2016 Yearbook

O'Donovan Yearbook 2016 (Pages).qxp_Layout 1 21/12/2016 13:52 Page 1 

OUR YEAR 

2016

O'Donovan Yearbook 2016 (Pages).qxp_Layout 1 21/12/2016 13:52 Page 2


Contents 

The O’Donovan Way 2 

Safety 4 

Training 10 

Heritage 11 

Alperton 12 

In the Media 16 

Services 20 

Testimonials 22 

Compliance 24 

Our News 25 

News from 2016 26 

Meet the Team 28 

Key Events 30 

2016 Awards 32 

Supporting our Community 36 

Road Safety Week 40 

O’Donovan Today 41 

OUR YEAR 

2016


The O’Donovan Way 

Our history 

Denis Joseph O’Donovan, fondly known as 

Generous Joe, arrived in London in the 1950s 

after moving from a rural village in West Cork. In a 

dance hall in London Joe met his wife Kathleen, 

who also came from West Cork, they married in 

1958, settling in Kilburn. They had four children: 

Michael, Caroline, Anthony and Jacqueline. 

Joe’s ambition and 

determination to 

succeed in business 

was paramount – 

like a lot of young 

men who had made 

the journey over 

the pond. Having 

previously worked 

on the railways 

and construction 

sites, Joe used this 

experience and in 1959 Joe bought a Caterpillar 

951 tracked shovel and secured his first 

demolition job. He 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. 

business which needed 

continuing. His four 

children were thrust 

into the running of the 

family business and at 

this stage none of 

them had many years’ 

experience under their belts. This didn’t stop 

the family however and they took over the 

running of the business. 

Nothing has changed in the intervening years, 

O’Donovan is still entirely family-owned and is 

run by the four siblings with Michael the CEO, 

Caroline and Anthony the Operations Directors 

and Jacqueline, Managing Director. All of them are 

fiercely proud of the family-values and Irish 

heritage which have helped make O’Donovan a 

continued success. 

After working out of numerous locations in North 

London, the business finally settled in Tottenham 

and currently has four sites within the area, along 

with an additional site in West London. 

Sadly however Joe passed away 

suddenly in 1985 at the age of 51, 

leaving an extremely successful 

2


The O’Donovan 

family 

3


Safety 

Going for Gold 

This year we re-attained our FORS Gold standard 

for the fifth consecutive year. Originally we were 

one of the first eight companies to hold the FORS 

Gold standard and the only independant company. 

Today the scheme has over 4000 members across 

the UK. 

Being part of FORS has helped us 

continually improve our operations 

and investment in our fleet, as 

the information and support we 

receive is invaluable. 

A benefit has been that our insurance costs have 

reduced by 25% per vehicle, per year. This has come 

about by having fewer incidents – we’ve seen a 33% 

reduction and also our average cost of a claim has 

been reduced by 66% because technology has 

enabled us to see exactly what has happened. 

Clearly being FORS accredited 

has paid dividends for O’Donovan 

and we will continue to use this 

as a demonstration of our 

commitment to improving our 

driver training strategy, reducing risk to 

vulnerable road users and focus on road safety 

and sustainable practices. 

To further support the company’s mission, 

Jacqueline O’Donovan is a member of the FORS 

Governance and Standards Advisory Group 

(GSAG). This Group of key industry figures were 

brought together in 2015 when the FORS scheme 

was handed over from Transport for London. 

The remit of the GSAG is to lead and champion 

the direction of FORS to ensure the relevance of 

the standard and to ultimately guarantee the 

integrity of the scheme as it rolls out for operators 

across the UK. 

We welcomed some new additions in 2016! 

New lorries joined our fleet in 2016, all of which lead the way 

in HGV design. All of them were chosen specifically for their 

innovative safety features. We worked closely with the 

manufacturers to specify exactly what we needed on each of 

the lorries to ensure they meet our exacting standards. 

4


CLOCS 

Industry leading initiative 

In March we used the annual Construction 

Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS) progress 

event to unveil our ground-breaking Mercedes 

Benz Econic skip loaders. The theme of the 

progress event was ‘Looking to the Future’ and 

was a showcase of brand new vehicles from 

leading manufacturers and other CLOCS 

Champions. Our reveal of the Econic skip loaders 

was an industry first – they are the first vehicles 

of their kind to be put to work in the UK. 

The whole purpose of CLOCS is about resolute 

steps and cultural change to reduce the road 

danger posed by construction industry vehicles. 

As a progressive company known for bold 

decisions, we are keen to ensure we are making 

the best choices to help further protect 

vulnerable road users. 

drive CLOCS forward as a national standard for 

the UK; led by The South East Centre for the 

Built Environment (SECBE), the partnership also 

includes a range of industry bodies. In October 

Jacqueline O’Donovan was appointed to the 

SECBE non-executive Board in recognition of 

her continued commitment to the construction 

sector. 

