Mount Charles Group’s recent senior appointments mark an exciting phase of expansion across the island of Ireland. Mount Charles Group has unveiled key changes in its leadership team, signalling a strategic move towards heightened business growth. With a workforce of over 2,700 individuals, the company stands as one of Northern Ireland’s prominent independent providers of catering, cleaning, events, and facilities management services. Additionally, it offers a diverse range of business solutions, encompassing security and vending services.

The newly appointed Group Commercial Director, Gary Doyle, brings over three decades of invaluable business experience to Mount Charles. Gary will take the lead in driving the company’s sales strategy across Ireland.

Joining him is Barry O’Hara, the new Operations Director for the Republic of Ireland, who boasts a robust background in catering, hospitality, facilities management, and sales. Barry will oversee the operational aspects of all Mount Charles sites in the Republic of Ireland while contributing to the organisation’s overall business growth.

Moreover, the company has appointed Gavin Annon, a longstanding member of the Mount Charles family and the Group Sales and Marketing Director since 2017, to the position of Chief Strategy Officer. Gavin will play a key role in developing and implementing varied business strategies across Mount Charles. In addition, he’ll strengthen the company’s culture and values, both internally and externally, while crucially driving forward the ambitious ESG plans.

Gavin Annon commented: “We see immense potential for growth across the island of Ireland, particularly within the private sector, and these new senior appointments are integral to helping us realise our ambition and vision.

“Looking ahead, we see great opportunity and potential in our continued expansion in ROI, which includes maximising our service line, enhancing our capabilities and actively looking for strategic acquisition opportunities for business diversification across the group.

“As we embark on this exciting phase of our business growth journey, our strategic vision remains firm. We are committed to recruiting and developing exceptional individuals who not only deliver outstanding service to our clients but also play a pivotal role in shaping a brilliant future for our organisation.

“We also understand the importance of ESG, and our ambition is to be a market leader in this regard, giving back to the community, caring for our planet and embodying the principles of a responsible business.”

#Greatpeople #Greatservice #Greatfuture

Named ‘Hawker’, this fresh eatery by Mount Charles is all about Asian street food vibes, nestled in the Northern Quarter of the Belfast International Airport. Prepare yourself for an exquisite culinary adventure featuring a sophisticated menu influenced by the rich heritage of Asian cuisine.

Hawker has just opened its doors, buzzing with five new staff members, ready to serve all the travellers cruising through airport.

Trevor Annon, Mount Charles Chairman, said that the company is looking forward to continuing its work alongside Belfast International Airport.

He added: “Having already developed a close working relationship with Belfast International Airport over the last number of years, we are excited to launch our latest venture in Hawker. We are committed to excellence and customer satisfaction, and so we have significantly invested in the restaurant unit itself, the branding, the staff and of course the new menu offering. We believe that Hawker will elevate the dining experience for the airport’s customers and service users.”

Graham Keddie, Managing Director, Belfast International Airport, commented: “Hawker is an exciting new concept for Belfast International Airport, and we are delighted to welcome this new Asian street food addition to the departures concourse. This new outlet underlines our commitment to enhancing the passenger experience and providing customers with more choice on their journey through the airport.”

Matthew Wheatley, Head Chef at Hawker, said: “Hawker is the adaptation of the ever-evolving food industry. As food trends come and go, it is important to carefully develop a menu with deep appreciation for fresh, seasonal ingredients and meticulous preparation techniques. Our new restaurant will boast a variety of different flavours ranging from our spicy Schezwan sauce to our mild Korean Kimchi.”

In a nutshell, Hawker is set to transform the dining experience at Belfast International Airport. Get ready to embark on a flavour-packed journey!

Excitement is building at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution (RBAI) as a dynamic new partnership with Mount Charles promises to redefine the dining experience for students and staff. In a move designed to elevate the well-being and nutrition of the RBAI community, the school is thrilled to introduce Urban Square Co—a fresh and vibrant culinary concept brought to life by Mount Charles.

Mount Charles, a renowned leader in catering and hospitality, has a strong history of delivering exceptional services and culinary experiences. We have a notable presence in prestigious schools like Friends School, Lisburn, and Wallace High School, demonstrating our expertise in meeting the educational community’s culinary needs. Additionally, we provide catering services to Regional Colleges and Maynooth University.

Chief Operating Officer, Jonathon Mallon stated: ‘Mount Charles is delighted to be providing catering services to the RBAI, assisting in providing a first-class experience for the students, staff, and visitors to this historical institution.’

Urban Square Co from Mount Charles, is set to become the go-to destination for wholesome, high-quality dining within the RBAI campus. Focused on providing nourishing dishes prepared with premium locally sourced ingredients, this exciting addition is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Urban Square Co offers a diverse menu that caters to every taste and preference. From convenient grab & go options to satisfying hot dishes, nourishing healthy choices, and delightful snacks, there’s something for everyone. Students and staff alike will find it easy to enjoy a satisfying and nutritious meal on campus.

