Duisburg/Dublin, 1st September 2021 – CWS International GmbH, the German based services group has acquired Specialised Sterile Environments Ltd. (SSE), an Irish company specialised in Cleanroom cleaning, decontamination and hygiene services to the Irish Pharma and Medtech industry. This further expands CWS’s international portfolio in cleaning and decontamination services in the highly specialised cleanroom segment and contributes to the company’s sustainable growth strategy. SSE Cleaning has been sold by its former owner and founder Mary Connell. The deal was closed on 31st August 2021 for an undisclosed sum.

“CWS Cleanrooms is part of the €1.3 billion CWS Group and is Europe’s foremost providers of complete cleanroom solutions. With the acquisition of Specialised Sterile Environments Ltd., we are expanding our offering in Ireland. As of today, we are able to offer cleanroom cleaning to our Irish customers and become a more integrated service provider for Cleanroom operations”, Markus Schad, Regional Managing Director Cleanrooms & Healthcare at CWS, states regarding the deal. “We will continue to work with the existing SSE Cleaning management and look forward to a successful integration. We warmly welcome our new colleagues to the CWS family.”

“Through its dedication to service and its extensive experience in working with Ireland’s Life Sciences sector, SSE Cleaning has successfully grown its business in Galway, Dublin, Athlone and Limerick in recent years”, says Mary Connell, CEO of Specialised Sterile Environments Ltd. “We are excited that with the support of CWS group, we have the opportunity to continue our company’s growth and continue to focus on the specialist cleanroom cleaning sector.”

CWS Cleanrooms is growing throughout Europe
CWS Cleanrooms is expanding sustainably in Europe. “We plan on growing by organic growth as well as our M&A initiatives. Our network of technical experts and dedicated employees is still increasing. We strive for the highest service level in a highly regulated business area”, says Markus Schad.

Clement Higgins, Managing Director at CWS Ireland, adds, “Today, CWS provides a range of cleanroom, workwear rental and hygiene services to almost 5,000 customers throughout Ireland. With sales revenues of €31m and 370 employees in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway, we plan to double our cleanroom business in Ireland over the next five years to keep pace with the growth of Ireland’s Biopharma and Medtech sectors.The acquisition of SSE Cleaning is an important step in expanding our Cleanroom services portfolio to achieve our goal of becoming a full-service provider for cleanrooms and Controlled manufacturing environments.”

The acquisition of SSE Cleaning to expand CWS’s Clearooms business in Ireland follows the prior acquisitions of WERO, a Dutch specialist for cleaning cleanrooms, and profi-con, a German cleanroom cleaning company with presence and online training expertise.

About Specialised Sterile Environments Ltd. (SSE Cleaning)
Specialised Sterile Environments is an established cleanroom cleaning and decontamination business, providing cleanroom cleaning, decontamination and hygiene services to the Irish Pharma and Medical Device industry. The company was established in 2003 by Mary Connell and currently employs a staff of 350 trained to work in regulated cleanroom environments. SSE Cleaning currently provides cleanroom cleaning services to 70 customer sites in Galway, Dublin, Athlone and Limerick. All employees will be retained as part of the deal. In the long term, the company will be integrated into the CWS Cleanrooms Business both locally and internationally.

About CWS
CWS is a brand of CWS International GmbH headquartered near Dusseldorf, Germany. The group currently employs 11,000 people in 15 countries. In 2020, the company generated a turnover of 1.242 billion euros. CWS International GmbH and its subsidiaries are owned by Franz Haniel & Cie. GmbH, a family based private equity group.

Using its innovative, sustainable and digital rental solutions, CWS is committed to providing cleanroom and hygiene solutions that contribute to a healthier and safer tomorrow. The CWS range is divided into products and services in the areas of Cleanrooms, Workwear, Hygiene, Floor Care, Workwear, Fire Safety, and Healthcare. With its rental service model, the company is an excellent example of circular economy at work. Materials are reduced, reused and recycled in a resource-saving manner. CWS practices sustainability in all aspects of its business activities under one central guiding principle – Think Circular!

More information can be found at cws.com.

Contact
Dr. Maren Otte
Group Director Corporate Communications & Responsibility
CWS International GmbH
Dreieich Plaza 1A
63303 Dreieich
Germany
+49 6103 309-1030
presse@cws.com

Galway’s SSE Cleaning won the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2018 Irish Contract Cleaning Association Awards ceremony held in Dublin’s Mansion House this October. The awards recognise the highest standards in professionalism in the contract cleaning sector and saw over 250 industry professionals in attendance.

