“Each one of us is capable of so much more than we believe we are.”

We are delighted to welcome two new houses this month as we commence our contract with the Society of African Missions (SMA) in Cork. Marius Bigu is our site manager.

Marius, you have been working with the Neylons team for 2 years. You were working as supervisor in UCC when the management team asked you if you would be interested in managing a new contract in Cork. What was your first reaction?
I felt very honoured to be considered for the position. It meant a lot to me because it is proof of trust and appreciation from the management team.

Can you tell us more about the new contract?
We are looking after two separate sites that came under the same contract. In total, there are about 70 employees, who are covering a wide range of services like cleaning, catering, caring, maintenance, gardening & charity. I had a warm welcome from the team on both sites. I was pleased to see that they are all working in a friendly environment, where everyone enjoys what they are doing. They have a good work ethic and they are always ready to help each other out.

Sounds like a nice team to work with! What was the most challenging for you?
There are always going to be challenges, no matter how long you have been working on a site. When you start a new contract, I suppose there are a lot of questions. It takes a while until you get to know the people there, their activities, the building itself. At the moment, it is still a work in progress for me!

Thank you for sharing that with us. How did you overcome any challenges you have faced?
I have the constant support of the company. Everybody is very helpful and there is always someone able to help and answer any question. I’ve got a lot of help from Mihai Moldovan, Director of Operations South; Keileigh Brett, Regional Manager; and everyone in Head Office. Also, my fellow managers here in South are a great support and I want to thank them all.

I’m sure they will appreciate hearing that. What does a “usual” day look like for you?
I will have to answer that in maybe a year! I will get to have my own routine one day but at the moment every day is so different!

Marius, you attended Neylons Academy for Growth in 2019-2020. Do you feel this programme has helped you in your role?
Neylons Academy for Growth is not only a nice memory. I have also taken with me a lot of useful information. For example, I pay more attention to my own behaviour since then and also to the people around me. That is something that is really needed in a management position

What advice would you give to any colleagues that are afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone?
Each one of us is capable of so much more than we believe we are. But to realise it we need to push ourselves beyond our limits. If you are given an opportunity, you should take it, knowing that you will get the support and help you need!

Thank you so much for your time Marius and for sharing your experience with us. We wish you all the best in the future!