Urban Square Co from Mount Charles understands the importance of providing students with food that fuels their minds and bodies. Our commitment to locally sourced ingredients ensures that every meal is made with care and dedication to quality. Whether it’s a quick bite between classes, a heartwarming lunch, or a well-deserved coffee break, Urban Square Co has something for everyone, as highlighted.

This partnership marks a significant step in RBAI’s journey toward enhancing the campus experience, and with Urban Square Co, the future looks brighter and more delicious than ever.

We are delighted to share that Mount Charles Group has secured a significant contract with Translink Trains. The agreement entails providing comprehensive cleaning services for Translink’s extensive train fleet, marking a considerable stride in enhancing service quality and the overall customer experience for the 1.5 million weekly passengers relying on Translink’s services.

Over the next three years, we will have a dedicated team of 80 cleaning operatives working tirelessly round the clock, 363 days a year, ensuring cleanliness throughout Translink’s extensive train network in Northern Ireland. Stationed at eight regional hubs, our team’s services will also extend to Enterprise trains connecting Lanyon Station in Belfast to Dublin’s Connolly Station.

Our extensive experience in delivering top-tier cleaning services across various sectors, from healthcare to education and leisure, has equipped us well for this venture. In just the past year, we effectively maintained cleanliness in over 600 sites across Ireland.

This partnership signifies a significant contract for our cleaning division, presenting itself as a catalyst for business growth and job creation within Northern Ireland. It’s an exciting journey that holds immense potential for all parties involved.

Stacey McAlister, Operations Director at Mount Charles, expressed her anticipation for the collaboration with Translink, highlighting Translink’s critical role in connectivity across Northern Ireland and transport links to and from the Republic of Ireland. Stacey emphasized the synergies between Mount Charles and Translink, foreseeing an enhancement in service quality and customer experience for the 1.5 million weekly passengers utilizing Translink’s services.

“This is a significant contract for the cleaning division at Mount Charles, which we hope will act as a catalyst for business growth and job creation in Northern Ireland,” Stacey McAlister added.

John Allison, Fleet Presentation Manager at Translink, shares our dedication to providing appealing public transport options, focusing on the highest standards of comfort and cleanliness. He mentioned, “We look forward to working closely with Mount Charles to ensure our services and facilities enhance our overall customer experience.”

Together, Mount Charles and Translink embark on a promising journey, pledging improved service delivery, an enhanced passenger experience, and a positive economic influence on Northern Ireland. We invite you to join us on this thrilling venture as we contribute to a cleaner, more efficient, and delightful journey with Translink.

#Greatservice #Greatpeople #Greatfuture

Trevor Conroy, former Head Chef at Mount Charles, has recently taken up a new position with the company as Group Head of Food Innovation and Development. Trevor has been with the company since September 2019 and since then has progressed in his role and gained invaluable experience in the Catering industry with team MC. 

We had a Q&A with him this month to find out a bit about his journey within the company, his past experience, and what his new job entails. Trevor was happy to share his thoughts and hopes for the future.

What was your previous job role in Mount Charles?
I was Head Chef and then Operations Development Manager.

When and why did you join the company?
I joined MC in September 2019. I saw the positive direction the company was going and was attracted to the Family orientated atmosphere that comes with working with MC.

How long have you worked for Mount Charles?
I have worked with the company for three and a half beautiful years.

Can you talk a bit about your previous job experience and what roles you have held? I have been involved in catering around food for nearly 20 years now. Once I gained my qualifications from Cathal Brugha Street the aim was to get out and soak in as much experience as possible. This has taken me to Australia and Scotland where I have worked for 9 years in total between the two countries. When I returned I wanted to dip my toes into the operational side of the industry and worked my way into a management and an operational role. My passion for food is always there but having the valuable experience of both sides of the industry will help going forward in my career.

What do you like most about working at Mount Charles?
The family feel to the company. The freedom to express and the pathways to progress within the company. 

Best MC workplace memory: Working with the Maynooth University team to help them execute an excellent night for the annual Alumni event.

What does your new role involve? Designing and costing menus, researching and producing food concepts and promotions, Working with units to pinpoint and improve or maintain their standards and GP, Composing general audits for catering sites within the business.

What is the most challenging aspect of your role? “The driving” as the new role involves taking on all the NI sites as well as the ROI sites. Being from Wicklow some journeys can exceed 9 hours. Plenty of time to listen to some podcasts.

Favourite part of the role? Meeting new MC team members. Prior to this I was solely based in ROI. I am enjoying putting faces to names and also seeing some of the variances in cuisine between NI and ROI.

Managing Director Barry Byrne commented: “We are extremely proud of Trevor Conroy who is an unbelievably talented Chef with many years of experience within the catering industry behind him. This was a well-deserved promotion for him. The role itself was a necessary response to the expansion of Mount Charles within NI and ROI as we begin to target new markets. I am confident that his experience and knowledge will be key in supporting the continued growth and strategic development of the company. ”

#greatpeople #greatfuture #greatservice

On Thursday 9th March this year, Mount Charles celebrated the achievements and outstanding contributions its employees have made to the success of the business over the past couple of years. This was the company’s 4^th annual Trevi Awards Ceremony and was held at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast, in honour of Founder and Chairman Trevor Annon.