Speaking about the award Sean McGlynn, General Manager said, “The Outstanding Achievement award presented to our CEO Mary Connell is testament to her leadership and drive that has seen the company experience significant and rapid growth over the past number of years. The entire team would like to congratulate Mary on this fantastic industry achievement and thank her for her continued dedication, support and investment in people.”

Dubbed as Ireland’s most highly prized awards in the commercial contract cleaning sector, the ICCA Industry Awards are the epitome of high quality, commitment and highlight the professionalism that is displayed by the service providers on their client sites throughout the country.

In accepting the award, Mary Connell, CEO said, “It is such an honour to be recognised within the contract cleaning industry by this award. When we started out over 15 years ago I never imagined we would see such success. Year on year, SSE is growing on a national scale and developing our capabilities across multiple sectors. I am extremely proud of the entire team at SSE and see these awards as a reflection of the hard work and dedication our staff put in every day.  Without these hardworking and dedicated people, I am certain we would not have won this award.”

SSE are no strangers to awards and their associated ceremonies. In 2016, SSE won Specialist Facilities Management Service Provider of the Year at the Facilities Management Awards. In 2015 they scooped five industry awards including three at the Facilities Management Awards; Best Cleaning Service Provider, Excellence in Customer Service and Facilities Management Service Provider of the Year. SSE’s Mary Connell went on to win the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Award in the ‘Women Led Business’ category within Connacht and nationally.

SSE commenced trading in 2004, initially working locally in the Galway and Connacht area. Today they operate a nationwide contract cleaning, facilities management and specialised cleanroom service throughout the country.

“When we started out over a decade ago our initial focus was in the MedTech sector. This has developed organically through word of mouth and recommendations from our clients. We’ve shifted from working in Connacht to working with clients the length and breadth of the country,” explained Mary.

Mark Keeley from Karcher presents Mary Connell of SSE Cleaning with the 2018 ICCA Outstanding Achievement Award. Mary scooped the prestigious award at the ICCA awards ceremony held in the Mansion House.

SSE recently exhibited at the Medical Technology Ireland Expo & Conference which took place at Ballybrit Racecourse on the 26th-27th of September. This fantastic, high-profile national and international event attracted global suppliers to the large number of companies in the Irish Medical Device Industry.

As Ireland’s Premier Medical Device Design and Manufacturing Event, and with more than 1,000 attendees over the two days, we were delighted to have the opportunity to network with so many different individuals and companies in the industry. We spoke with potential clients on how our high standards at SSE are not only evident in the delivery of our service, but how we believe customer service is a vital element in any contract and as a result many of our clients have been with us from day one. 

We are delighted that the event was a huge success, and we look forward to our next exhibition. Below is a picture of our stand at the event. 

SSE recently sponsored the Galwegians R.F.C annual Golf Fundraising event which was held at Galway Golf Club on Friday 23rd June. This is fantastic event enables young children, young men and women to play and enjoy rugby.

As a result of these events held by Galwegians R.F.C, over 400 underage children (U8’s to U18’s) will benefit from coaching, training, exercising and playing rugby every day of the week as well as contributing to 4 senior mens’ and 2 ladies’ teams. 

We are delighted that the day was a huge success for the Galweigan’s Rugby community! The club is run solely on a voluntary basis and supported by coaches, referees and parents throughout the year!

Industrial & General Cleaning Operatives Required

SSE are growing rapidly and are looking to fill a number of Industrial and General Cleaning Operative positions from our Galway branch. If you are energetic and looking to be part of an organisation that is innovative and fast growing then we have the job for you.

The ideal candidates will be:

• Honest, trustworthy and reliable
• Punctual
• Flexible and energetic
• Able to work as part of a team
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail
• Past experience is considered an advantage

Description:

The successful candidates will be responsible for maintaining a specified standard of cleanliness by performing various cleaning duties in accordance to site specific and standard operating procedures.

Please send your CV to emma@cleanrooms.ie.

SSE are delighted to announce we are finalists for 4 awards in this years Facilities Management Awards 2016.

The 4 awards are:

• Specialist FM Service Provider of the Year
• Client and Service Provider Partnership of the Year
• FM Professional of the Year
• Excellence in Customer Service

In 2015 SSE were the proud winners of three Facilities Management Awards for Best Cleaning Service Provider, Excellence in Customer Service and Facilities Management Service Provider of the Year.