As part of her role at SECBE, Jacqueline will bring 

her passion for Health & Safety and credibility as 

one of the first firms to be become a CLOCS 

champion and it’s this experience which will be of 

great value to SECBE, in driving the national roll 

out of CLOCS. 

In November CLOCS announced that a new 

partnership had been created to manage and 

5


Safety 

Industry-first 

joins our fleet 

As part of our ongoing aim to raise the bar in 

construction logistics safety, we were extremely 

proud to unveil brand new additions to our fleet 

at this year’s CLOCS progress event. The 

ground-breaking Mercedes Benz Econic 4×2 skip 

loader 1830L was the first vehicle of its kind to be 

commercially bought and put to work in the 

United Kingdom. Originally designed for municipal 

waste work, the vehicle has since been made 

available to the construction sector. 

We led the way as the first company to hit 

London’s streets in March with the exclusive 

Econics, the lorry delivers previously unseen 

safety features offering the driver an 

unparalleled view of vulnerable road users. It has 

a wide field of vision with its deep panoramic 

windscreen, a fully glazed floor to ceiling ‘bus 

style’ nearside door and lowered driving position 

which puts the driver at eye level with both 

cyclists and pedestrians. The glazed door also 

provides direct visibility of the nearside blindspot, 

a particularly vulnerable position for cyclists. 

In addition to the obvious safety benefits offered, 

we also had a range of additional CLOCS safety 

features fitted including, but not limited to: side 

scan system, side under run protection, left hand 

turn audible alarm and conspicuity markings. 

6


Exchanging Places 

The Metropolitan Police and the City of London 

run the award-winning Exchanging Places 

programme around London to give cyclists the 

chance to sit in the driver’s seat of an HGV to see 

for themselves how difficult it can be to see a 

cyclist riding close to the lorry. It’s also a perfect 

opportunity for operators and cyclists to get 

together and discuss the issues of road safety. 

Throughout the year we volunteer our lorries and 

drivers to go along to take part. 

“Feedback is 

overwhelmingly 

positive with 97% 

per cent of cyclists 

saying they would 

change their riding 

as a result of 

sitting in the 

driver’s seat” 

7


Safety 

Campaigning 

for road safety 

According to The Royal Society for the Prevention 

of Accidents (RoSPA) driving for work is the third 

riskiest job in the world, after deep sea fishing and 

coal mining. Road crashes account for 39% of all 

work-related deaths in the European Union and 

this number doesn’t include those driving to and 

from work. 

Throughout 2016 we campaigned to help raise 

awareness of a range of safety themes for both 

our own staff and other drivers and employers 

in our industry. The campaign was designed to 

help support the work of Brake Professional 

which promotes road risk management and 

helps organisations manage their transport 

requirements in ways that are safe, sustainable, 

healthy and fair. 

Our industry has a duty to make road safety its 

priority, no matter the size of operation. As an 

SME, we were keen to share our experiences 

with other small businesses to help promote 

best practice. 

“In the UK the cost to employers of 

at-work collisions is estimated to 

be more than £2.7 billion a year” 

#notadrag 

If you're caught driving with drugs in your system you face an 

automatic 12-month driving ban and up to six months in jail and 

£5,000 fine. 

#slowdown 

Breaking the speed limit or travelling too fast for conditions is 

recorded (by police at crash scenes) as a contributory factor in 

more than one in four (27%) fatal crashes in the UK. 

#sharetheroad 

¾ of all collisions involving cyclists happen at or near a junction. 

Also cyclists are particularly at risk from large vehicles turning 

left or manoeuvring, due to blindspots. 

8


#notadrop 

Drink driving is still one of the biggest killers on our roads, with 

one in seven road deaths being due to drink drivers. 

#PutItDown 

Distracted driving is a major cause of road crashes and using your 

phone when driving has been shown to be worse than drinking 

certain amounts of alcohol. 

#SecureIt 

22,000 road impact incidents in England in 2013 were caused by 

objects falling from vehicles. 

#dothewalk 

It's estimated that 85% of roadworthiness infringements could 

be avoided if drivers had carried out a simple walkaround check 

of their vehicles, before starting their journey. 

#RoadSafetyWeek 

As part of Road Safety Week, Brake encourages everyone to 

make the Brake Pledge which asks drivers to do everything they 

can to protect themselves and the people around them. 