After a sensational drinks reception, a delicious gala dinner was served along with an evening of music and entertainment. The night was centred around celebrating the hard work, innovation, passion and determination of the employees across Mount Charles Group, Mount Charles Ireland, Craft, Hospitality Belfast, The Concept Group and Werkit.

There were eighteen different award categories ranging from Catering Manager of the Year to Mobile Cleaning Operative of the Year, and overall, 21 standout employees from across each of its divisions received golden trophies.

‘Not being able to choose more than one or two winners for each category was very difficult for us’ said Chief Operating Officer, Jonathon Mallon, so the Mount Charles team awarded certificates to 26 highly commended members of staff and teams. The Group also recognised those who have completed 10 or more years of service within the company, with 56 staff members receiving gold star trophies.

The awards were presented by Senior team members, including Nikki Looby, Stacey McAllister, Gavin Annon and Jonathon Mallon, as well as Managing Director Barry Byrne, Chairman Trevor Annon and his wife, Kate Annon.

Nicole Robson, Head of HSQE and winner of the Chairman’s Pride of Mount Charles Award shared her thoughts on the whole experience:

“After serving in the Army for 18 years, two years ago, almost to the day, I was working for the UK’s 3^rd largest supermarket, and I was bored. I said out loud “This is boring, I need a challenge”. I was asked to apply for the role of HSQE Manager and sent in my CV. I did not get the job. At least at first but fate had other ideas and 3 weeks later I was collecting my laptop and work phone. Two years later I am now the Head of Health, Safety, Quality & Environment across the Mount Charles Group and I have yet to be bored! It is an absolute honour and a privilege to win this award and I am humbled by everyone’s gratitude and words of encouragement. I feel extremely proud and also very lucky to have the pleasure of calling Mount Charles and its people my extended family and my home away from home”.

The Group were also fortunate enough to be joined by special guests, Roy Walker and May McFetridge, two highly esteemed comedians who absolutely stole the show and had the whole room erupting with laughter.

The Award giving was then followed by an evening of dancing and music provided by the band ‘The Overnights’, who played superbly and put on a really great show.

Overall, it was an incredibly enjoyable night for all those who were in attendance across MC’s Six divisions. This was the first award ceremony the company has held since pre-covid-19, which made it even more special.

Founder and Chairman Trevor Annon commented:

‘It was a fabulous evening thoroughly enjoyed by 400 team members from all over Ireland. It was my privilege to host the evening and to present some of the awards, but the real pleasure for me was to see so many smiling faces and to chat with many colleagues during the evening. Gale force winds and blistering snow did not dampen spirits, and we all enjoyed a fabulous meal delivered by our sister company, Hospitality Belfast. At last we can finally consign Covid to the history books and look forward to an exciting future which will open up opportunities for everyone. Let’s now look forward to 2024 Trevi Awards.’

Mattie O’Grady Head of Cleaning Mount Charles ROI, Fiona O’Connor Estates Department Administrator SETU, and David Buckley Eastate Manager SETU Carlow with members for the cleaning staff who received their certificates at SETU Carlow.

Award-winning FM support services firm Mount Charles has been awarded a multimillion-pound, three-year contract by Ireland’s South East Technological University (SETU) at sites in Munster and Leinster.

The contract worth €2.16 million includes portering and cleaning services at the Main Carlow Campus, South Sports Campus, and Wexford Campus (Summerhill Campus and the Art and Design Campus) including all buildings, sports pitches and stands, car parks and recreational areas.

With well over 50 years experience in higher education, research, innovation, and stakeholder collaboration, SETU has evolved out of the Institutes of Technology at Waterford and Carlow.

This contract is a huge win for the Mount Charles team as the regional university houses more than 18,000 students and employs at least 1,500 staff campuses across the south-east of the Republic of Ireland in Carlow, Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow, and Kilkenny. But it doesn’t stop there, it also has huge ambitions to grow the student and staff numbers by 2032 to 25,000 students and 2,000 staff by 2032.

Gavin Annon, Mount Charles’s sales and marketing director, shared his thoughts on the win: “This contract further cements Mount Charles’s reputation as a leading service provider in ROI, providing soft services in a sustainable manner which brings long term benefits to both parties. We very much look forward to working with the team at SETU.”

#GREATSERVICE #GREATPEOPLE #GREATFUTURE

As a company, we pride ourselves on being a responsible business committed to managing our environmental impact and striving towards sustainability. While we all love a spick and span, great smelling business, particularly at Christmas time, we also want to avoid harsh irritant and chemicals in the products we’re using. Opting for greener and more natural cleaning solutions can help you to integrate eco-friendly products into your routine.

So if you’re interested in making your business a healthier place this season while helping out the planet at the same time, see below our top seven recommended eco-friendly hygiene products used by us. We hope that they inspire you to use greener products.