The winners of the third annual Facilities Management Awards will be announced at the Gala Awards Ceremony on the evening of Tuesday, July 5th at the Ballsbridge Hotel Dublin.

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The Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards took place last Thursday night the 3rd of December at  the Gala Awards Ceremony in the Mansion House.

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We are delighted to announce that we have won the Woman Led Business Award at the Ulster Bank National finals. What a year its been here in SSE and this latest news is the best possible end to 2015 for the entire team. We are certainly looking forward to all 2016 has to offer!

The Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards celebrate the spirit of excellence and innovation that are the hallmark of Ireland’s most successful entrepreneurs. The Woman Led business category highlights the exceptional role women play as entrepreneurs in starting, growing and running successful businesses in Ireland. This pretty much sums up Mary Connell, founder and Managing Director here at SSE. What a wonderful woman that has created and developed a great company. An inspiration!

Voting for the People’s Choice Awards ends tomorrow at 12pm…! Click here to vote.

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We need your votes!

Click here to vote for SSE in the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards,  People’s Choice Award.

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SSE Cleaning have been nominated for another award…

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SSE Cleaning won the ‘Women Led Business’ category for Connacht, at the Ulster Bank Achievers Awards.

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We are delighted to announce we have won an Ulster Bank Business Achievers 2015 award.

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SSE are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted for the Ulster Bank Achievers Awards. Continue Reading »

SSE cleaning was awarded the overall winner of ‘Excellence in Customer Service Award’.

Pictured below is Sean Mc Glynn accepting the award on behalf of SSE Cleaning, which was sponsored by Kennedy Security and Consultancy Ltd.

SSE cleaning are the overall winner of ‘Best Cleaning Service Provider.’

Pictured below is Sean Mc Glynn proudly receiving the award on behalf of SSE Cleaning.

Best Cleaning Service Provider

SSE Cleaning overall winner of ‘Facilities Management Service Provider of the Year’.

Pictured below is Mary Connell, Owner and Director of SSE Cleaning, accepting the award.

18 of the world’s top 25 MedTech companies have a base in Ireland and 50% of the 300 Medtech companies based here are indigenous. SSE are specialists in the provision of contract cleaning and facilities management services to MedTech companies throughout Ireland.

Mary Connell was impelled to set up SSE in 2003 having identified a gap in the industry for a specialised MedTech cleaning company. Initially the company provided contract cleaning and cleanroom cleaning services to medical device and pharmaceutical companies in Galway’s manufacturing hub.

However this quickly developed and the company has now diversified into facilities management and full service contract cleaning, cleanroom management, training and much more. With offices in Dublin and Galway SSE are fully equipped to support their ever growing nationwide service.

“Our growth was largely due to word of mouth. Diversification into retail, electronics and all other industries that we now work in happened quite organically,” explained Mary. 

“We kept getting recommendations and suddenly our client base was growing and we were dipping into new industries. We have always had clear procedures in place and our main focus in the company is number one, quality and number two, relationships. We work so closely with our clients, many of who have been with us since day one, that we feel like we’re part of the furniture at this stage.”

Accountability in the MedTech sector is vital for maintenance of quality certifications, sterilisation and minimising contamination. Routine office cleaning or facility cleaning is taken to a whole new level. Contract cleaning services must achieve the standards required for FDA and IMB Audits as the overall cleanliness of the facility is considered not just the cleanrooms and manufacturing areas.

“Our staff are all fully trained to ISO 9001:2008 standards and are 100% committed to their individual sites. In our 10 years+, we have never had a complaint about the quality of our work. There is a real team sprit among our staff and clients.”

The personal touch is something that certainly sets SSE apart from the rest. All clients still have direct access to the management team allowing quick decisions and actions when required. In fact the management team estimate they spend more than 60% of their time visiting various sites, being hands on and meeting new clients.

SSE saw more than a 50% growth in turnover in the past 3 years, more than doubling the company’s staffing levels since 2010.

Facilities management within the MedTech sector is an area that is gaining much momentum. More and more companies are choosing to outsource all of their facility management requirements rather than managing various supplier partners. One of the main benefits of using a single supplier for all facilities management needs is the ease of administration and management.  A single contact for everything reduces documentation and a single invoice that includes everything is also considered important.