Make the Brake Pledge 

Brake has a vision for a world where streets are 

pleasant, unpolluted, and safe for everyone to 

use freely. To help achieve this, Brake is asking 

everyone to sign their Pledge, whether a driver or 

not. The Pledge calls for people to drive less and, 

if they do drive, to do everything they can to 

protect themselves and the people around them. 

You can sign the Brake Pledge by visiting: www.brake.org.uk/pledge 

9


Training 

Providing 

the highest levels 

of training 

We pride ourselves on our high standards of staff training and recognise 

the importance of developing their skills, to ensure they receive the right 

training throughout their employment. 

Our staff are our biggest asset, by ensuring they 

operate to the highest standard this in turn 

benefits the service we provide to our clients. 

We’re keen to ensure our staff receive the very 

latest in training, and this year employees have 

taken part in various courses, two new ones were: 

Road Haulage Association – 

Driver CPC in-cab 

This two day course covered topics including 

fuel economy, creating training programmes, 

reducing accidental damage and assessing the 

cause of accidents. 

Paul Neal our Logistical Supervisor came away 

with the knowledge to carry out in-house 

driving assessments and Paul has put his skills 

into practice, training our team to drive ‘The 

O’Donovan Way’. This ensures driving to the 

highest standard possible, accidents are reduced 

and safety is improved for both our drivers and 

vulnerable road users. 

Staying Legal 

A new course developed 

by Transport for London 

in partnership with 

the Metropolitan Police, 

DVSA and Traffic 

Commissioners was 

rolled out this year. 

Designed to ensure drivers know their 

responsibilities in relation to our Operator’s 

Licence and their own driving licences, the 

course gives an understanding of the regulatory 

framework governing road transport and the 

enforcement agencies and regulations to ensure 

drivers, vehicles and journeys are compliant 

and ultimately, stay legal. 

10


Heritage 

Cart Marking 

a piece of London’s history 

Back in the annals of history the Corporation of 

the City of London regulated the trades and 

the Carmen fellowship, created in 1277, were 

responsible for transport throughout the City. 

Despite a number of disputes over licencing it 

was eventually agreed that all licensed vehicles 

should be marked with the City’s arms on the 

shafts and numbered on a brass plate. In 1681 

there were 420 licensed carts; in 1835, 600. 

In keeping with tradition, each year the 

Worshipful Company of Carmen bring 

horse-drawn waggons and carriages, steamers, 

veteran and vintage lorries, buses and coaches, 

and modern trucks and tractor units, to be 

branded, or marked, with a red-hot iron, on a 

wooden plate, with the year letter and the cart 

number, as a reminder of centuries of service to 

the City and to maintain their ancient tradition. 

Organised by the Carmen, the Corporation’s 

ceremony itself, in Guildhall Yard, sees each 

vehicle brought for the Master’s inspection, then 

branded by the Keeper of Guildhall, using a special 

brazier and gloves provided by the Glovers’ 

Company. The duties of the Keeper are shared 

with the Lord Mayor, and also the Master Carman. 

Afterwards the Lord Mayor, Sheriff, Master 

Carman and Wardens doff their caps as each 

vehicle passes the rostrum. 

We were thrilled to take part in the ceremony this 

year. We took along our fully restored 1966 

Leyland AEC Tipper to have it branded – it was 

great to be part of such an historical event! 

The Worshipful Company of Carmen 

The Worshipful Company of Carmen reflects the 

transport industry with the focus on surface 

transport, including road and rail, goods and 

passenger and serve the City of London as it has 

done for five centuries. 

11


Alperton 

Handling 

more waste than ever! 

Our Alperton site enables us to divert 100% of 

our waste from landfill. It also has a 24 hour, 7 day 

a week licence meaning we’re able to handle more 

waste than ever before. The site is open to other 

waste carriers and the general public. 

Sustainability is paramount for us and we look to 

protect what we have currently and also for 

future generations. The key focus for Alperton is 

to enable us recycle as much as possible into 

recoverable and reusable materials and remove 

reliance on dwindling virgin materials. 

plant on site and a water harvesting system 

which collects rain water, with the capacity to 

store 60,000 litres for use across the entire site 

including our suppression systems. 

The creation of our new facility has enabled us to 

cast our net further afield in relation to the areas 

we service and has created a number of local jobs 

across a range of roles. 

The site is self-sufficient in a number of ways 

including the use of solar panels to provide the 

electricity needed to power all the heavy process 

Map data ©2016 Google 

12


13


Alperton 

Grand opening 

of our new material recycling facility 

Opened by His Excellency Dan Mulhall, The 

Ambassador of Ireland to Great Britain in May, our 

Alperton facility represents a £15m investment 

which has doubled our waste processing capacity 

and has helped minimise the miles our collection 

vehicles need to travel. 

