Bidvest Noonan Ireland

Ireland's leading provider of facilities services and solutions

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Read our Employability Report

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At Bidvest Noonan, we are passionate about employability. We believe that employment can offer tremendous benefits to individuals, families and society as whole. We are working to to open pathways to employment for individuals of all backgrounds.

In this report, you’ll find information about our work in the following areas:

  • Employability Enablement, our initiatives to support refugees, individuals with disabilities, and people with other challenges.
  • Community Support, our work in areas such as the circular economy, veteran support, and the promotion of the Living Wage.
  • Investing in Our People, highlighting our dedication to employee growth, language support, and well-being.
  • Championing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, our strategies and initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion.

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Robinson Services and Sword Security (NI) Ltd join Bidvest Noonan

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Bidvest Noonan is delighted to announce that Robinson Services and its specialist security business, Sword Security (NI) Ltd, have joined its group. Since its establishment in 1977, Bidvest Noonan has grown to become a market leader for services such as cleaning and security across the UK and Ireland, and today’s announcement cements its position as the leading provider in Northern Ireland.

Robinson Services has been a trusted provider of high-quality cleaning and support services for over 40 years. Sword Security (NI) ltd has established itself as one of Northern Ireland’s premier security providers. Together, these companies employ more than 900 professionals in the region, whose conditions of employment will remain unchanged.

Following today’s announcement, Bidvest Noonan becomes one of Northern Ireland’s largest employers, with a team of over 2,500 providing support to its customers. This positions the group uniquely to deliver high-quality service solutions throughout the region.

This is the second major investment Bidvest Noonan has made in Northern Ireland in recent years. In 2021, Bidvest Noonan welcomed Amber Support Solutions, one of Northern Ireland’s largest Industrial Cleaning companies, into its group. The addition of Robinson Services and Sword Security (NI) Limited now further strengthens Bidvest Noonan’s capability in the region, combining their extensive experience, expertise, and resources to deliver exceptional results to clients.

Commenting on the announcement, Jim O’Hagan, Managing Director of Bidvest Noonan’s business in Northern Ireland, said: “I’m delighted that Robinson Services and Sword Security are now part of Bidvest Noonan and I’m looking forward to working with David and all of my new colleagues. Our businesses are highly compatible, which will allow us to achieve a seamless transition. For our customers and our people, this means that our operations will continue as normal, with the same dedicated teams delivering the highest standards of service.”

David Robinson, Managing Director of Robinson Services said, “It’s a very exciting time for all of us at Robinson Services and Sword Security as we become part of Bidvest Noonan. Our businesses have so much in common, including our commitment to putting people first, creating exceptional service solutions through imagination and expertise, and our dedication to building strong and long-lasting relationships with our customers. I’m excited about our future as part of Bidvest Noonan.”

Cormac Sheils, CEO of Bidvest Noonan, added, “We have always had big ambitions for our business in Northern Ireland, aiming to scale up, enhance our infrastructure, and build expertise to deliver the most innovative, high-quality services in the market. Today’s addition of Robinson Services and Sword Security is a significant step forward in our strategy.”

Bidvest Noonan Promotes Lorraine Monaghan to Drive its Operations in the Education Sector in Ireland

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Bidvest Noonan has announced the appointment of Lorraine Monaghan as the Director of Operations, Education, for its Irish operations. This development comes as the company charts an impressive growth trajectory, underpinned by its commitment to excellence in its provision of cleaning, security, and M&E maintenance services across the country.

An experienced professional, Lorraine has seen her career with Bidvest Noonan flourish since joining the ranks in April 2014. Her journey, from Customer Service Representative to her new role, is marked by an impressive track record of success having built strong and lasting relationships with some of the leading institutes and universities across the country.

Lorraine, an IWFM graduate with a Diploma in Facilities Management, has held a series of progressively responsible positions in the company, most notably as a dedicated Contract Manager for one of Dublin’s most renowned universities and later as an Operations Manager where she handled an expanding client base in the education sector. These experiences have provided her with a unique perspective and the necessary skills to succeed in her new role as Director of Operations.