1.PURELL brand Healthy Soap with Clean release technology

First up we have PURELL brand Healthy Soap with Clean release technology. This product was formulated with the planet in mind. It is the first soap sold in the B2B market in the U.S. to become Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold. It also has earned the highest material health rating possible. It’s remarkably mild formulations are also gentle on skin, contain no antibacterial ingredients* and remove over 99% of dirt and germs.

2. PURELL Advanced Hand Sanitizer Fragrance Free Gel

This product is a Green-certified, fragrance-free gel hand sanitizer , and is perfect for professional environments. It kills 99.99 percent of most common germs that may cause illness, has a strength twice the strength of other national brands and best of all, it is made with natural renewable ethanol.

This sanitizer also offers “Energy-on-the-refill” technology, which means that every refill has a built-in energy source, designed to last as long as the refill. Once the product is finished, the refill is easily recycled.

Plus, it has a clinically proven formulation to maintain healthy skin as well as being dye and fragrance free. An all-round great product for your business.

3.North Shore by Northwood Washroom Dispensers

Our consumable wiping products come from Northwood who collect over 100,000 tonnes a year within the UK to recycle, and 79% of all NS paper sales are recycled paper and FSC certified products.

Designed to meet the highest demands of the modern washroom, North Shore brings together a sophisticated and contemporary aesthetic, supreme functionality and hygiene to deliver market leading performance. These dispenser products have a full green loop with them. They are highly durable, long-lasting, are drain-friendly, made from strong ABS plastic and are zero waste. Not to mention they’re easy to install. What more could you want?

The orbit toilet dispenser is a great product to include in your business as they dispense up to 5,000 sheets, are zero waste and are translucent so you can see when they’re running out. The Mechanical Hands-Free Roll Towel Dispenser is a high-capacity dispenser that reduces the need for extra maintenance, making it ideal for high footfall areas. The single sheet presentation means that you only touch what you use, delivering exceptional hygiene performance and of course reducing waste. Rolls are kept locked, clean and protected until required.

Plus the dispensers are available in three colours, whilst the stylish flat sheet presentation also makes for a premium washroom experience. Your business needs these for sure!

4.PURELL® Multi Surface Disinfectant Citrus Scent

At this point you’ve probably noticed we’re very passionate about GOJO PURELL products. And the reason for this is that GOJO is the first company to publicly commit to reducing their chemical footprint by 50 percent in the next five years. No other company in the world has made such a strong declaration to advance sustainable chemistry. GOJO subscribes to The Green Chemistry Commerce Council, is a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and supports the goals of the organization.

This Multi Surface Disinfectant Citrus Scent works perfectly on a variety of hard and soft surfaces throughout your building, kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria and kills the Coronavirus in 30 seconds. There are also no harsh chemicals or fumes and no water rinse is required on food prep surfaces. Best of all, it was awarded the U.S. EPA Design for the Environment certification (DFE).

A perfect product for keeping your staff safe and virus-free.

5.PURELL® Professional Surface Disinfecting Wipes

Another environmentally friendly product, PURELL® Professional Surface Disinfecting Wipes are fantastic for using in large gathering areas because they’re simply one-step surface disinfecting wipes with a really nice fresh citrus scent.

The cleaning chemicals used in these wipes are dispensed using an automatic dilution control system to minimize waste and maximize cleaning efficiency. They also kill the human coronavirus (COVID-19) in 30 seconds and Kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria including cold & flu, E. coli and Strep. There is no rinse required on food-contact surfaces, and best of all, there are no harsh chemicals used, so you won’t smell any bad odors.

You don’t even have to wash your hands after use and they’re multi-surface compatible. Great stuff!

6.PROVON® Citrus Ginger Foam Hand & Showerwash

This fantastic all-in-one body wash, shampoo and hand soap offers a refreshing blend of citrus and ginger extracts. It is enriched with moisturizers, natural extracts, skin conditioners and it is an ECOLOGO® Certified and USDA biobased product.

The pump is removable for easier recycling while the SANITARY SEALED™ refill helps prevent contamination. So ideal for your bathrooms and toilets.

All of the eco-friendly cleaning products listed above are included because of their sustainable features such as natural ingredients, shipping without plastic, and because they do such a great job at quickly and easily cleaning your business without using harsh chemicals.

It is the reason we are advancing our 2022 Sustainable Value Strategies and Goals to make even greater progress by 2023/4. Partnering with The Concept Group and Northwood, together we strive to incorporate sustainability thinking into all that we do.

Is it that time of year again already? Ho Ho Holy Moly!

With Christmas and New Year fast approaching, you may find yourself panicking and need some help planning your ideal festive party for colleagues, which can be both stressful and challenging. When it comes to Christmas parties, expectations are high.

That’s why we are here to help. Mount Charles are experts in event planning. We have hosted a full range of large-scale events, so you’re in great hands. We have put together our top tips to make sure your Christmas event is one to remember.

This event planning checklist provided by our events team guides you through the process, ensuring you have covered all the essentials and your event runs as smoothly as possible, as well as being an enjoyable time for all!