We welcomed guests from across industry to our 

grand opening and it was a huge celebration 

enjoyed by the whole O’Donovan team. 

The site receives and processes a myriad of 

construction and demolition waste generated 

across London. With an enclosed processing 

facility, all waste is segregated and baled on site. 

14


15


In the Media 

16


17


In the Media 

18


19


Services 

How can we 

help you? 

Skips 

We offer a full range of skips from 4 cubic yards 

right up to 40. We also provide certified lifting 

skips as well as lockable versions. Our ‘wait & load’ 

service gives complete flexibility and where 

necessary, we can help with local authority 

permits and supply of covers and lights. 

Roll on Roll off bins 

Job too big for a skip? Our Rollon Rolloff bins are 

robust and versatile, suitable for larger projects. 

They can take rubble, industrial or commercial 

waste, bulky recyclables and more. 

Grabs 

The perfect solution for awkward to access 

spaces, our grab lorries provide a quick and easy 

solution for collection of waste or delivery of 

aggregates. 

Tippers 

Our FORS Gold and CLOCS compliant fleet of 32 

tonne tippers are available for muck away, 

excavation, day work and delivery of materials. 

We also have 7.5 tonne vehicles for smaller jobs. 

Recycled aggregates 

Our recycling plants crush and grade construction 

waste to WRAP quality protocols. We can provide 

specified materials including Type 2 crushed 

concrete, concrete fines, 6F1 and 6F2, crushed 

brick, hardcore and screened topsoil. All our 

recycled materials come with a quality 

certification. 

20


Aggregates 

Our highest quality aggregates are certified and 

graded and can be supplied in skips, bins or loose. 

From 1 tonne up to 20 tonnes we offer soft and 

sharp sand, ballasts, MOT type 1 stone, shingle, 

gravels and more. 

Roadsweepers 

Keep sites and roads clear and compliant with 

our range of road sweepers, operated by our 

fully-qualified drivers. 

Waste Collection 

‘Wait & Load’ our driver will come to you with a 

skip, bin, rolonoff container or a caged vehicle 

and wait while you load it. We also provide ‘Wait & 

Load’ plus manpower to carry out the hard work 

for you. 

Wheelie bins and compactor lorry 

Hiring wheelie bins is the ideal solution for limited 

site access or space. Our compactor vehicles 

empty the wheelie bins at the time of your 

choosing and the bins come in a variety of sizes. 

Caged vehicles 

Demolition 

From industrial dismantling, asbestos removal, 

strip-outs, full site clearance, scaffolding and 

rubbish removal, we provide a comprehensive 

demolition service. We offer site visits, welfare 

and risk assessments and method statements. 

Our full Compliance Department ensures all 

CDM and associated regulations are adhered to – 

assisting clients with legal compliance whilst 

on site. 

If you need to hire a caged vehicle, our driver 

will come to you and wait while you load the 

waste. This service is for bulk collections of 

general waste only and cannot be used for any 

hazardous waste. 

A more cost effective option if you have the 

labour and location for the vehicle to be parked 

legally on-road or have access to park off-road – 

eliminating the need to obtain and pay for a 

council permit. We can also arrange to load the 

vehicle for you. 

Waste transfer and material 

recycling 

We have two licenced waste transfer stations 

for the disposal of non-hazardous waste and a 

material recycling facility. We aim to reuse and 

recycle as much as possible and divert 100% of 

waste from landfill. At our recycling facility we 

use state-of-the-art machinery to process 

construction and demolition site waste into 

100% recycled aggregates. 

21


Testimonials 

Customer 

Comments 

“O’Donovan’s were employed to remove a dis-used pedestrian bridge on the old North 

London Railway Line at North Woolwich. The metal bridge which was to be re-erected 

on a heritage railway site. It had deteriorated badly over the years and extreme care 

was required during the operation. O’Donovan’s safely and efficiently protected the 

structure during removal ensuring it could be re-erected later. We would highly 

commend O’Donovan’s approach and would certainly use them again.” 

“We are always more than impressed with O’Donovan’s 

professionalism and ability to react quickly to site requirements. 

Their large fleet of fully equipped vehicles and stringent approach 

to driver training gives us the right piece of mind to promote and use their products 

and services. This coupled with an experienced office and affably dedicated sales 

force, enables a truly robust trading partnership.” 

“We use O’Donovan Waste Disposal for Grabs lorries, Tippers and skips on a regular 

basis. We are happy with the service we receive – Very much so. We are most 

impressed with the rapid response we receive to our requests and the friendly staff 

we deal with. I would describe O’Donovans as a sizeable company that offers a family 

company service and would have no hesitation in recommending their service.” 

