Bidvest Noonan

A leading provider of facilities services and solutions

pressrelease

Bidvest Noonan to Chair Global Initiative on Tall Building Security

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Bidvest Noonan has partnered with The Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM) to launch a Special Interest Group dedicated to supporting the global tall-building sector. With a strong track record of securing high-profile tall buildings, Bidvest Noonan will chair this initiative.

The Special Interest Group will focus on identifying and understanding threats while developing insights and solutions to address the challenges the sector faces. The group will bring key stakeholders together, including service providers, property managers, blue light networks and others, to advance knowledge, share insights, and establish frameworks that contribute to a safer, more resilient built environment.

Dr David Rubens, Executive Director at the ISRM, said: “The pace of change in today’s world is accelerating, creating new risks that cannot be tackled in isolation. This Special Interest Group provides an essential platform for bringing together expertise from across the industry to help organisations anticipate and navigate emerging threats. I want to thank Bidvest Noonan for their leadership in this initiative.”

Liz Cummins, Managing Director at Bidvest Noonan, added:

“While every city and building is unique, many challenges and emerging threats in securing tall buildings are shared worldwide. That is why we are so pleased to work with the ISRM to bring together industry leaders, share insights, and help shape best practices for the future. We look forward to collaborating with stakeholders and sharing the expertise we have developed in supporting iconic tall buildings.”

Photo caption: (Left to right: Ian Martin, Director of Risk and Intelligence, Bidvest Noonan; Liz Cummins, Managing Director, Bidvest Noonan; Dr David Rubens, Executive Director, The ISRM; Cormac Sheils, Chief Operating Officer, Bidvest Noonan.)

Bidvest Noonan Joins the Accelerate Pact to Tackle Climate and Nature Crises

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Bidvest Noonan has announced it has signed up to ‘Accelerate’, the Business Pact for Climate and Nature. The company, a long-standing member of Business in the Community, is one of the first signatories of this forward-thinking initiative launched by Business in the Community in Ireland (BITCI). The pact aims to drive urgent and collective action to address the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.

By signing the pact, Bidvest Noonan has committed to setting a Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) approved net-zero target by 2050, with a goal to establish this by 2030 or earlier. Additionally, the company will develop and implement a comprehensive Climate Transition Plan to align its operations with a 1.5°C and nature-positive future.

Our CEO, Declan Doyle, commented: “We are proud to join the Accelerate Pact and stand alongside others committed to tackling the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Sustainability is at the heart of how Bidvest Noonan operate, and this initiative aligns with our purpose to proudly create safer, healthier communities today, for tomorrow.”

Our business has consistently prioritised sustainability across its operations. Signing the Accelerate Pact reinforces the company’s commitment to innovative, environmentally responsible practices that benefit its clients and the communities it serves.

Under the pact, signatories are required to integrate ambitious actions into their Climate Transition Plans, focusing on nine key areas: Nature, Scope 3 emissions, Just Transition, Decarbonisation, Targets, Finance, Advocacy, Risk, and Governance. The Accelerate Pact builds on the success of BITCI’s Low Carbon Pledge, which concluded this year.

Bidvest Noonan Achieves Milestone with First Comprehensive Carbon Footprint Assessment

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We are delighted to announce the completion of our first comprehensive carbon footprint assessment. This landmark achievement underscores our commitment to sustainability and our mission to create safer and healthier communities.

“Our first full carbon footprint assessment is a testament to our transparency and accountability,” said John King, ESG Director of Bidvest Noonan. “Our footprint demonstrates the work we have done in recent years. Understanding our emissions allows us to take meaningful steps to reduce our environmental impact and provide sustainable solutions for our clients.”

The assessment adheres to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol and the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) standards.

The process involved a detailed analysis of emissions from the supply chain, employee commuting, fleet operations, and more. By engaging with suppliers and various departments, we identified key impact areas and opportunities for emission reductions.

“For customers, this signifies that Bidvest Noonan offers not only market-leading services but also environmentally conscious solutions, aligning with the growing demand for sustainable practices,” added John King.

Key findings showed that the supply chain and employee commuting are primary contributors to emissions, accounting for the vast majority of our footprint. Our business, which has adopted an electric-first policy for our fleet, has also implemented local recruitment policies, cycle-to-work schemes, and public transport initiatives to promote sustainable commuting for our 27,000 people. Additionally, we are working collaboratively with supply chain partners to further reduce scope 3 emissions.

Andrew Doyle, Procurement Director, commented on our efforts to assist the supply chain in becoming more sustainable: “We are actively working with our suppliers to enhance their sustainability practices. By collaborating closely and sharing best practices, we aim to reduce the overall environmental impact of our supply chain.”

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.”

Introducing Dynamic Workplace

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We are delighted to announce the launch of our Dynamic Workplace solution. This intelligence-driven solution employs cutting-edge sensor-based technology to optimise service performance, resource utilisation, and transform service management and workplace experiences.


Dynamic Workplace utilises LoRaWAN sensors, which employ long-life batteries and Wi-Fi technology, enabling flexible, easy placement throughout facilities without additional power or connectivity needs. These discreet, wireless sensors provide real-time data on various aspects such as occupancy, temperature, and lighting. By aligning service and resource allocation with actual usage patterns, Dynamic Workplace significantly reduces unnecessary consumption and costs. For example, with Dynamic Workplace, customers can identify when spaces are not in use, allowing them to save on lighting and heating while service teams can reorganise their work plans for greater productivity.


Bidvest Noonan’s Dynamic Workplace solution also enables greater space utilisation. For example, occupancy data can reveal underutilised areas, allowing for a reconfiguration of space to better meet the needs of the workforce or to identify opportunities for energy savings. The service solution is receiving strong support in the market, particularly in sectors with large facilities such as those in Higher Education. Four large universities have already embraced the company’s technology.


‘At Bidvest Noonan, we’re excited about the transformative impact of Dynamic Workplace. The initial feedback from our clients, has been overwhelmingly positive,’ says Peter Smyth, Director of Innovation and Technology. ‘We’ve seen customers harness this technology to not only streamline their operations but also to significantly enhance their sustainability efforts.’