Bidvest Noonan

A leading provider of Facilities Management Servicess

sustainability

New research reveals training paradox undermining FM modernisation efforts

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  • 64% of FM leaders cite inadequate training and change management among the primary causes of technology failure, yet only 9% identified it as a critical factor when reflecting on past success
  • 97% of FM decision-makers anticipate increased technology investment in 2026, with smart sensors, digital platforms and AI-powered software emerging as top priorities
  • The underlying issue appears to be capability, not resistance: almost half (46%) identify skills gaps as a current challenge, while only 15% cite staff opposition to change

Bidvest Noonan has published new research highlighting a significant gap between technology ambition and successful adoption in the FM sector.

Bidvest Noonan surveyed 110 senior FM decision-makers with authority over technology investment, managing estates ranging from 20,000 to over 500,000 square feet across the UK and Ireland. The findings reveal that human factors, not technology itself, are key limitations to success.

While 64% of FM leaders cite inadequate training and change management as a primary cause of technology underperformance, only 9% identified it as a critical factor when reflecting on technologies that had succeeded. Bidvest Noonan describes this gap as the ‘training paradox’.

The training paradox

Phil Darcy, Head of Data & Emerging Technologies at Bidvest Noonan, said: “Our research reveals a troubling contradiction. When technologies underperform, inadequate training is among the top causes cited, yet it ranks lowest among the factors that organisations prioritise for success. Closing that gap should be a priority for any organisation investing in technology.

“The data shows something important here, almost half of FM leaders identify skills and capability gaps as a major barrier, while only one in seven cite staff resistance to change. This tells us that what looks like resistance is actually a capability issue. People lack confidence in their ability to use new technology effectively, which can result in hesitation or pushback.”

What the full report covers

The full report explores investment priorities across estate sizes, the adoption status of autonomous service robots and digital FM platforms, AI productivity expectations, what distinguishes successful implementations from those that fall short, and the challenges FM leaders currently face in turning technology ambition into operational impact.

Click Here To Read The Full Report

Award-Winning Innovation Set to Reduce Food Waste Volumes by up to 80% at UCD.

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Ireland’s largest university, University College Dublin, market-leading facilities management services company Bidvest Noonan, and Ireland’s leading waste-handling solutions company, Ancove, are proud winners of the Public Sector Magazine’s Excellence in Business Awards ‘Best Waste Handling Solution’ award, recognising innovation in on-site waste reduction and environmental performance.

Bidvest Noonan and Ancove support UCD with waste management solutions helping to improve performance and increase efficiency through practical, day-to-day improvements. Most recently, the partnership has delivered a new sustainability initiative focused on food waste: the installation of a cutting-edge, industrial grade bioprocessor designed for a large campus environment.

Positioned close to where food waste is produced, the system is expected to cut food waste volumes by up to 80%, while reducing the storage and transport typically required to manage organic waste at scale.

The bioprocessor is capable of digesting up to 1,000 litres of unavoidable food waste and other organic material each day. Operating within a sealed, controlled system, it breaks waste down aerobically using oxygen and microbes, converting organic material into a soil-enriching output. By processing waste on site, the system reduces the volume of material leaving campus and decreases the number of waste collections required.

For a campus of UCD’s scale, the operational benefits are significant. Fewer collections mean fewer vehicle movements, lower associated emissions, and less disruption to day-to-day campus activity. The system also reduces the manual handling involved in food waste management and supports a more circular approach to resource use, helping to divert organic waste away from traditional disposal routes.

The installation forms part of UCD’s broader programme to strengthen environmental performance through applied innovation. It also demonstrates how facilities management and waste-handling expertise can support large institutions in delivering practical sustainability outcomes, while improving efficiency across daily operations. As the system becomes embedded in campus routines, it is expected to contribute to UCD’s wider environmental goals over time, providing a scalable model for on-site organic waste processing.

Read our 2024 Sustainability Report

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Our 2024 Sustainability Report highlights the positive impact we are making for people, communities, and the planet.

This year, we cut over 4,900 tonnes of CO₂e, advanced our commitment to Net Zero, and introduced innovations that help customers meet their own sustainability goals. We strengthened our social impact by supporting colleagues of 157 nationalities, creating 224 apprenticeships, and partnering with leading charities and employability programmes.

With strong EcoVadis recognition and ambitious science-based targets, our report shows how we are driving progress across our four pillars: Workplace, Community, Environment, and Marketplace.

Read the full report to see how we are building a better, more sustainable future.

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Bidvest Noonan’s Net Zero Targets Approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

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We are proud to announce that Bidvest Noonan’s near-term and net zero science-based targets have been officially validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

This validation confirms that our commitments are aligned with the most ambitious aim of the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Under these approved targets, we will reduce absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by 42% by 2030, and achieve full net zero across our entire value chain by 2045.

Our journey towards net zero is well underway. Over the past 12 months, we have achieved a further 12% reduction in carbon emissions, putting us ahead of plan to meet our 2030 target. Our momentum has been driven by focused initiatives in fleet optimisation, energy management, procurement strategies, and operational efficiency. These results show that we are delivering meaningful, measurable progress today.

Securing SBTi approval reflects our commitment and the real sustained efforts of our people across the business. With our science-based targets now officially in place, we are accelerating our work to reduce emissions, drive efficiencies, and create positive outcomes for our customers, our communities, and the planet.

Every step we take today brings us closer to a stronger, more sustainable tomorrow.

Bidvest Noonan Achieves an Impressive 12% Emissions Reduction

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Bidvest Noonan has reduced its carbon footprint by almost 12% in its fiscal year 2024, with these figures externally verified. The company is now ahead of its target of achieving a 42% reduction in emissions by 2030 and progressing towards becoming a net-zero business.

The almost 12% reduction in emissions was achieved through targeted operational improvements, with the company’s procurement team playing a key role in driving sustainable sourcing and supplier engagement, including accelerating the company’s transition to electric vehicles and working hand in hand with customers and suppliers on sustainability.

“Addressing climate change requires collaboration, commitment, and continuous effort. No organisation can achieve sustainability alone. The industry is making great progress, and we are proud to help lead the way to a more sustainable future. ” said Nina Delia, Environmental Manager at Bidvest Noonan.

Bidvest Noonan has been an early mover in electric vehicles, introducing an electric-first policy, which has led to a growing percentage of its operations transitioning to electric vehicles. Additionally, as one of the largest providers of FM services across the UK and Ireland, with more than 27,000 people, Bidvest Noonan has a substantial supply chain. The company has prioritised working with its partners to help it operate more sustainably and to ensure that companies within its network act responsibly.

With dedicated sustainability resources and deep expertise within its ranks, Bidvest Noonan actively supports its suppliers and customers in achieving their sustainability goals.

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.