22


“The nature of business our company is involved with relies heavily on certain 

operational aspects one of them being Waste Management. I would consider 

O’Donovan having a major impact on ensuring our projects are delivered cost 

efficiently and in time. O’Donovan isn’t your usual stereotypical skip company. 

From the person who answers the phone to the one who sorts your invoice queries 

and to the driver who goes to site, the whole team is a friendly bunch of people who 

are there to make sure that the service you have called upon is delivered at the 

highest professional standards.” 

“DDS Demolition use O’Donovans for our haulage and Plant Hire requirements and 

we are very happy with the service. We carry out KPI’s on all our sub-contractors and 

all of O’Donovan’s KPI’s are above average. What impresses us most is their 

Communication, Truthfulness, Price and willingness to partner us with terms and 

conditions. We recommend them because they provide an efficient, reliable and 

competitive service.” 

“I just want to pass on my personal thanks to you and the team for all the hard work 

you have put into Road Safety Week this week! A massive thank you for all your 

activities and support on social media, it looks great. It’s wonderful to see your 

bulletins filled with such positivity and working in collaboration with others like the 

Met and council. Keep up the good work.” 

Driving sustainability – Delivering excellence 

23


Compliance 

Accreditations 

Memberships 

24


Our News 

Channel 4’s 

The Job Interview 

Earlier in the year we were approached to take 

part in the Channel 4 documentary: The Job 

Interview. Needless to say we agreed and 

Jacqueline O’Donovan and Richard Clarke, our 

Commercial Director, appeared on our screens in 

the summer. 

The fly-on-the-wall series followed real-life 

interviews in unprecedented detail, with a 

diverse range of candidates being interviewed 

different companies over each episode. We 

featured in Episode 4 alongside a party planning 

company. It was a great experience and proved 

to be a novel way to recruit staff. 

All episodes of The Job Interview are available to 

watch on Channel 4 On Demand. 

25


News from 2016 

January 

Joined launch of LOCITY 

looking at lowering London’s 

CV emissions 

February 

O’Donovan Waste Disposal 

shares SME best practice at Transport 

Services Redbridge Event 

March 

Driving compliance for 

O’Donovan Waste Disposal HGVs 

Jacqueline O’Donovan invited to judge 

prestigious Institute of Director awards 

Industry first Mercedes 

Benz Econic skip loader 

joins O’Donovan 

Waste Disposal’s fleet 

Jacqueline O’Donovan 

wins Outstanding Woman in 

Construction award 

O’Donovan Waste Disposal launches 

2016 safety campaign 

April 

O’Donovan Waste Disposal leading the way with 

Road Haulage Association Driver CPC in-cab training for staff 

May 

O’Donovan unveils new 

waste processing facility 

David Lammy MP discusses local jobs, safer 

roads and CSR with O’Donovan Waste 

June 

O’Donovan puts school children in the driving seat at City of London Road Safety Day 

26


July 

O’Donovan Waste Disposal leads 

the way in health and safety at 

Constructing Excellence Awards 

August 

O’Donovan appears 

on Channel 4’s documentary 

The Job Interview 

September 

O’Donovan Waste Disposal teams up 

with LCC to bring citywide BikeTubes to London 


makes it three in a row with 

latest award win for 

leadership and innovation 

O’Donovan Waste 

Sponsors Local Cycling Club’s Track 

O’Donovan Waste Disposal sets standard 

for safety at 2016 SHD Logistics awards 


honoured as Vitalise 

Business Woman of 

the Year 2016 

October 

Drivers’ hours, should the law be changed? Take our quick survey 

O’Donovan Waste Disposal secures 

European award for road safety 

Jacqueline O’Donovan named 

‘Most Inspiring Business Woman’ at 

Best Business Women awards 2016 

November 

O’Donovan takes part in various 

events for Road Safety Week 

December 

FORS partners with O’Donovan 

for Road Safety Week 

27


Meet the Team 

We have an ever growing team of skilled employees at O’Donovan and now 

employ 160 people in various roles across the entire business. We’d like to 

introduce you to just a few who make up the O’Donovan team. They’ve 

shared a little of what their jobs entail and also a lighter view on their lives 

both in and out of work. 

Shane Brown – Transport Manager 

I’ve worked as Transport Manager for six years and my role incorporates the running 

of the tipper and grab fleets. I also ensure the drivers are up to date with changing 

legislation. I look after clients, delivering excellent customer service, whilst also 

managing drivers and allocating their work. We have a great team spirit and work 

together to make sure our clients’ needs are met safely and efficiently. 

What is your biggest vice? 

Outside of work it’s golf. I play to a 9 handicap and try to play every Sunday morning. 