Mary Kealy, Managing Director for Bidvest Noonan’s Workplace Solutions, underscores the importance of this appointment: “Lorraine’s promotion marks a significant milestone in our growth strategy. Her in-depth understanding of the sector, coupled with her proven ability to deliver results, make her an asset as she steps into this role. We are very confident that she will drive further success within our education portfolio.”

Lorraine, enthusiastic about taking on the new role, shared: “This is a significant step for me at an exciting time for Bidvest Noonan. I am privileged to have worked with some of the best talent in the sector and this experience has prepared me for the challenge ahead. My vision is to build on our strong foundation and continue delivering the exceptional services that Bidvest Noonan is known for, while also exploring innovative ways to grow and provide more value for our customers.”

The appointment underpins Bidvest Noonan’s commitment to investing in its people, promoting talent from within, and driving robust growth.

Security Experts Gather in Dublin for Ground-breaking Counter-Terrorism Conference

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Bidvest Noonan, a leading provider of security and facilities services, is bringing TinyG, the global counter-terrorism information network, to Ireland for the first time as part of its Counter-Terrorism and Major Incidents conference. The event will take place at the iconic Croke Park Stadium in Dublin this month. Due to the high level of interest in the event, places for the conference were booked out rapidly, with strong demand from security and facilities professionals across various sectors.

Terrorism continues to evolve in complexity, posing a threat to security worldwide. Bidvest Noonan and TinyG aim to provide an invaluable platform for sharing the latest strategies and technologies for mitigating these threats. Attendees will hear from a host of experts, including representatives of the FBI and Ireland’s Special Tactics Operations Command. The keynote will be delivered by Neil Basu QMP, a highly accomplished former Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the sole officer to hold the top three positions in Counter Terrorism Policing. A recipient of the Queen’s medal, Neil played a pivotal role in leading the response to the 2017 terror attacks and went on to head the UK’s CT Policing organization, succeeding Sir Mark Rowley in 2018.

The conference also highlights the important role that security guards can play in countering terrorism. Security guards are often the first line of defence against security threats and play a crucial role in protecting people and assets. The conference will provide insights into the latest strategies and technologies for enhancing the capabilities of security guards in countering terrorism.

Cormac Sheils, CEO of Bidvest Noonan in Ireland, said, “We are delighted to bring TinyG to Ireland for the first time and provide our customers with the opportunity to hear from such an esteemed group of experts. I’m looking forward to attending, and I know the information shared will be invaluable”.

Nick O’Connor, Operations Director, added, “As a career security professional, I believe this conference provides a unique opportunity to hear from international experts in counter-terrorism, exchange knowledge and best practices, and network with other security professionals.”

Dave Evans of TinyG said, “TinyG is committed to fostering collaboration and intelligence sharing among security professionals. By partnering with Bidvest Noonan, we are excited to bring our expertise to Ireland and create new opportunities for learning and cooperation in the fight against terrorism.”

Bidvest Noonan achieves global sustainability accreditation

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Bidvest Noonan is pleased to announce we have been accredited by CDP for the actions we have taken in engaging with our suppliers on climate change.

CDP is a global environmental disclosure system that measures and manages how businesses engage with their suppliers, recognising best practices to reduce supply chain emissions. Our business has been awarded an A grade in Supplier Engagement, an A- in Scope 3 Emissions, and an overall grade of B, surpassing the global average rating of C.

This recognition is the result of the significant work done by our environmental and procurement teams to promote a greener future. Our recent commitment to reducing plastic waste across our business has led us to decrease our single-use plastic consumption by 95%. We have also moved to reduce the size of our packaging when ordering.

Commenting on our achievement, Bidvest Noonan Environmental Manager, Keerthana Sreenivasan, said:

“We are delighted to have been accredited by CDP, achieving ‘Management’ level status. This achievement highlights the coordinated action we are taking with our supply chain to deliver a greener world.

