OD News Winter 2018 / 2019

WINTER 2018/19 

O’D News 

Driving sustainability - Delivering excellence 

60 years for O’Donovan Waste! 

Read more on page 2 

Inside this edition: 

FT Future 100 

We’ve been included in the 

Financial Times’ Future 100 list 


Inside Out 

Fr. Patrick Devine of the Shalom 

Center shares his views 


TV Appearance 

Jacqueline appeared on RTE’s 

Late Late Show! 


0800 731 3332 sales@odonovan.co.uk odonovan.co.uk /OdonovanWasteDisposal @O’DonovanWaste 

OD News Winter 18.19 v1.indd 1 21/02/2019 11:29:05

OdonovanWasteDisposal 

@ODonovanWaste WINTER 2018/19 

Welcome from 

Jacqueline O’Donovan 

2019 is going to be an exciting year for us at O’Donovan Waste, as 

we’ll be celebrating 60 years since our late father, Joe O’Donovan 

moved into waste management and began his own company. 

Originally Dad worked on the railways and construction sites, but in 

1959 he bought a Caterpillar 951 tracked shovel and secured his first 

demolition job. He then went on to purchase a tipper and eventually 

moved into skip lorries, establishing a depot in Kings Cross (which is 

now the site of the British Library) where his new business thrived 

and began to expand. 

Still a family run business today, we’ve currently got 6 sites across 

London and the South East and a fleet of 95 HGVs. 

As you can imagine, we’ve got lots planned to mark this momentous milestone in our operating 

history. Keep an eye on our social media channels to hear more about what we’ll be doing 

throughout our 60th year! 

Jacqueline O’Donovan 

Managing Director 

Featured in the FT Future 100 

We were delighted that we were 

selected to be included in the 

Financial Times’ Future 100 list. 

Selected by an panel of judges, 

led by FT journalists, companies 

were chosen for going ‘beyond 

corporate speak and industry 

minimum standards’. 

The list recognises those fast growing UK businesses that also make an impact on their industry or 

broader society. 

It’s a huge achievement for us to be listed as a FT Future 100 UK company. Having worked hard to 

be at the top of our game in our sector, this recognition of our effort and passion to be the best, is 

fantastic as we continue to grow and evolve our company. 

>2 




/OdonovanWasteDisposal 

@ODonovanWaste 

Compulsory counter-terrorism training for drivers 

As part of our curriculum of 

comprehensive driver training, 

at the end of 2018 we opted to 

include a brand new course for 

all our drivers. 

Delivered through the FORS 

training programme, ‘Security 

and Counter-Terrorism’ 

focuses drivers on: 

• personal and vehicle 

security 

• the potential threat of 

terrorism 

• the theft of vehicles or 

loads 

• the use of vehicles as 

weapons 

This new training module also helps to improve driver identification and 

reporting of suspicious activity. Vehicle security and vigilance is also 

covered by our own ‘Waste Essentials’ CPC course. 

It’s imperative, with our fleet of 90 vehicles operating in London, that our 

drivers are constantly vigilant and aware of potential threats. We make 

sure we equip them with the knowledge and skills to help them understand 

what measures they can take to ensure their own personal safety, the 

safety of those around them and also vehicle security. 

Find out more about FORS’ Counter Terrorism training at: fors-online.org.uk 

Shanghai delegation visit 

We were delighted to receive a 

delegation of visitors from Shanghai 

Environmental Industry Co. Ltd in 

October. 

The team came specially to the UK for 

a tour of our Alperton recycling depot 

to see first-hand how we operate our 

waste processing facilities. It was great 

to be able to share our knowledge with 

our visitors. 


>3 





A winning end to 2018 

The end of 2018 proved to be excellent for us in terms of being 

recognised in a number of our industry’s awards. 

Institute of Couriers - Corporate Safety award 

We were recognised for our top down approach to the safety of 

our operations and for our ‘Safety Above and Beyond’ strategy 

to ensure all staff are on-board, focused and more importantly, 

as the judges commented “they understand and take 

ownership of the part they play in the safety of all. The result is 

higher staff morale, lower staff turnover and a company-wide 

embracement of health and safety goals”. 