We’ve held a couple of O’Donovan golf days and once we had the drivers at Blakes in 

Harlow for a game – needless to say my team won, it wasn’t fixed honest! 

James Clark – Skip Controller 

I’m responsible for the co-ordination of a large team of skip drivers across London 

and the South East. I process orders and requests for work to be completed, liaise 

with clients, schedule and route plan to complete the delivery and collection of skips 

within the agreed timeframes and manage any hurdles that may arise in the 

process, such as traffic congestion. I am also Client Manager and look after some of 

our major accounts. 

What’s the most fun you’ve ever had at work? 

We always manage to have a good laugh in the office, which is really important as 

we’re in such a busy environment. There are a few funny moments that spring to 

mind – including my colleague Ken falling off his chair whilst talking to a customer. 

He still managed to hold onto the phone and take the order, whilst we all fell about 

the place laughing! 

28


Liam Clement-Smith – Fleet Risk Manager 

It’s my job to fully investigate and manage all incidents effectively. I work alongside 

the Transport Manager to ensure our drivers follow company polices to reduce our 

work related road risk. I also attend road safety events and keep up to date with 

industry news to ensure company polices reflect best practice and the Managing 

Director is fully versed. 

Is there one thing you avoid doing at all costs? 

Take your pick from sharing biscuits, paying more than £5 for a pint or grinning whilst 

Shane is telling yet another outrageous lie to a new staff member (like we use left 

handed screwdrivers or similar). 

Amanda Tang – PA 

I look after the Sales Team and Sales Development Manager. I try my hardest to help 

make sure they get their work done and that they’re able do their jobs to the best of 

their ability. I’m also a supporting role to all Managers at O’Donovan when they 

require an extra helping hand in their departments. 

What will you be spending more on in 2017? 

I have big plans in 2017! I’ve got two weddings to go to; which means lots of travel 

and I’ve recently moved so I’ll be sprucing the place up and making it my own. I also 

plan on travelling to Mauritius and other places around the world to visit old friends 

and see new family so it will be an eventful year filled with good things! 

Daniel Burns – Depot Manager 

My role is to make sure the Alperton depot runs like clockwork. I am responsible for 

the upkeep of the yard and maintenance of the building and plant on site. A big part 

of my job is the health and safety of visitors and staff. I keep a close eye on 

operations and movements within the yard to ensure no holdups or delays and I also 

support the office staff in any way if they need help. I also set the work up for the 

night shift and provide them with support where necessary. 

Most embarrassing moment at work? 

I was showing someone around the new yard and was taking them up to the picking 

station. As I was walking ahead, I bent down to pick something off the floor and split 

my trousers, with the person standing right behind me – there was no sparing my 

blushes. My boxer shorts were on show for all to see! 

29


Key Events 

February 

11-14th 

The London Bike Show 

As a CLOCS Champion, we joined the CLOCS 

team to promote their work in helping to 

protect Vulnerable Road Users. 

March 

8th 

Intertnational Women’s Day 

for icap 

Jacqueline was guest speaker at a charity 

event for icap, which was being held to 

celebrate International Women’s Day and 

raise awareness 

of the work the 

charity does with 

women. 

May 

26th 

Brake – Fleet Safety Conference 

17th 

London Borough of Redbridge 

and Chartered Institute of 

Logistics and Transport Annual 

Compliance Event 

We sponsored this event and presented on the 

subject of ‘Doing it right pays dividends’. 

This annual event brings together fleet 

managers and suppliers to share best practice 

in managing road risk. We gave a presentation 

on protecting vulnerable road users. 

September 

12th 

Safer in the City 

We joined a highly regarded panel of speakers 

from influential bodies and organisations 

from around the city. We discussed the 

positives, concerns and ideas about safety on 

London’s roads. 

30


November 

20th–21st 

Commercial Fleet 

Van & Truck 2016 

Jacqueline spoke in the Plenary Theatre to 

discuss the critical issues faced by commercial 

fleet operators. 

2nd 

Freight in the City Expo 

This one-day free-to-attend event featured 

an exhibition of the latest vehicles, including 

our Econic lorry, technology and equipment 

that enable urban deliveries to be made 

cleanly, safely, quietly and efficiently. 

27–28th 

The IRTE Conference 

Along with other industry figures, Jacqueline 

took part in a panel session entitled: CLOCS, 

FORS and safer lorries: emerging trucks and 

changing operations. 

October 

2nd 

The Silverstone Time Trial 

Cycling Challenge 

The Silverstone Time Trial Cycling Challenge 

was a new cycling event at the iconic 

Silverstone Formula 1 race track. The event 

attracted high numbers of amateur and elite 

riders to race. 

