Bidvest Noonan

A market leading provider of facilities services and solutions

pressrelease

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”. 

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 difference-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.

Stephen Taylor has been appointed Director of Operations for our Transport sector business

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Bidvest Noonan has appointed Stephen Taylor as Director of Operations for our Transport Solutions business unit. We launched our Transport Solutions Business Unit in December 2021 to cement our leadership position in the sector and establish a strong platform for our continued growth and development.

Today, the business unit counts many of the UK’s rail, coach, tram, and bus service operators among its customers. The business unit which specialises in cleaning and support services for the sector estimates that its cleaning teams have positively impacted more than 1.5 billion passenger journeys since its launch just over one year ago.

Stephen’s appointment is part of Bidvest Noonan’s continued investment in its transport sector business. With more than ten years of industry experience, Stephen is a highly accomplished leader. In addition, he brings a wealth of operations leadership experience from across the transport sector to Bidvest Noonan.

Commenting on Stephen’s appointment, Managing Director of Transport Solutions, Colin Marshall, said, “I’m delighted to welcome Stephen to Bidvest Noonan. Stephen understands the unique challenges our sector presents. He has a track record of delivering excellent service and value to our customers and clean, comfortable environments for their passengers. I look forward to seeing Stephen’s impact on our business.”

Stephen Taylor added, “I’m thrilled to have joined Bidvest Noonan and delighted by the welcome I have received. I have been very impressed by the company’s performance in the transport sector; The business has built a strong reputation and an even stronger team.”

Bidvest Noonan appoints Chris Rugg as Director of Operations for its London Security Solutions business unit

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Bidvest Noonan has appointed Chris Rugg as Director of Operations in its London Security Solutions business unit. The company launched the specialist London-focused business unit in February 2022 to expand its expertise and capability in the capital. Since its launch, the business unit, which delivers a wide range of security and front-of-house services, has established a leadership position in the city.

Chris Rugg has more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in the security industry. Following a successful career in the British armed forces, Chris served in director-level positions with a number of the largest security businesses in the UK. In recent years, he has focussed exclusively on London and amassed invaluable experience directing security operations in the city.

Managing Director Liz Cummins commented on the appointment, “I’m delighted to welcome Chris to our team. His understanding of our industry, customers, and market is exceptional, and, like us, he is committed to delivering innovative and high-quality security services.

Chris has a talent for building high-performing teams and strong customer relationships. I’m confident he will be very successful at Bidvest Noonan, and I look forward to the positive impact he will have on our business”.

Chris Rugg said: “I am thrilled to have joined Bidvest Noonan. This is a dynamic and innovative business with a great track record and an impressive portfolio of customers. I’m excited to take on this new role and to work as part of such a strong team to support our customers and grow the business”.

Bidvest Noonan becomes a supporting member of the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology

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We are delighted to announce Bidvest Noonan has become a supporting member of the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology (SOFHT), the highest level of membership the society offers. This move demonstrates our business’s commitment to providing the highest standards of support to the sector.

The food industry in the UK is a vital sector that encompasses the production, processing, and distribution of foods and beverages. The industry employs hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and contributes significantly to the country’s economy. 

SOFHT is dedicated to promoting best practices across the entire food chain and providing expertise, technical support, and training to the sector. As a supporting member of SOFHT, Bidvest Noonan’s food sector hygiene service delivery teams will have access to the latest thinking, research, and training in critical areas such as hygiene, quality control, and compliance. This relationship will also enable Bidvest Noonan to influence the society’s important work.

Commenting on Bidvest Noonan’s support of SOFHT, Jeff Flanagan, CEO of Bidvest Noonan in Great Britain, said, “I am delighted that Bidvest Noonan has become a supporting member of the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology. We have developed deep expertise in the food sector and support a growing portfolio of iconic food sector brands. Today as a supporting member of SOFHT, we are uniquely positioned to help customers deliver the highest quality food products to consumers and meet the most stringent of audits.”

Alan Lacey, Chair of SOFHT expressed his enthusiasm at the news that Bidvest Noonan had become a supporting member of the Society. Alan added “we have formed a strong relationship with Bidvest Noonan, and I am delighted to have them as a supporting member. I look forward to working with Bidvest Noonan to raise standards in the UK food industry.”

Bidvest Noonan appoints Managing Director for Northern Ireland

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We are delighted to announce Jim O’Hagan has been appointed as Managing Director for our business in Northern Ireland.

Jim is a highly accomplished senior executive with more than 20 years of senior leadership experience. He has a track-record of guiding high-performance teams, bringing success to many market-leading brands. He succeeds Scott Brannigan who has retired. 

This appointment signals our continued commitment to the Northern Irish market and underlines our ambition for the business in the region.

Bidvest Noonan provides services ranging from cleaning and security to facilities management in Northern Ireland and supports many of the most iconic brands operating across the UK & Ireland.

Speaking on his appointment, Jim said:

“I am delighted to join Bidvest Noonan at a truly exciting time for the company. This business is hugely admired for its people-first culture and commitment to service excellence, which made my decision to join very easy.

I want to wish Scott the very best in his retirement and thank him for the work he has done to ensure my smooth transition into the role. I look forward to working with my new team to build on our success to date and continue to deliver outstanding support to customers.”

CEO for Bidvest Noonan in Ireland, Cormac Sheils commented:

“I would like to warmly welcome Jim into the Bidvest Noonan family. Jim has a very impressive background and brings with him a wealth of experience, strong management skills, and deep expertise. I look forward to working with Jim to expand our presence in Northern Ireland. I have every confidence that Jim will be very successful at Bidvest Noonan.”