David Phillips, Transport Director for the North, has joined us for our next 60-second interview. David gives us an insight into our operations in the Rail, Light Rail, and Bus sectors.
In one sentence, how would you define what you do at Bidvest Noonan?
I provide the senior operational leadership for our cleaning services in the Transport sector across the North which currently stretches all the way from Aberdeen to Coventry.
Could you tell us about the sector you work in and what we do for our clients?
I work with our public transport contracts and we currently provide a number of facilities and asset management services to bus, train and tram customers. This includes vehicle cleaning, premises cleaning, customer-facing asset condition monitoring, safety-critical work including fuelling and vehicle movements, and much more.
What has been your best day at Bidvest Noonan?
Thankfully there have been many but the one that leaps to mind was when I found out that KeolisAmey Metrolink (who operate the Manchester Metrolink tram system) had nominated us for an International Light Rail Award. For us and our hard-working team to be recognised by our customer and the wider industry was a really proud moment.
What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?
It’s a quote from the autobiography of the Canadian Ice Hockey player Wayne Gretzky but was crudely stolen by the Michael Scott character in the US version of The Office. It still resonates for all that: “You miss 100% of all shots you don’t take”.
How do you motivate yourself?
We work in environments that have the potential to cause serious injuries, so we have to work extremely hard in ensuring the health and safety of our teams and colleagues is our number one priority. Nothing motivates me more to do my job well than ensuring that all our activities result in everyone getting home safely at the end of the working day.
If you had a motto, what would it be?
Go and see for yourself.
What is your definition of success?
Creating a team environment where people can thrive, are able to make and learn from their mistakes, and can move upwards when the time is right. Many of my Key Account Managers have worked their way up from frontline positions and I am extremely proud of that.
David, how do you motivate yourself and the people you work with?
By ensuring the key messages that we give them are clear and achievable. I also give my team time and space – nobody likes to be micro-managed – but I will always make time to support them whatever the situation.