22nd 

Utility Fleet Forum Conference 

Jacqueline spoke on safety in fleet operations 

and vulnerable road users at this event which 

provides the very best advice and solutions, 

tailored specifically for essential services fleet 

professionals. 

31


2016 Awards 

March 

Outstanding Woman in Construction 

“A showcase for the brightest and the best 

female achievers in the national and 

international housebuilding and wider 

construction industries.” 

May 

edie 2016 Environment & 

Energy Awards Health and 

Safety Initiative 

"The E&E Awards are about recognising the success of the green 

economy, and celebrating all who are really setting the standard 

when it comes to doing business better.” 

July 

Constructing Excellence – 

H&S award 

“The judges were impressed not only by the huge investments made by the company into training 

its team for the safe operation of its waste business, but also that the work undertaken with 

vehicle manufacturers, TfL, the police and the cycling public is making a huge contribution to the 

safety of all road users.” 

32


Constructing 

Excellence – 

Achiever of the Year 

award 

“Jacqueline’s career has taught her that you 

never stop learning and this is something 

that she embeds in the team. She is a driver 

of people and her enthusiasm resonates 

throughout her family business, the built 

environment and the wider community.” 

September 

British Irish Trading Alliance Outstanding 

Commitment to Innovation Award 

“Not only is she a great leader, but she is also a tireless mentor who has led selflessly and without 

question. This approach is also evident within her company, which maintains the strong family 

values started by her father.” 

SHD Logistics 

Safety Award 

“A company which had truly taken the 

whole industry forward; its safety culture 

and ethos are matched by its commitment 

to training and investment in the tough 

waste transport sector. They stand as an 

excellent example to others. 

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2016 Awards 

Vitalise Business Woman of the Year 

“Jacqueline is an inspiration for women looking 

to make their mark in business, and to fulfil 

their potential. The work Jacqueline has been 

involved in to improve safety standards and 

stimulate innovation in the waste disposal 

industry is fantastic – truly inspiring.” 

October 

Brake Fleet Safety Awards Company Driver 

Safety Award 

“We were delighted to receive so many strong entries, with organisations and individuals across 

the world doing fantastic work to make our roads safer for everyone.” 

34


European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) 

PRAISE Award for Road Safety 

“O’Donovan has demonstrated strong leadership from the top down and is acting as a passionate 

champion for work-related road risk management. They are aiming not just to be an example of 

best practice, but to set the industry standard.” 

Best Business Women awards 

Most Inspiring Business Woman 

“The judges were inspired by Jacqueline’s commitment and tenacity 

to succeed, with the family business having grown exponentially 

under her leadership.” 

November 

MPA highly commended 

in reducing occupational 

road risk 

35


Supporting our Community 

We’ve been proud sponsors of a range of initiatives in 

and around our community during 2016 

Irish Film Festival London 

2016 Irish Film London (IFL) Awards and launch of the Irish Film Festival 

London. IFL supports the interests of the Irish Film and Animation Industry 

and provides educational opportunities for filmmakers and young people 

including workshops, master classes and lectures. 

Goal Jersey Day 

In support of GOAL’s work in developing 

worlds, the team all wore a sports jersey 

to work, making a donation to GOAL. 

Thomas Sinden charity golf day 

London Air 

Ambulance 

We’re proud to have 

supported London’s 

Air Ambulance. 

We donated an auction prize for 

construction services provider Thomas 

Sinden’s charity golf day. The event was 

held to raise money for the Lighthouse 

Club, the construction industry charity. 

A massive £5000 was raised on the day 

and was generously being matched by a 

donation from Thomas Sinden. 

Bloomin’ Lovely Night Out 

We were pleased to be involved in the London Irish Centre’s 

Bloomin’ Lovely Night Out fundraiser. The Centre supports Irish 

people in London and promotes Irish arts and culture. 

36


Macmillan Coffee Morning 

The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan’s biggest 

fundraising event for people facing cancer. We hosted our 

own Coffee Morning with donations from the day made to 

Macmillan. In 2015 Coffee Mornings raised £25 million. 

Jeans for Genes 

We took part in this year’s Jeans for Genes 

day raising money towards the funding of a 

range of initiatives that improve the lives of 

children affected by a genetic disorder. 

Support our Schools – ABC Ball 

We sponsored a gala evening for four 

foundation schools in support of the A 

Better Chance Bursary Scheme. The Scheme 

helps less privileged, yet talented children 

enjoy the benefits of a Mill Hill education. 

Parnells Girls’ Gaelic 

Football Club 

Check out the new shirts we helped 

sponsor for the Parnells Ladies Gaelic 

Football Club. It’s a well established and 

successful Ladies Gaelic football club. 

Based in London the club is comprised of 

members from all parts of Ireland and 

the UK and with several from other parts 

of the world. 