For more information on the services provided by SSE call 01 6856537 or 091 773954.

SSE Cleaning are delighted to announce that we have received three awards in the Facilities Management Awards 2015. SSE were the proud recipients of the awards for Facilities Management Service Provider of the Year, Best Cleaning Service Provider and Excellence in Customer Service Award.

The FM Awards are the first awards that SSE have entered and to win three has been an exciting experience. These awards are confirmation that SSE strive for and achieve excellence in the cleaning service we provide to our customers.

Keep an eye in this week’s Sunday Business Post for a feature on our award success.

Facilities Management Service Provider of the year

The Facilities Management Service Provider of the year was an award that did not accept entries but rather was chosen as the best of various different categories. The fact that SSE was up against other large and established companies and was chosen as an overall winner is a surprising and humbling experience. This award has shown how much SSE has grown throughout the years and to now be recognised as a leader in its field.

Best Cleaning Service Provider

SSE has a proven track record as well as a vast amount of experience and knowledge working within the Medtech, Educational, Retail, Software and Electronics industries over the years. All SSE staff are fully trained in line with each client’s specific requirements and are certified in the International Cleanroom Education Board (ICEB) standard. SSE employees follow strict Cleanroom and Laboratory protocols to ensure the highest industry standards are met. Contract cleaning and facilities management services follow the same level of strict quality performance and include services such as daily office cleaning, specialist cleaning, facility auditing, consumable supplies, pest control, security, hygiene and much more.

Excellence in Customer Service

Our customers are of utmost importance. SSE is committed to providing quality, choice and value for money in the services we deliver to our customers. SSE take pride in the relationships that have been built over the years with clients and understand that in the service industry relationship development and loyalty are on an equal footing with quality.

The facilities Management Awards ceremony took place on Wednesday 25^th of June at the Ballsbridge Hotel Dublin. Were the cream of Ireland’s facilities management sector were recognised and celebrated in front of an audience of senior executives.

The SSE team would like to thank all our customers, both past and present, who have helped us get to where we are today. SSE would also like to thank all of our suppliers who have worked with us down through the years. Here at SSE we realise that it is because of our clients that we have achieved all that we have and we look forward to continuing to bring all clients the very highest level of service.

Left to Right front row. Donna Walsh Office Manager, Mary Connell M.D Denise Holland HR

Back row Joe Brogan H&S, Matthew Deane Accountant, Katie Connell Administration, Joanna Farragher Quality Director, Henry Connell Logistics Director, Sean McGlynn Sales Manager, Gemma Keady Accounts, Dominick Jordan Operations Manager.

Due to significant ongoing expansion SSE is recruiting a Sales Executive for the Dublin region. The Sales Executive will enjoy the opportunity to excel in a fast-paced, competitive atmosphere, with ample opportunities to progress professionally. With responsibility for expanding the company’s client portfolio to pre-agreed targets, the new Executive will be highly motivated and energetic.

Closing date for applications is Friday 31st July 2015.  

Download Full Job Description Here 

View our latest MedTech Industry Cleaning newsletter here. To sign up to our newsletter, please subscribe by following the instructions in the link.

SSE were shortlisted in 3 categories for this year’s Facilities Management Awards, on Wednesday 24th June at the Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin 4, and won the overall title of ‘Facilities Management Service Provider of the Year’.

Shortlisted Categories: 

• Best Cleaning Service Provider
• Excellence in Customer Service Award
• Client & Service Provider Collaboration Award

Joanna Farragher, Operations Director said, “We are delighted to be nominated across these three areas. We strive to ensure the quality of our work and the high level of customer service we provide is the best in the industry. These nominations reflect the hard work and dedication our staff put in every day. We are really looking forward to the awards ceremony.”

The Facilities Management Awards recognise and celebrate those demonstrating excellence in the facilities management industry in Ireland.

SSE were recently announced as one of the runners up in the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards 2014.

The Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards celebrate the spirit of excellence and innovation that are the hallmark of our most successful entrepreneurs and SSE were delighted to have been selected for this annual award.

After a comprehensive tendering process we are delighted to announce that SSE has been selected as the Nationwide Contract Cleaning  provider of choice for Musgrave Wholesale Partners.

Part of the Musgrave Group, Ireland’s largest Grocery and Wholesale organisation, SSE will be responsible for the nationwide Contract Cleaning of all Musgrave MarketPlace outlets in ROI.