PwC UK Private Businesswoman of the year 

Known as the ‘Diamonds’, the PwC private business awards were 

established in 2011 to recognise success and achievements. 

Jacqueline was awarded the Private Businesswoman of the year 

title and said “I was blown away when they read out my name. 

They previously had announced that the nominations were so 

strong this year, they had extended the number of finalists, so 

I’m honoured to be recognised by such a massive organisation 

like PwC.” 

Building Awards 2018 

Jacqueline also went on to pick up the prestigious Female 

Leadership award, recognised not on for her business success, 

but also for her passion and drive to improve the industry and 

her inspiration provided to others. 

National Women’s Business Awards 

The annual National Women’s Business Awards recognise 

industrious, hard-working and enterprising business women on a 

national level. Jacqueline was awarded Business Woman of the Year 

in the Medium sized business category which honours inspiring 

innovators and visionaries. 

SME National Business Awards 

Rounding off the year, Jacqueline was awarded Business Woman of 

the Year mid-December and said “This has been a phenomenal year for me. Picking up this trophy 

has really put the icing on the cake. Our family business is going from strength to strength and on a 

personal level, I am delighted to be recognised not only for my business and leadership skills but for 

inspiring other women into business and encouraging diversity.” 

>4 





Addressing safety in the waste industry 

At the start of 2019, it was announced that Jacqueline would 

be joining forces with the Waste Industry Safety and Health 

(WISH) Forum. Jacqueline was asked to collaborate to help 

further raise awareness of the number of incidents in the 

sector, particularly within the SME segment. 


The WISH Forum, which is operated by the Chartered 

Institute of Wastes Management, aims to identify, create 

and promote activities to improve industry health and safety 

performance. Working with the WISH SME Group, Jacqueline 

will look to consult with key stakeholders to help improve 

standards across the board. 

“I am honoured to have been asked to join the working group,” said Jacqueline. “The group’s aim is 

to work with SMEs to raise awareness and help improve safety. WISH has created a pocket guide 

and is introducing the i-Auditor templates to help companies carry out internal assessments. I am 

looking forward to developing further practical solutions.” 

Find out more about the WISH Forum at: wishforum.org.uk 

The latest in our fleet 

New additions 

We’ve recently expanded our fleet with the 

addition of new Scania lorries. They are 

lower, with the driver sitting 20cm further 

forward to improve vision from the cab. 

In the Rollonof lorry the glazed window 

ensures good visibility of the major 

passenger side blind spot. Plus the Class 5 

and 6 mirrors are all electrically adjustable - 

which is a big help to the driver and ensures 

maximum vision of all angles. 


>5 




Road Safety Week 


In November every year, we get involved in Brake’s 

annual Road Safety Week, the UK’s biggest road safety 

event which looks to inspire schools, organisations 

and communities to take action on road safety, helping 

to raise awareness and promote life-saving messages. 

The theme for 2018 was Bike Smart - cyclists and 

motorcyclists are some of the most vulnerable road 

users, with more than 100 riders injured on UK roads 

daily. 

At the start of the week we were in Walthamstow 

town square with the Met Police’s cycle team running 

an Exchanging Places event. During the day some 300 school children, the general public and the 

local mayor came down to gain a new perspective from the cab of our lorries and understand how 

we can all share the roads safely. 

The Late Late Show 

Jacqueline flew the flag for the 

O’Donovan family, the Irish in London, 

Cork and women in business during 

her interview on the Late Late Show 

with host Ryan Tubridy, which went 

out live on RTE1 on 12 October. 

>6 






Inside Out: Father Patrick Devine, Shalom Center 

for Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation 

Fr. Patrick has worked for over 30 years in extreme conflict 

and poverty environments in Eastern Africa. He founded 

the Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation 

(SCCRR) in 2009, an organisation of predominantly 

African experts (men and women), from all faiths, who 

pioneer conflict resolution and sustainable development 

interventions in 15 conflict zones. 

Fr. Patrick received the International Caring Award succeeding 

the Dalai Lama and in 2014, eight countries in Eastern Africa 

presented him with the prestigious IGAD Award for his 

visionary contribution. He has also been nominated for the 

prestigious Tipperary International Peace Award previously 

awarded to Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev. He holds 

an MA in Peace Studies and International Relations, and a PhD 

in Political Science and Public Administration. 