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Supporting our Community 

The Andrew Stone Invitational Charity 

Golf Tournament 

We were pleased to sponsor the 2016 Andrew Stone 

Invitational Charity Golf Tournament which raised 

£5,300 on the day for Cancer Research UK. 

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School 

Perivale – Gaelic football Cork schools 

exchange programme 

The St John Fisher Catholic school in Perivale trialled an 

exchange programme with schools in Cork and have 

introduced Gaelic football to the school. We’ve sponsored 

the kit for ten year five children who travelled to Mallow, 

as part of the Schools Exchange Program. 

Broxbourne Borough FC 

We’re proud sponsors for this local 

football team over the next year – good 

luck Broxbourne Borough FC! 

London Irish Vintage Rally 

This annual event raised money for 

Shooting Star, Mind (Harrow), St Mark’s 

Hospital and the Brent Irish Advisory 

Service. We showed our support with 

Michael O’Donovan’s unique collection of 

vintage lorries which he proudly exhibits 

at this event. 

38


David Lammy MP discusses local jobs, safer roads and CSR 

In May we were visited by David Lammy to discuss 

initiatives to make London’s roads safer and our work 

with the local community. 

“I look forward to following O’Donovan’s success in the 

future and will continue to support their work keeping 

vulnerable road users safe and supporting the local 

economy in Tottenham.” 

‘BikeTubes’ on Cycle to Work Day 

14 September was Cycle to Work Day and we teamed up with London Cycling Campaign to sponsor 

a series of led-rides which were aimed at helping people commute by bike for the first time. 

The BikeTubes are a perfect way to get large groups of 

cyclists across London at the busiest times and are a great 

way to build cyclist confidence. We’re committed to seeing 

that new cyclists get all the support they need cycling to 

work and appreciate that there needs to be a collaborative 

relationship developed between the logistics industry and 

cyclists. No one should be afraid to cycle on London’s roads. 

“We are delighted that O’Donovan Waste Disposal is 

supporting the safety of cyclists. London streets can be 

intimidating in rush hour and the first commute is often the 

hardest. But with the right support more people can gain 

the confidence to commute by cycle – which will also help 

London become the healthier, happier, less polluted and 

less congested city we all want it to be.” 

Ashok Sinha, LCC CEO 

39


Road Safety Week 

Brake, the road safety charity co-ordinates Road 

Safety Week annually and it's the biggest event of 

its kind in the UK. Road Safety Week aims to 

inspire communities to take action on road safety 

and promote life-saving messages. 

We got involved by volunteering staff and lorries 

to take part in a number of Exchanging Places 

events with the Metropolitan Police and the City 

of London and the FORS team. 

In particular, we visited a number of local schools 

to show children around and inside our lorries. 

It’s a priority to educate children on road safety, so 

we were able to help them with information on 

road safety and to understand how to share the 

roads safely with HGVs. 

“It was fantastic to see so many 

students engaging with the 

messages of road safety week. 

The team here today have done a 

fantastic job of raising awareness 

of the risks these young people 

encounter on the roads, and the 

importance of being aware and 

alert around these vehicles.” 

Paul Wilkes, FORS Business Services Manager 

40


O’Donovan Today 

A multi-award winning waste management 

operator, O’Donovan has 160 employees, 

5 locations, a fleet of 90 HGVs, many of which 

lead the way in vehicle design. We have a 

£19.25m turnover. 

It is our aim to lead the way in 

safe, green and efficient waste 

operations across London. We’re 

passionate about the waste 

industry and about working as 

safely and sustainably as possible. 

To this end we champion a range of ongoing 

initiatives which demonstrate our family’s 

top-down commitment. As such have become 

widely regarded within the construction, waste 

and logistics industry as a champion for health and 

safety, training and environmental excellence. 

O’Donovan is a certified training centre, approved 

by JAUPT (DCPC) and British Safety Council (BSC). 1 

This year we made our most significant business 

investment to date, with £15m spent on a new 

material recycling facility in Alperton, which 

doubled our waste processing capacity. 

Looking 

forward 

2017 is already looking like it will be as busy and 

as significant for O’Donovan as 2016 was. It will 

be interesting to see the next developments 

in relation to our exit from the EU; how it is 

managed and what impact the process might have 

on our industries. 

Keep up with what’s going on at O’Donovan and 

all our industry news by following us on Twitter 

or Facebook. Full details of all our services are 

available on our website, or to get in touch 

directly with us you can call or email – full details 

are opposite. 

/odonovanwaste 

/OdonovanWasteDisposal 

www.odonovan.co.uk 

sales@odonovan.co.uk 

0800 731 3332 

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