is important to have a mixture of genders in leadership positions. Regardless of what gender you are, you add a value that no one else can bring. You bring yourself, your individual traits, which is what makes you a great leader. For me, it is vital to have balance in leadership, creating empowerment for those around you. Showing confidence and giving credit to others’ abilities. There is still a lack of women in leadership roles and we want to ensure that we are showing the next generation of women what opportunities can be afforded to them, with the right pathways.
How do you think female leaders can be seen as powerful allies and champions by other women at all levels?
I think if I told my 15-year-old self that other girls/women would be powerful allies, I may have been cynical! However, as I have grown up and progressed in my career, I have truly found this in abundance. This is about creating a good and positive network of people around you, people that can mentor you, guide you, you can learn from, and they can learn from you. You just have to be yourself and embrace those around you. Rid yourself of negative people.
Which woman has inspired you the most and why?
I have three. My first HR line manager, a lady called Mandy Fitzmaurice. We still speak now, and often, and if I am in a situation where I am unsure of something, I quite often ask myself what Mandy would do. Mandy was the best line manager, she gave me confidence, opportunities, and helped my growth. I admire Michelle Obama and Jacinda Ardern. Both women have shown amazing empowerment and leadership skills. They use their positions for good causes, to highlight the challenges around the world, and help create and promote solutions and opportunities. Both are never afraid of speaking up about wrongdoings.
How have you developed your confidence as a leader?
I’ve been myself, which is critical. I can be fierce, loyal, but also empathetic. I truly believe that everyone has a place and with the right managers and leaders, everyone is capable of great things. My confidence has come from having great line managers, the opportunities afforded to me, and also from making mistakes. We all make mistakes, and when we do, we learn and do it differently next time. The transition from Manager to Leader is integral. One of the main things I have kept is a sense of humour!
What advice do you have for women aiming for leadership positions?
Have a route (it’s ok to take the scenic route!), know your goals, but mostly be yourself. Find a mentor outside your organisation and learn, listen, and understand. Don’t be afraid of anything, have confidence.
In March 2020, we received a call from a pharmaceutical site in Wicklow. Our client had experienced a suspected case of COVID-19. The site, which has an area of over 40 thousand square feet, had been evacuated. Our client needed us to disinfect the site and return it for use as quickly as possible.
Our industrial division quickly deployed a highly trained disinfection team and developed a plan which would enable us to return areas for use in line with our client’s business requirements.
The team used EcoStatic technology to speed up the application of the disinfectant solution. This technology allowed the team to work up to 5 times faster than is possible with conventional sprayers. The team applied powerful disinfectants that are non-irritant, non-toxic, non-corrosive, which means they would not have a harmful effect on our client’s people. The disinfectant remains active on surfaces for up to 28 days, providing the site with additional protections.
We returned an area of over 14,000ft2 to our client every 1.25 hours. We returned the entire site for use in less than 4 hours.