Q: Which aspect of your work has most influenced you in 

recent years? 

The process of empowering communities who have been 

affected by persistent violent conflict and poverty to be 

the architects of a reconciled interdependent future. This 

transformation entails primarily stopping the killing and 

maiming to achieve at least ‘negative peace’, and then 

initiating development interventions, such as interethnic 

and interreligious education, to achieve ‘positive peace’ or 

reconciliation. 

Q: What do you enjoy most about your profession? 

Witnessing hope filled transformations emerge in communities 

who felt impoverished and abandoned in conflict zones. 

Thanks to our donors! In appalling conflict environments, 

SCCRR has directly trained more than 12,000 influential 

community opinion shapers with the analytical skills and 

peacebuilding techniques to bring about conflict resolution 

and sustainable development. Being part of the process and 

hope emerging from SCCRR’s involvement in over 350 schools 

projects - building, upgrading, and providing solar energy in 

semi-arid desert terrains - impels one to do more. Of every 

£1 received by the Shalom Centre, 94p goes directly into our 

projects; a big thank you to the expertise and courage of the 

Shalom Team operating in these difficult terrains. 

Q: What single thing would improve the quality of your 

life? 

To have more visionary people involved in our work would have 

a tremendous life-changing impact. However I believe the 

quality of life is inseparable from the persistent consciousness 

of the gift of life, the ‘Divine’, health and endurance in the 

midst of adversity. This mindfulness is the life-giving energy 

to inspire towards relationships where peace, truth, justice and 

mercy pervade. 

Q: What’s been your greatest work challenge? 

Transforming the ‘I’ syndrome of self-centeredness to a 

‘We’ mind-set. Ensuring the concern is for the progressive 

wellbeing of all people, improving people’s opportunities and 

encouraging a ‘we can together’ approach! 

Q: Who is the person who has influenced you the most? 

The person from Nazareth - Jesus Christ - and his presence or 

spirit working in different religions, ideologies and all people 

of good will. His message of inclusiveness and reconciliation 

underpins humanities quest to fulfil their basic human needs 

and actualize their potential. 

Q: What piece of wisdom would you pass on to a child? 

Children have needs because of who they are at this precise 

time in their lives. “CHILDREN, articulate your needs, concerns 

and perceptions today to your parents, family, guardians and 

formators. Do this and tomorrow will be a better ‘today’ for you, 

and your giftedness to life going forward”. 

Q: How would you spend your fantasy 24 hours with no 

travel restrictions? 

Experiencing the ‘Divine’ presence of enlightenment, to 

empower me with the wisdom, means and motivation to help 

transform the world to be a place where peace, truth, justice 

and reconciliation are the norm. 

Q: How would you want to be remembered? 

As a person with strengths and limitations, who tried to live 

life to the full using my talents for the betterment of humanity 

expressed in a passion for tolerance, development, compassion 

and reconciliation. 

>7 



South Mimms Transport Event 

Women’s Irish Network 

We had a great day at the WIN 

lunch and met Dara O’Briain 

and Pauline 

McLynn! 

We went along with our 

vintage lorry, met with 

friends and hauliers, 

whilst remembering our 

dear friend John Tehan. 

The festive season 

As usual in the lead up to the festive season 

we were busy with industry lunches. The team 

went along to the Chartered Institute of Wastes 

Management, Mineral Products Association and 

Lighthouse Club Charity events. 

Christmas Jumper Day 

14 December was Christmas Jumper 

Day and we wore ours to raise funds 

for CRASH - the charity that assists 

homelessness and hospice charities with 

construction-related projects, creating 

places that care for people. 

Chivakaneyama Primary School - 

Zimbabwe 

We teamed up with Ringway to make a donation 

of stationery to the children of Chivakaneyama 

Primary School in Zimbabwe. 

Both teachers and children were in shock at the 

amount of stationery they received - the whole 

school said they felt like they’d won the lottery! 

>Email 

sales@odonovan.co.uk 

>Call 

0800 731 3332 

>Twitter 


> Find us on Facebook 


>Web 

odonovan.co.uk

OD News Winter 2018 / 2019

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?