1. Plan Well In Advance

First and foremost, when running any event, planning early is key. We would recommend to start planning as far in advance as you possibly can as it will allow you time to find the best venue, buy you time to deal with mishaps, and give guests time to make necessary arrangements, such as booking time off to attend. Planning a Christmas party should begin in autumn so you have time to secure a venue and book vendors before their schedules fill up.

Planning early will also allow you to find the right decorations for your theme (if you’re having one) and find an ideal caterer; like Mount Charles for example. Most importantly, it will make the process a bit more stress-free and less nerve wracking.

Last-minute party planning is a recipe for disaster, so don’t delay, get ahead while you can.

2. Choose Your Date

This one goes without saying. You’ll need a date that suits your attendees, so you should propose some dates that they can choose from. Maybe send a poll or ask them to fill out a survey using Survey Monkey, so they can pick their preferred date. This will make the process much smoother. Choosing an earlier date gets you ahead of the game and means you’ll have a broader range of venues to choose from.

If you’re running a company event, send some dates among key decision-makers within the company. It is also important to think about what works best for your company. You should also remember, while the weekend is more popular, availability will be limited at Christmas time and prices will be higher, so consider this. Venues are usually booked up well in advance, especially in busy towns and cities like Belfast.

We work with venues across the island of Ireland and can suggest suitable venues based on your organisations requirements

3. Set Your Budget

If you’re planning on running a company event, you’ll mostly like have a restrictive budget, but

even if your budget is restrictive, it doesn’t mean guests can’t have a great time. It just means you’ll need to prioritise some aspects of the event over others. You’d be surprised how much money you can save by doing a bit of research – something Mount Charles are experts at.

Make sure you include an itemised list of what the budget will and will not include. This will keep you right and will ensure there is no confusion with your boss or colleagues.

4. Choose Your Venue

Sourcing the right venue in any event is key. You’ll need a venue that’s suitable for your activity and a suitable space for the number of attendees. It should also be easily accessible for them with good transport connections. Again the earlier you book, the better the chances of getting one of the more ideal or popular venues.

Need a stage for live music? A good bit of space for a dance floor? As part of our event services here at Mount Charles, we can help you to find the perfect location for your Christmas party. Our clients have some of the best venues in the country that we would gladly put you in touch with.

If you’re hosting a New Year or Christmas party, we would advise you to choose a location with charm to leave a long-lasting impact on your guests. A space that will channel the magic and beauty of the Christmas spirit.

5. Pick a Good Theme

When it comes to your festive party, you’ll need a good theme. You could go for a Winter Wonderland theme, Christmas around the world, or a Christmas movie theme. It can even be something simple and sparkly. Just let your imagination run free.

If you are having a theme though, it’s important this is integrated throughout every aspect, from guest invitations to the decorations and most likely the entertainment as well. We have contacts in event styling and can gladly provide best in class companies we work alongside.

6. Choose Your Food and Drinks

Ok now we’re talking! We’re very serious when it comes getting our guests Fed & Watered (MC Pun intended). Food and drink is a key part of any event, and usually either a meal or buffet is expected at a Christmas or New Year party. Remember to plan for Vegetarian, Vegan or special dietary requirements in advance. And drinks will be expected… of course! We recommend having a drinks reception. It’ll make your guests feel welcome and will likely set the tone for the rest of the party. You could offer a bottle of champagne, wine, prosecco, or even a beer or cocktail.

We have expertise in catering across a range of budgets and requirements and can provide bespoke menus based on your ideal event.

7. Music and Entertainment
   

Aha, here’s where the real party starts!

I think we can all agree that some form of music and entertainment at a festive event is essential. There are lots of options you can choose from including a comedian, karaoke, a band or a DJ, which will encourage people to dance later on in the night.

Depending on your theme you could have something a little different and include games and activities. You could do a Christmas treasure hunt, or Christmas Bingo (An MC staff favourite).

8. Speeches and Awards

For lots of companies, your Christmas party may be an ideal time to present any awards and thank staff collectively. You’ll need to organise certificates, award blocks or prizes in advance.

One thing to keep in mind is to plan the timings of your speeches in advance to ensure that you have enough time allocated to this. You’ll need to have a running order or schedule in place to make sure everyone who’s going to be speaking knows when they’ll be hitting the stage next. A good idea is to do a practice run though before the event. Though we can appreciate not everyone has time for this with it being a very busy time of year.

9. Organise Transportation

If your chosen venue is not local to your attendees, then it is a good idea to have transport organised to and from the event. You could book and minibus or a coach, or simply book a couple of taxis in advance depending on the requirements.

10. Invitations

Last but certainly not least, we don’t want you to forget about your invitations. Regardless if this comes in the form of a calendar invite, an email or a beautifully designed invitation, you must remember to send these well ahead of your event.

It is important that all the information regarding timings, locations, transport and themes is added to your invitation. It’s good to have it all in one place so your guests can refer back this. With it being a hectic time for people, they’ll have lots of other festivities going on so they’ll need a good reminder.

And that just about covers it. We hope you found the above guide useful, and if you need any help at all planning your Christmas or New Year event, or any event at all, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team below. We are more than happy to help.

