Bidvest Noonan

A market leading provider of facilities services and solutions

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60 Seconds with Chris Rugg

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Chris Rugg, Director of Operations in our London Security Solutions Business unit, joined us for the latest edition of our 60-second interview series where he talks about his work, inspiration, and his life mantra:

How would you describe your role at Bidvest Noonan?

I am the Director of Operations for our London Security Business at Bidvest Noonan. I support and lead my team in delivering the best possible service to our customers. I work closely with clients and management to ensure Bidvest Noonan is the partner of choice in the market.

What has been your best day at Bidvest Noonan?

I always cherish the days when I can gather my entire team together, but the most remarkable days are when we receive news of winning or retaining contracts. Fortunately, we have experienced numerous successes in this regard recently. Is there anything more gratifying than that? So far, I haven’t had a single bad day here!

What is the most valuable advice you’ve ever received?

Trust yourself, make a decision, and take action. The rest will fall into place!

How do you stay motivated?

When you appreciate your work, the culture of the people you work with, and the company you work for, it’s easy to stay motivated.

Who or what has been your greatest source of inspiration?

When I first entered the private security industry after leaving the armed forces, I found inspiration in the hard work of some of my close colleagues at the time, Brian Kingham and Ken Allison. Their dedication greatly influenced my career and ensured a positive transition into the industry.

If you had a personal motto, what would it be?

My life mantra is “Carpe diem!”—seize the day! Life is not a rehearsal.

Finding Balance to Reduce Anxiety – Kathryn Cusick

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It’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2023, and this year’s theme is ‘Anxiety.’

Anxious thoughts are experienced by everyone, but they can often escalate and develop into a mental health problem. This week, our ED&I team created a space for open conversations on mental health, focusing specifically on anxiety and how to best manage it.

We spoke with Kathryn Cusick, our Operational Support Manager and ED&I Ambassador, to discuss this topic. Kathryn shares how she prioritises her mental health, finding a balance to reduce anxiety.

Have you experienced moments of anxiety, and how have you coped with them?

Like many individuals, I occasionally face bouts of anxiety. However, I make a conscious effort to uplift myself by engaging in activities that are both relaxing and mentally diverting. Personally, I find playing soothing music in the background helps me unwind and enhance my focus. 

How do you prioritise your mental health?

Personally, I attach great importance to my mental well-being and take specific steps to rejuvenate and nurture myself. When I am not spending time with my little boy, I engage in activities like running and going to the gym. I also make it a point to dedicate quality time to spend with my loved ones, which brings me joy and fulfilment, taking my mind off any worries. 

Do you have a toolkit for managing anxiety or stress?

Personally, I’ve found that incorporating breathing exercises into my routine has been incredibly helpful. I utilise a breathing app on my watch to assist me in managing stress when needed. Additionally, taking leisurely walks in my garden and appreciating the vibrant blooms during the summer provides me with a sense of relief from stress.

I understand that individuals have different ways of coping with these emotions, but it’s crucial for those who are struggling to remember that they are not alone in their journey. 

How our team at Alexion Pharmaceuticals is ‘Making a Real Difference’ – Naomi Vasilca

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To mark World FM Day 2023, we sat down with Naomi Vasilca, Strategic Account Lead here at Bidvest Noonan. Naomi oversees our team at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, a customer of ours that does very important work in the life sciences sector.

In line with this year’s theme of “Making a Real Difference”, we wanted to learn from Naomi about herself and her team’s experiences and hear about the ways they’re making a positive impact for our client and the environment.

In your opinion, what does it mean to “make a real difference” in the facilities services industry?

In our industry, making a real difference means more than just the basics. To me, it’s about truly understanding your clients and going above and beyond to address their unique needs and challenges. This can take many forms, such as anticipating issues before they arise and collaborating with your clients towards shared goals. It’s also about providing a service that actively contributes to the success of your client’s operations. Our team here at Alexion deliver on all of this.

