Bidvest Noonan

A market leading provider of facilities services and solutions

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Emma Rahim – How female leaders can transform the workplace

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It’s time for change and women in positions of power can give voices to those without.

In your opinion, what defines a great leader? What do you think is unique about female leaders?

For me, one of the fundamentals of being a great leader is being true to yourself. Don’t pretend to be someone you’re not, be you, and lead by your values. Build integrity and credibility by always striving to do the right thing. A great leader should be open and honest and have respect and understanding for others.

The ability to listen and learn is important. Work on the basis that you may not have all the answers but as a team, you will collectively find the answers together. Having a clear vision of what you want and following through is what sets leaders apart.

Female leaders are strong, powerful, and driven. We address the elephant in the room and confidently challenge stereotypes. For us, it’s not about competition and tearing each other down but it’s about universally lifting us up so we can bring out the best in each other. 

As a female leader, I believe that my humility and tenderness bring out the best in people.  I also believe that my astuteness, drive, and passion can help develop others to become future leaders. I strongly believe there’s a place for everyone at the table and success is a group effort.

Why is it so important that women have leadership positions?

It is vital we leave a legacy for years to come, that women can achieve at least as much as our male counterparts. We need to continue creating a culture that normalises growth for women in business. Supporting each other on this journey is incredibly important. We need to praise each other for our individual expertise and what we bring to the table.

As a woman in a leadership role myself, I feel passionate about creating an equal playing field when it comes to career progression and equal opportunities. Women in leadership roles can use ‘their powers for good’ by driving fair and transparent practices and challenging the status quo.  It’s time for change and women in positions of power can give voices to those without.

Who has inspired you the most and why?

I’m proud to say it’s my mum! She came to England in 1979 not speaking a word of English.  She taught herself English and secured employment and started earning her own money. During this time, she experienced many forms of discrimination including the colour of her skin, ethnicity, and gender. However, she continued to strive to achieve. From an early age, my mum always instilled in me that if you wanted something, you had to go out and work for it.

What advice do you have for aspiring women aiming for leadership positions?

You are the key to your own success! The only person that can stop you from succeeding is yourself.  Forget any stereotypes or expectations the world has of you. If you want something strong enough, don’t let anything stop you, and make sure you go for it. Work hard, show your worth, and reap the results – the sky is the limit.

Bidvest Noonan invests in the Axis Group

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We are delighted to announce that we have invested in the Axis Group. The group comprises Axis Security, Axis Cleaning, and Acuity, a specialist provider of front of house management services. With 4,000 employees and an impressive portfolio of clients, Axis Group is one of the UK’s marketing-leading facilities services businesses.

Axis is an outstanding business with great people, a strong reputation, and a track record as one of the leading service providers in the UK. Axis and Bidvest Noonan share a lot in common. Both businesses focus on service excellence, developing long-term relationships with clients, and protecting the safety and wellbeing of their people. 

This investment substantially strengthens our business, adding to our scale, expertise and infrastructure. It will allow us to provide greater value and support to all current and future clients.

Our dedicated transition team is executing a strategy that will ensure Axis transitions seamlessly into our business. There will be no disruption to the services we deliver, with current service delivery teams remaining in place. 

Welcoming the announcement, Declan Doyle, CEO of Bidvest Noonan, said: “Axis is a great business supported by a team of excellent people. This investment represents the continued realisation of our strategy to grow our UK business and strengthen our position as a leading provider of security and facilities management services, that offers a strong and credible alternative to the current large companies operating in the market. We are very excited about the future prospects for the business and look forward to working with the team to build on their successes to date.” 

Commenting on behalf of Axis, Group CEO Jonathan Levine, said: “Bidvest Noonan is a great partner for our business, committed to the long-term growth and development of the company and our 4,000 people. With a reputation for high-standards, excellent customer service and long-lasting, trust-based relationships with clients, their values and approach are highly complementary to our business and we look forward to working with them to continue delivering the high-standards of service to our clients.” 

Annual Awards Winners 2020

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Huge congratulations to all the winners of the 2020 Bidvest Noonan Annual Awards:

  • Best Managed Contract (1-20): Whitewater Shopping Centre
  • Best Managed Contract (21-50): 10 Fenchurch Street
  • Best Managed Contract (50+): Mercy University Hospital
  • Cleaning Operative of the Year 2020: Michael Forde
  • Cleaning Supervisor of the Year 2020: Alexander Hodge
  • Security Officer of the Year 2020: Donna Brickley
  • Security Supervisor of the Year 2020: Gerald Whelan
  • Support Services Person of the Year 2020: Sharon Kane
  • Pandemic Hero Award: Dennis Baker
  • Pandemic Performance Award: Rachel Naylor (SAOLTA Group)

Well done to all finalists, making it to the final is a great achievement. We look forward to the 2021 event where we will continue to recognise and celebrate the great work our people do.

Helping to deliver 12 homes for the homeless

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NOONAN has joined forces with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), its members, and supporters and the Peter McVerry Trust for the refurbishment of 12 homes for the homeless in time for Christmas. More than 35 companies worked together to complete the project. By providing 12 homes, this collaboration has made a meaningful contribution to tackling the homelessness crisis. The NOONAN team carried out all the cleaning and related works required to make the homes safe, comfortable and enjoyable.

CIF President, Michael Stone, said: “When you add up all the man hours and materials donated by our members, and supporters it comes to a value of €700,000. When you add in the price of all the final finishes, landscaping, appliances and household goods required, the project will have cost over €1m.”

Offically launched today by Ard-Mhéara BAC, Críona ni Dhálaigh, and Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, Kevin Humphreys TD, the development, located at Hogan Court in Dublin 2, had consisted of a vacant building comprising 12 individual units. The properties were in need of complete refurbishment and upgrading to make them habitable, along with some external works to the site. The units, which had been used predominantly to provide housing to older individuals, had fallen into a very poor state of repair. Vandalism and dereliction meant that many of the units required extensive renovation in order to make them habitable.

Pat Doyle, CEO of Peter McVerry Trust, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who contributed to the project that has left us with 12 high quality studio apartments which are ideal for single people in need of social housing. ”
“The project also underlines what can be achieved when we work in partnership, have the will to achieve a clear objective and the resources to match. These 12 voids have been completely transformed in 12 weeks. This is a format that we hope will be replicated next year and in the years to come.”
The new tenants will be individuals taken from Dublin City Council’s housing list including people coming directly from homeless services. Individuals are the largest group within homelessness in Ireland, yet they find it extremely difficult to access social housing, which have historically been built as family homes. Each individual regardless of their level of need will have the support of Peter McVerry Trust’s highly skilled ‘Housing with Supports’ team. This team will work to ensure that tenancies are sustained and that residents are supported to integrate into their community by partaking in education, training and employment. An onsite caretaker will also aid the work of the housing with supports team.