Call us on:

Belfast Office
+44 (0) 28 9032 0070

Dublin Office
+353 (0)1 431 1383

Or Email:

info@mountcharles.com

Click here for more information about Mount Charles Events.

This year has been quite a successful one for the leading business support solutions, Mount Charles, as the company has seen a huge growth in the number of contract wins in the Republic of Ireland. This includes over €1 million in new public sector cleaning contracts won from the company’s Dublin base.

Since establishing a Dublin presence four years ago, Mount Charles has accumulated more than €30 million of new contracts, successfully coinciding with the company’s implementation of ambitious sustainability projects and initiatives.

The latest Dublin-based public-sector contracts run for three years and include the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO), which provides litigation, advisory and conveyancing services to government departments and agencies; the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC); the National Shared Services Offices (NSSO), a statutory civil service office; and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The news of the ROI growth has quickly spread throughout the fast-growing, family-owned company and has been well received and supported by all. Mount Charles will without a doubt fulfil its pledge to its client of providing a top-class service, as it has done and will continue to do with all its clients.

The company has more than 33 years’ experience in the delivery of vital facilities management services to a range of customers within both the public and private sectors.

Sales & Marketing Director, Gavin Annon was more than please with the company expansion, commenting on the new contract wins. He stated “We’re pleased to be working with these high-profile agencies and are proud that over 2,000 of their staff members will be benefiting from our bespoke cleaning services. The Republic of Ireland marketplace remains a key target for us and continuing to grow our market share from our Dublin base is a key priority.”

He further stated, “The successful introduction and upgrade of our internal and operational systems has contributed to our success by revitalising our service offering and enhancing reporting and oversight of our service performance. By developing our product and harnessing the latest technology we can measure and reduce our environmental impact. We have also focused on strategic talent acquisition and are in a very strong position to capitalise on the growth of our operations in Ireland.”

This news of the company’s growth in Irish market just adds to its ongoing success after it won two accolades at the Facilities Management Awards earlier in the year, receiving the Innovation in Technology & Systems Award as well as The FM Workspace Transformation Award.

#GreatService #GreatPeople #GreatFuture

Mount Charles celebrates as it receives an award-winning cleaning services deal with NI Water.

Northern Ireland Water, a trademark of Northern Ireland Water Ltd, is a government-owned company that was set up in 2007 to provide all the water and wastewater services in Northern Ireland. NI Water supplies 560 million litres of clean water a day for almost 1.8 million people as well as treating 320 million litres of wastewater daily. Mount Charles promises that all its sites will receive a world-class service, provided by the Mount Charles Cleaning Team.

The MC team will provide cleaning services at around 29 of Northern Ireland Water’s sites, including their offices, depots, workshops, water/wastewater treatment works and publicly accessible sites.

Gavin Annon, Sales and Marketing Director at Mount Charles met with the team at NI and shared his thoughts on the win: “We are delighted to be awarded this business by NI Water and are committed to delivering social value in this contract, particularly in the areas of work progression and skills development, health and well-being and equality, diversity and inclusion.”

Ronan Larkin, Director of Finance, Regulation & Commercial at NI Water has warmly welcomed Mount Charles on board stating, “As we continue to adopt the new public procurement policy – scoring social value within public awarded contracts, NI Water is fully committed to working with suppliers to deliver their social value promises.”

Ronan added, “Mount Charles, like many other suppliers, have an amazing opportunity to embrace social value and make a lasting impact in the communities they operate and serve in and I look forward to the many initiatives that are delivered as part of this significant step change in public procurement.”

Mount Charles are very proud and excited to be working with this brand-new client. As a business, we are committed to supporting NI Water and all its sites.

#Greatservice #Greatpeople #Greatfuture

Mount Charles has won a catering services contract with Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc, a leading, globally integrated full-line lift truck manufacturer.

The company has over 90 years of experience, with its success being the result of focusing on its clients’ needs and delivering tough lift trucks that move products efficiently and elevate the potential of its partners. With lifting capacities ranging from 2,000 to 105,000 pounds, Hyster lift trucks combine award-winning designs, industrial-strength components and high-tech manufacturing to deliver versatile and dependable solutions.

The deal will see #TeamMC provide food and beverage services to the factory’s 770 manufacturing staff on site. The staff there work in two shift patterns from 8.00am to 8.00pm with early closure on a Friday. In addition, there are 167 office staff operating on a hybrid working pattern where they are on-site two or three days per week. So the installation of ‘The Kitchen’ is a fantastic addition and will really support the staff during their shifts.

Mount Charles has been fostering strong relationships and catering partnerships with clients for years, providing the best possible service, so we are now extremely proud and excited to be working with this brand-new client. As a business, we are committed to supporting Hyster Yale and its staff.

We’ve just launched a new in-house restaurant within the factory. The signage and graphics were installed by Design + Display, our partners who we have been working with for years. ‘The Kitchen’, which is also installed in our Moy Park sites and a few others has a clean, contemporary look and feel with a relaxed and comfortable setting.