How has your team made a real difference in the past year, and what impact did it have on the customer?

Over the past year, my team has focused on safety and making sure our staff are well-trained and aware of potential hazards. While this may seem standard practice, the level at which we do this has resulted in our team at Alexion College Park, Dublin, achieving over 500,000 Lost Time Accident (LTA) free hours.

Not only has this earned us the trust of our client, but it has meant our efforts have enabled the smooth functioning of their operations. They can rely on our service, which is extremely important when developing life-saving medication in the pharmaceutical space.

Can you share an example of a challenge your team faced and how they overcame it to make a positive impact?

In the life-sciences sector, there are always challenges to face. But that’s why we’re continuously training and staying up-to-date with the latest regulations. We’re determined to overcome any obstacle that comes our way!

Recently, our client began expanding and building a brand new plant on-site. Our colleagues are working on different projects to help with their expansion plans. The new buildings will house work that’ll have a positive impact on people all over the world. And you know what? Our team is right there, every step of the way, supporting our customer.

How do you motivate your team to continually strive for excellence and make a real difference?

I like to say I lead by example. I understand that today’s world is more complex than it was 20 years ago. To motivate my team, I try to see and understand each of them as individuals with their own unique issues and challenges. I believe that by showing them respect, compassion, and kindness, I can create a positive work environment where they feel supported and motivated to do their best.

Additionally, I work hard to provide them with the necessary tools and resources to succeed and encourage them to take ownership of their work. Ultimately, I believe that when I am working alongside them and modelling the behaviour I expect, they will be inspired to push themselves to achieve amazing things.

Can you share a success story of a project or initiative your team undertook to make a real difference for the environment?

There isn’t just one success story from the team at Alexion, there have been many initiatives we have undertaken to make a real difference for our environment.

I recently developed a report that highlighted the benefits we achieved by using water-saving technology. One of which is the Tersano system we installed, which purifies water without the use of chemicals, resulting in a significant drop in CO2 emissions as fewer delivery vans are required

We have also made moves to electric equipment such as electric lawn mowers, and electric vehicles across our Athlone and College Park sites. We are also looking into installing beehives in Athlone as part of our commitment to promoting biodiversity

We believe that these initiatives not only make a positive impact on the environment but also help our clients achieve their sustainability goals.

Looking ahead, what are some goals that your team has for making a real difference in the coming year?

While we have already achieved so much and made a real positive impact for our customer, I am a firm believer that there is always room to improve.

In the coming year, we plan to continue focusing on safety and improving operational efficiency. We also want to explore new technologies and solutions to provide better services and deepen our understanding of our clients’ needs.

I am excited at some of the new innovations we have coming too, including the Comac InAqua system that will further improve our water-saving efforts across Alexion.

The Art of Protection: How Kelly Raines Became London’s Best Security Manager at the British Security Awards

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A huge congratulations to our colleague Kelly Raines for winning the ‘Best Security Manager’ award for the London region in the British Security Awards 2023 (BSAs).

Kelly Raines joined Bidvest Noonan as a security officer in November 2017. Overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities along the way, she worked her way up to managing the loading bays for a major project before ultimately becoming the Security Manager for a prestigious London site. Recently, Kelly’s dedication and hard work were recognised when she was named Best Security Manager in the London region at the British Security Awards. Today, she leads a team of 15 professional security officers, ensuring safety and security at a bustling corporate building in the heart of the city.

What qualities set Kelly apart and make her the best security manager? Let’s take a closer look:

Delivering service excellence

Kelly is an expert in meeting operational requirements, deadlines, budgets, and KPIs. In the past, she and her team have gone above and beyond what was expected to provide great service, exceeding the expectations of our stakeholders. For the convenience of her occupants, Kelly set up a post room that provides customised delivery and collecting services.

Kelly’s people first approach

Kelly’s leadership style is inclusive, and she encourages everyone to come forward with their ideas and suggestions. She has created an environment of trust where her team feels safe to speak up, knowing that their opinions are valued. Kelly’s people-focused leadership has made her team feel heard, appreciated, and respected.

