Bidvest Noonan

A market leading provider of facilities services and solutions

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€40,000 raised for the people of Ukraine

The Executive Team for our business in Ireland has stepped up for the people of Ukraine and collectively completed a cross-country walk, and raised €40,000 for the Irish Red Cross.

Cormac Sheils, Mary Kealy, Kathy McDermott, Philip Murphy, Scott Brannigan, Anthony Harman, Brendan Keogh, and Peter Smyth, have successfully completed a cross-country charity walk to support the people of Ukraine.

The team set out from Galway on Wednesday, May 11th, collectively trekked over 220km, and arrived back in our Swords Office on May 13th. Their efforts helped to raise €40,000 to support the efforts of the Irish Red Cross, a society that does great work for the Humanitarian Crisis in Ukraine.​

Nearly 5 million people have already fled their homes to escape the conflict in Ukraine. Countless lives in Ukraine are being torn apart by violence and insecurity. They have displaced been and forced to leave loved ones and almost everything they own. Many others have remained in Ukraine and live without sufficient access to water, electricity, and heat.

Red Cross teams are on the ground in Ukraine. They are working to repair vital infrastructure, support health facilities, and help families with life-saving food and hygiene items. The funds raised by our executive team and colleagues will help the Irish Red Cross provide people with food, first aid, medicines, warm clothes, and shelter they need.

Bidvest Noonan colleagues from across the country supported the executive team as they travelled through some of Ireland’s busiest and most well-known towns. A huge thanks to our teams at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Maynooth University, Portuincula Hospital, and many more who came out to cheer the team on.

Jeff Flanagan named CEO of Bidvest Noonan in Great Britain

We are delighted to announce our appointment of Jeff Flanagan as Chief Executive Officer for our business in Great Britain. Jeff is a highly accomplished business leader with more than 25 years of senior executive experience in the facilities services industry.

Jeff succeeds Charlotte Marshall, who has decided to step down as CEO to pursue other interests. During her time at Bidvest Noonan, Charlotte oversaw the successful integration of Cordant Services and the Axis group, restructured the business, and built a highly experienced leadership team.

Jeff joins us at a key point in our history. Our business has doubled in size in recent years to become a market leader for services such as cleaning and security across the UK and Ireland. Over the past 18 months, we invested considerably to enhance the support we deliver to customers; we launched three strategic business units, made a number of senior executive investment hires and rolled out a new customer experience programme.

Bidvest Noonan Group CEO Declan Doyle said, “ I’m delighted to welcome Jeff to the Bidvest Noonan family. Jeff has a wealth of industry experience, an impressive track record and outstanding leadership skills. Jeff is an excellent fit for Bidvest Noonan. I’m confident he will be very successful.

I want to thank Charlotte for all the work she has done. Charlotte has made a very significant contribution to our business. We appreciate the support she has provided to transition Jeff into his new role.”

Commenting on his appointment, Jeff said, “I’m delighted to have joined Bidvest Noonan as CEO. Having worked in our industry for over two decades, I know Bidvest Noonan is an exceptional business. Bidvest Noonan’s Credo, people-first culture, and commitment to delivering outstanding customer experiences set it apart in the market.

I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues, some of whom I’ve known for many years, to support our customers and grow our business.”

Bidvest Noonan names Unseen UK as its charity partner in Great Britain

Bidvest Noonan has named Unseen UK as its charity partner in Great Britain. Unseen UK provides safehouses and support in the community for victims of trafficking and modern slavery. The charity runs the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, a UK-wide, free, 24/7 service for potential victims, members of the public, frontline workers, and law enforcement agencies. Unseen UK works with individuals, communities, businesses, governments, and statutory agencies to bring slavery to an end.

Employing more than 27,000 people and operating nationwide, Bidvest Noonan is a market leader for services such as cleaning, security, and front-of-house solutions. Today’s announcement signals Bidvest Noonan’s commitment to supporting significant social causes in the UK.

Commenting on the announcement, Bidvest Noonan’s ESG Director John King said, “After careful consideration, we selected Unseen UK because of the clear alignment between their vision and values and our own Environmental, Social, and Governance agenda. We look forward to working with Unseen UK to deliver on its goal of achieving a world without modern slavery.”