Some of our offerings include a range of drinks, and affordable hot meals during Breakfast, lunch and dinner service, served five days a week. Breakfast is a range of freshly baked pastries & Scones, Jambon, Sausage Rolls, Breakfast Baps as well as Granola Bars and Porridge. A range of hearty homemade meals such as stew, pies, lasagne and curries will be served at lunch and dinner, with Thursday being ‘fry day’. The late afternoon snack offering is pastries and sausage rolls as well as a made-to-order sandwich bar offering toasties and paninis.

Our marketing team visited the factory and were thrilled to meet the team and take some photographs of the finished design. As with all our clients, we highly value Hyster-Yale and will continue to provide a top-class service as we look forward to a bright future together.

Chris Annon, Sales Business Development Manager has shared his thoughts on the partnership:

“On first meeting with our contacts in Hyster it was very clear that MCG and Hyster have the same ethos within business, and now that we have been operating the contract this is nothing close to the truth. Hyster management and staff have all embraced MCG and we enjoy serving them daily. We look forward to a bright and successful future ahead.”

#Greatservice #Greatpeople #Greatfuture

Who were crowned the champions at the Great Mount Charles Bake Off 2022?

Read on to find out…

On Wednesday 23^rd November 2022, our company Headquarters at Annon House was filled with smiles, laughter and the smell of delicious, sweet treats as we held our annual Great Mount Charles Bake Off.

We asked our colleagues to get involved in this company-wide challenge and bake something spectacular this year. We challenged them to create their ultimate showstoppers, and it’s safe to say they didn’t disappoint.

From Christmas cakes, cupcakes and brownies to rice crispy mountains, blondies and a range of festive traybakes, the judges were truly blown away by the entries. Every single showstopper was impressive and we saw fantastic engagement across our departments and wider catering sites.

The office canteen was covered in crumbs as we had a slightly messy, but super fun cake party on the top floor of Annon House at 3pm. Some of the creations we saw were absolutely beautiful and great-tasting. It was a really enjoyable afternoon for all.

Mount Charles would like to offer a massive thank you to everyone who took part and Congratulations to all the wonderful well-deserved winners below.

This year saw Edna Armstrong, three-time Star Baker for the past three years in a row, hand over the crown to our 2022 baking Queen Zhana Robinson. However, it was a very close call as Edna came in at a close second. Both contestants were triumphant as they received their prizes with smiles and gratitude.

The Department of Health team absolutely blew us away with their complete array of festive sweet treats and bakes along with the Belfast International Airport team, who created a spectacular BIA Northern Quarter-themed cake.

Annon House Winners:
1st Place – Zhana Robinson
2nd Place – Edna Armstrong

Remote Entry Winners:
1st place – DOH Team – Jill, Bianca, Renata, Paul
2nd place – Belfast International Airport – Megan Armstrong and Matthew Wheatley

Have a look at all our entries below:

#Greatservice #Greatpeople #Greatfuture

Trevor Annon, the Founder and Chairman of Mount Charles has placed in the Family Business Top 100, along with Gavin Annon, Sales & Marketing Director at Mount Charles.

The inaugural Family Business United ‘Family Business Top 100,’ recognises the exceptional contribution of individuals and their work within a family business. Both Trevor and Gavin have been recognised as inspirational leaders who have demonstrated their collective importance to our national economy with passion, drive and determination.

Trevor has been highly praised for his inspirational and unique management style, the work hard, play hard ethos he cultivates and the encouragement and belief he shows in each team member. This is what makes working for Mount Charles special. He is highly respected within the business by all his team members and many consider him not only a boss and mentor but a great friend.

Family Business Top 100 stated that It’s ‘Due to Trevor’s strategic vision and leadership, that Mount Charles continues to be a leader in its industry’. Trevor inspires all those around him and is committed to building upon his foundations with determination underpinned with core family values.

Throughout his career, especially during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Trevor has been encouraged and inspired by two particular lines of poetry from his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney, “If we can winter this one out, we can summer anywhere.”

Gavin, who from a young age was very much involved in the family business, aided his father Trevor in making the business a success. He along with his siblings worked at weekends in some of the very first Mount Charles catering partnerships. Gavin pursued his career further within the business and is now the Sales and Marketing Director where his passion to achieve greater environmental and sustainable development of services is now a key priority within the business.

Gavin has not only made a huge impact on the business but engages more broadly in the wider family business community and is always happy to share his journey while helping his peers along the way. The Family Business Top 100 has described him as ‘Professional, driven and hugely impactful.’

Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United and Global Family Business Champion acknowledges that, “Family businesses are the backbone of the UK economy and often the unsung heroes too.  Family firms are significant contributors to the economy in terms of jobs provided, income generated and wealth created and behind each family firm are individuals driving them, making decisions and looking to the future.  Family firms take the long-term view and invest in their businesses and the communities in which they operate and we wanted to create the Family Business Top 100 to recognise outstanding individuals within these organisations and to shine a light on the people that are making a difference within the business and more broadly too.”