Promoting development and training

Promoting development is crucial for achieving high standards of security services, and Kelly is an excellent example of a leader who prioritises these values. To guarantee that security professionals at her site are properly prepared to deliver a high-quality security service and meet the site challenges, Kelly has also developed a comprehensive training plan.

Supporting women in security and embedding diversity

Kelly Raines has demonstrated her commitment to encouraging women in the security industry. She has prioritised increasing the number of women on her team since taking over her position. She is also a proud member of the Bidvest Noonan ED&I Council, a group that works hard to implement diversity awareness and training sessions across sites in the UK.

Kelly is a remarkable manager who embodies a people-focused approach to leadership that has set her apart as an exceptional manager. With over 25 years of experience, strong leadership skills and dedication to creating a positive work environment, Kelly truly deserves this recognition in this year’s British Security Awards.

Everyone at Bidvest Noonan wishes her a heartfelt congratulations and continued success.

Great news ahead of the 2023 National British Security Awards

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Our business has had resounding success thus far in the British Security Awards, an event that recognises the talent and commitment of the security industry’s very best professionals.

At the regional stage, our teams and colleagues took home 10 awards across key categories including Service to the Customer, Outstanding Act, and Security Manager of the Year. We are especially proud of our achievement in the Best Team category, where we were awarded 4 top prizes.

The winners hail from various regions including Northern Ireland, London, West Midlands, and Yorkshire and Humber. With their remarkable triumph, they have all advanced to the national finals scheduled for June!

We are also national finalists in the Large Business of the Year, Best Use of Technology, and Innovative Security Project of the Year categories.

We look forward to what promises to be a very exciting event!


The list of our finalists in full:

(Best Security Team of the Year)
Bidvest Noonan team at Worcester Bosch
Bidvest Noonan team at Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council
Bidvest Noonan team at Rotherham Interchange Security Team
Bidvest Noonan team at Fenchurch St.

(Service to the Customer)
Steven Peterson
Margaret Rudge

(Outstanding Act)
Adrian McAuley
Volodymyr Soshka & Malone Hamilton

(Security Manager of the Year)
Bill Russell
Kelly Raines

(Large Business of the Year)
Bidvest Noonan

(Best Use of Technology)
Transforming Daily Occurrence Logging

(Innovative Security Project of the Year)
Vertical Heatmapping

Bidvest Noonan Appoints Rajiv Gupta as Chief Financial Officer for Great Britain Operations

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We are delighted to announce the appointment of Rajiv Gupta as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for our business in Great Britain. Rajiv brings over a decade of senior finance leadership experience to our company.

Rajiv has an impressive track record in finance, having held various senior roles across multiple industries. Most recently, he held the position of Finance Director at JLL for almost four years contributing significantly to the growth and stability of his division. Before his tenure at JLL, Rajiv was the Head of Finance for Interserve for more than three and half years, during which time he played a key role in the company’s financial planning and strategy.

Prior to joining Interserve, Rajiv served at Virgin Media, honing his financial expertise and leadership capabilities. His extensive industry experience and proven track record of success make him an invaluable addition to Bidvest Noonan’s executive team.

As CFO of our business in Great Britain, Rajiv will be responsible for overseeing our company’s financial performance. He will play an important role in driving Bidvest Noonan’s continued growth and maintaining our market-leading position for services such as cleaning and security.

“I am delighted to welcome Rajiv to our executive team,” said Jeff Flanagan, CEO of Bidvest Noonan. “His wealth of experience in finance and proven leadership skills make him the ideal candidate to help us maintain our strong position in the market and drive our continued growth.”

“I am honoured and excited to join Bidvest Noonan as the Chief Financial Officer for its business in Great Britain.” said Rajiv Gupta. “I look forward to working with Jeff and all my new colleagues. I know we can achieve so much together”.