Our procurement teams and I have held regular meetings with our suppliers to ensure that the products we use and the way we source them are environmentally friendly and sustainable.

I am thrilled at the progress we have made, and receiving this accreditation is a testament to our work to date, but we are not stopping here. We look forward to continuing our engagement with our suppliers and enhancing our overall climate change actions.”

Women in Security: Overcoming Old Challenges in a New Era

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In an ideal world, conversations about the representation of women in security and leadership roles should not be necessary. But the equal society we envision is still in the future, though it is one we are progressively approaching. 

It is essential to recognise the progress made towards gender equality, especially in industries where women are underrepresented, such as the security industry. However, despite the increasing awareness of the impact that women can make in the security sector, there is still a long way to go in achieving gender diversity and inclusion. In this article, we speak to Melanie Innes, Key Account Director, and Sharon Kane, Operations Manager, about the challenges and opportunities for women in the industry.

How do you view the attractiveness of the security industry for women?

Melanie: The security industry has faced challenges with gender diversity in the past. However, this has significantly changed over time as more women enter and stay in the sector due to equal opportunities for both genders. Today’s change-makers in the security industry are strong women with a change-oriented ideology. The industry today offers a wider range of tasks that do not only include manned guarding but also customer liaison roles, which broadens the industry and makes it more accessible for women.

Sharon:  There has been a misperception among some that the security industry can be challenging and too physically demanding for women who aspire to work in the field. For views to change, the industry needs to be more than just inclusive. It means that our industry must establish a culture that promotes diversity and values the contributions of women. This can involve initiatives like setting up leadership programs and flexible work schedules for women, among other things. For example, Bidvest Noonan recently signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge that supports colleagues experiencing menopause and making reasonable adjustments in their working schedules and environments.

Why do you think the industry feels less appealing to women?

Melanie: The lack of professional networking opportunities and mentorship remains a big challenge for women in security. I believe that professional networking opportunities and mentoring programs are crucial for women to rise to the top in this industry. This also means that women should seek out mentors and colleagues who can provide direction, guidance, and support which would help them form strong networks.

Sharon: Insufficient representation is one of the key challenges women encounter in security and management roles to date. I came across a study which mentioned that only 11% of security leadership positions worldwide are held by women. This is not a particularly appealing number, and the problem is that even this 11% of women are underrepresented in the sector. It can be challenging for young women to picture themselves in senior roles when they lack a female role model in the industry and examples of strong successful women in security. Melanie and I are fortunate to have had strong women role models in our business units, both are led by female Managing Directors.

Can you share your thoughts on perceived gender bias in the industry?

Melanie: For a business to be productive overall and to combat gender bias, inclusion and diversity must be achieved. To deal with the shifting landscape, organisations should make sure they can keep attracting and retaining talented women. To attract more women into the industry, and to promote female leaders, there must be a desire to make the right decisions from the leaders and do so with positive intent. The fact that a woman is the Managing Director of Bidvest Noonan London Solutions Business Unit is an incredibly motivating example.

Sharon: It is true that gender bias remains an issue and it is a global problem across different industries. I learned recently that the global average gender disparity is around 31%. In order to work towards closing this gender gap in our industry, a lot of effort has to filter down from management. One of the most effective measures that a company can take is to develop an environment that promotes ‘conscious inclusion’. 

What advice would you offer to a woman considering a career in security?

Melanie: There has never been a better time to pursue a career in the security industry. Take advantage of all the opportunities that are offered to you. At the end of the day, it’s important that women realise they can accomplish everything they set their minds to. Someone considering a career in security should concentrate on being persistent, being able to take constructive criticism, and having confidence in their skills. 

Sharon: Women can achieve great heights in this industry. Women do indeed face unique challenges in their journey, but with perseverance and support from their colleagues and mentors, anything is possible. It’s time to challenge the way women are perceived inside and outside this industry.