“What better way to celebrate the vibrancy of a sector than to highlight the people within family businesses, leading from the front, fulfilling a role as a steward for future generations, those developing sustainable practices and acting as innovators and agents of change, the next generation embarking on key initiatives that will drive the next stage in the family business journey and those that have delivered a lifetime of service and commitment to the family business.  Each and every one of them deserves to be recognised and celebrated. It is these individuals and the family firms they are associated with that is at the very heart of what we do – championing family firms across the whole of the UK and beyond.”

“The past few years have not been easy and pulling the Family Business Top 100 together has provided us all with the opportunity to celebrate the contribution of family firms and the significant impact that individuals within them make each and every day.  Family business matters and we are proud to celebrate and showcase 100 individuals who are truly deserving of their place in the inaugural report.  Congratulations to each and every one of them and their contribution to an exceptional body of family business talent,” concludes Paul.

Northern Ireland’s business community is coming together to support the delivery of industry-led careers inspiration events across the province, engaging almost 7,500 Year 9 pupils in June 2022.

4C UR Future LIVE is an innovative and fast-paced event that uses skills games and work-based challenges, designed and delivered in collaboration with local employers, to help young people get an insight into the future world of work.

The initiative, which aims to help every participant make more informed education and career choices, is the brainchild of 4C UR Future’s Founder, Rose Mary Stalker. Following a successful pilot in June 2019, the social enterprise is taking the show on the road this year, delivering an at-scale pilot of one event in every council area in June.

Managing Director of 4C UR Future, Rachel Doherty, acknowledges the support of the local business community in enabling the events to scale:

“Our work would not be possible without the support of our member companies, who recognise the significant opportunities that come from working together collaboratively, and at-scale, to tackle systemic problems; helping our young people discover their own attributes, strengths, and interests, and exploring how these might align with their future opportunities.”

“The careers landscape has become increasingly complex for young people and parents to navigate, with new in-demand skills, new types of jobs, and entirely new sectors emerging, resulting in major bottlenecks in the skills pipeline; inhibiting our local businesses from growing.”

“By working across all of the key employment sectors in Northern Ireland, 4C UR Future leverage and mobilise the skills and industry expertise available on our doorstep.”

The LIVE events are funded and resourced by the Northern Ireland business community and are hosted with support from ten councils. The events are free to schools, including free transport, which is being supported by Translink.

Charlotte Richardson, PR Manager at Translink, said:

“We’re delighted to be able to support this fantastic series of events, which are taking place across Northern Ireland; investing in our young people and building confidence, skills, and knowledge to help them identify the many opportunities and the wide variety of career paths and industries open to them. Access to events like this is vital to the next generation and to the workforce of the future and we’re proud to be a member of 4C UR Future.”

4C UR Future member companies represent all of the key employment sectors in Northern Ireland, with local success story Mount Charles Group, as well as the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS), on board to support the delivery of the events across the province.

Dr Tracey McCabe, Director of Group Human Resources, said:

“Mount Charles is delighted to be part of this initiative. Inspiring young people to help them choose their future career path is empowering for us as a people-focussed organisation, and engaging with Northern Ireland’s future talent early in their life journey can open up so many more opportunities for them.”

Lyndsey Irwin, NICS Head of Communications, Marketing and Outreach – Talent Management Division, added:

“The Civil Service is delighted to support the 4C UR Future initiative and events, which are an innovative, engaging – and most of all – a fun way to empower young people, helping them to recognise and develop their strengths and skills, and showing them how these can be applied in the world of work.”

“Our involvement with 4C UR Future also provides us with an opportunity to showcase the huge range of work undertaken by civil servants, and to open the eyes of young people to the possibility of a career where they can make a real difference to the lives of people here.”

It’s not too late for local businesses to get involved! For more information on 4C UR Future, go to: www.4curfuture.com, or email info@4curfuture.com.

Mount Charles is celebrating winning two awards at the Facilities Management Awards 2022, which took place on Thursday, March 24th, at The Radisson Blu Hotel, Golden Lane, Dublin.

The Innovation in Technology & Systems Award – End Users and The FM Workspace Transformation Award was awarded to Mount Charles who has over 33 years’ experience in the delivery of vital facilities management services to a diverse range of customers within both the public and private sectors.

The FM Awards programme recognises the excellent work carried out by Ireland’s facility and property management teams and companies and businesses from all over Ireland came together in Dublin, to collaborate and showcase their achievements.

Gavin Annon, Sales and Marketing Director of Mount Charles said: “On behalf of the entire team, I am enormously proud to receive both The FM Workspace Transformation Award – In-house and the Innovation in Technology & Systems Award.

“These awards are a benchmark for excellence and recognise the successful implementation of our Technology Transformation Programme within an astounding 15-month timeframe, less than 50 per cent of the time originally projected.

“The introduction and upgrade of our internal and operational systems has contributed to the success, growth and profitability of the company bringing Mount Charles to the forefront of innovation, revitalising our service offering and enhancing reporting and oversight of our service performance.

“This has allowed us to provide a tailored dashboard for our customers, bespoke to their service, requirements, and the information that they want to see and has facilitated additional contract wins in NI and ROI, all whilst maintaining our family instilled values, core people focus and unique support service dynamics.”