Andrew Wallis, Unseen UK CEO added: “At any one time, there are around 100,000 people in modern slavery in the UK. Enlightened businesses such as Bidvest Noonan have enormous power to not only raise awareness of this issue, but to help tackle exploitation. I’m delighted with this partnership and look forward to us working together.”

Guy Packenham, Chair of Bidvest Noonan’s ESG council in GB said “Working together, we will raise awareness of the prevalence of slavery, forced labour, and trafficking in the UK, and implement fundraising activities to support the vital work that goes on to help victims and eradicate these crimes from society.” 

Susan Howard has been promoted to Operations Director for Healthcare

Bidvest Noonan has strengthened its Irish senior management team with the recent promotion of Susan Howard to Operations Director for Healthcare.

Susan, who joined the firm in 2003, has deep expertise and knowledge of the healthcare sector and will enhance the service and value delivered to clients. In her new role, Susan takes ownership of Bidvest Noonan’s national healthcare portfolio in Ireland, covering both cleaning and security services.

Speaking on her promotion, Susan said: “I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to lead our healthcare operations for our business in Ireland. I look forward to building on the platform the business has created in recent years and ensuring we have the expertise available to support all of our clients.”

Managing Director, Anthony Harman commented: “I am delighted that Susan has took up the role as Operations Director for our healthcare division. The need for a clean and safe environment in the healthcare sector is more important than ever before, and I have no doubt Susan is the right person to lead both our cleaning and security teams. With an experienced team around her and long-standing relationships with clients across Ireland, I have no doubt her tenure will be a success.”

The appointment follows Bidvest Noonan’s ongoing investment in its healthcare operations. Last year, the organisation appointed Emma Power as its Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) Specialist to further develop its subject matter expertise in the sector.

Bidvest Noonan partners with Enable Ireland

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.

Sarah Cork – Principles for a successful career in security

Sarah Cork, Director of Operations at Bidvest Noonan, held senior security roles at a number of retailers and has broad experience including cyber, physical security, operational, intelligence, and investigations. She is an associate member of the ICA and holds diplomas in financial crime and anti-money laundering. 

Sarah was nominated as a finalist for the Women in Security Awards 2021 and told us about what has helped her to forge a successful career.

What does being a finalist in ‘Women in Security Awards’ mean to you?

Just being nominated has meant the world and made me feel very valued within the industry and I am grateful for all the coaching and mentoring I have had over the last 25 years from my colleagues, peers, friends, and family. It has been very rewarding to receive recognition for my career to date and I am immensely proud to be a finalist in 2021.

Tell us about how your broad experience has contributed to your nomination.

The experiences operating in senior roles have allowed me to gain knowledge and an understanding of how security operates in different sectors and now that I am offering the service back to clients, it allows us to enhance our service offering and deliver more than client’s expectations.

The security industry is becoming more and more diverse and inclusive. However more work has to be done. Do you have any tips for women in the security industry?

Businesses should allow you to be your “whole self”, no matter your gender, and believe in your own ability whilst identifying your own personal goals and objectives to deliver what you want from your career. 

My knowledge, skill, and capability have seen me as an equal in the security industry and fortunately, I have had many coaches and mentors who have supported me in my journey. 

Each one of us personally brings something unique and we need to challenge ourselves to be better the next day. My advice for all women is ‘take the seat at the table and ensure they know your worth’.

In your opinion, how does diversity impact the business?

I like working with a diverse team as this brings the best for the company ethos and bottom-line profits. I would like to see the gender gap reduced in all industries and empower all women to take their own seat at the table.

I personally enjoy wearing many different hats and juggling a home and work-life balance. However, this comes with great organisation and many to-do lists to achieve being a Mum, Wife and enjoying my career. 

What lessons can you share as a leader? 

Accept when you make a mistake and be honest whilst learning and ensuring it is never repeated. It is what makes you a credible professional. 

Make yourself available to listen to people’s views, network, and take learnings from others.

Strive to be better every day and be innovative in your thinking whilst creating business strategy, tactical plans, and most of all, execution of strategy. 

What advice do you have for people aiming for leadership positions in the security industry? 

Be passionate, work hard and be determined to chase your next career role. Set yourself short-term goals and celebrate your achievements along the way. Build strong relationships internally and externally and network with security professionals that allow you to learn whilst growing your knowledge and skill.