Speaking about the tender award, Mary Connell, Managing Director, SSE, said, “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the cleaning company of choice by Musgrave Wholesale Partners. We have worked with Musgrave over the past number of years in their Galway and Limerick premises. To have been awarded the nationwide contract is the ultimate credit to the wonderful team that we have here in SSE.  It is a very proud time for us.Like ourselves,the Musgrave group is a family run Irish business with strong connections in the community. We’re looking forward to getting the contract kicked off in the coming days.”

We are delighted to announce we are hiring for the position of Area Cleaning Supervisor. This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing company, and a professional team.

Our company ethos, to deliver the highest quality industrial cleaning solutions, provided  by an expertly trained team, has very much been the driving force behind the success of the company in the past ten years. 

Job Title: Area Cleaning Supervisor

Location: Travel in various locations

Qualifications: See description

Experience Required: 1 – 2 Years

To view a full job description, click HERE

Please send your application along with a covering letter to: info@ssecleaning.ie

Job Title: Cleaning Operative

Terms: Part Time

Description:

SSE are hiring a number of part time cleaning operatives. The successful candidates will be responsible for maintaining a specified standard of cleanliness by performing various cleaning duties in accordance to site specific and standard operating procedures, and undertake all aspects of general daily cleaning duties to the highest standards, as directed by supervisor.

Requirements:

The ideal candidates will be:

• Honest, trustworthy and reliable
• Flexible and energetic
• Able to work as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrate focused work ethics and strong attention to detail.

Please send your application along with a covering letter to: info@ssecleaning.ie

 Ann Shaw Position: Supervisor, Galway

Ann will be eight years working with SSE in February. Her job involves supervising two multinational client sites. Speaking about her job, Ann says, “It’s like a home away from home. I have to be honest, I love going out to work. Mary is so lovely, she looks after the workers and she is like a mother to us all.” Ann says that, while she works hard, it is nice to know that there is a strong support system behind her.

“All the employees are treated extremely well, every employee’s opinion is valued, which is one of the reasons there is high staff retention. I’ve never seen a company like it before, it’s so organised.

Mary’s motto is ‘SSE have it done before you ask’ and you can see this through their organisational skills. There is a lovely atmosphere; it’s like a big family. It’s brilliant!” says Ann.

www.galwayindependent.com

Sandra Finnerty, Position: Supervisor, Galway

Sandra has been with SSE for over ten years.

“I used to work under Mary when she was a supervisor in another company, so I know her a long time.”

As SSE is quite a large company, Sandra’s role mainly involves managing the buildings, staff and cleaning and making sure that everything is running smoothly and at 110 per cent as Mary would want it.

Sandra speaks fondly of Mary and the success of the company, describing Mary as a “perfectionist” but also “fair”.

Talking about the high standards of SSE, she says, “Everything would have to be at 110 per cent”.

She says Mary wants everything to be the best that it possibly can be while also being very kind and fair to her staff. Sandra says that she works hard but at the same time there is no major pressure put on her as there is great team work. Sandra adds that she loves her job and describes Mary as a “good boss” and a “good friend”.

www.galwayindependent.com

We would like to thank our customers for their very kind words in celebration of our 10th Birthday. 

Download Galway Independent PDF Here 

“SSE have been working in partnership with Merit Medical for the past ten years. The foundation of SSE support lies in how well their people perform their roles. SSE work to a customer focused “can do” approach. Considerable time is put into their employee recruitment, development and people management. SSE embrace Merit Medical’s needs and requirements as to how Merit Medical want SSE to conduct their business, including cleanroom audits and facility audits of both Merit Medical buildings. SSE make every effort to fulfil Merit’s expectations and look for ways to exceed them in service, communications and management.” Merit Medical – (www.merit.com)

“SSE offer the complete service solution package. At Nelipak , SSE offer us the highest standards of Cleaning and training. Their staff are highly trained, motivated and extremely flexible. We found the “Contamination Control and GMP Training” both well delivered and very relevant. It generated instant positive change in our process and procedures. I would highly recommend Mary and her team at SSE to anybody in the industry….” Nelipak – (www.nelipak.com)

	“Advant Medical Ireland has been working with SSE for over 10 years. Their customers focus, quality standards and attention to detail are second to none. We have received many positive comments in relation to the cleanliness of our facility from a number of customers and auditors. We are proud to have SSE as part of our team. We would be happy to recommend SSE to any organisation.” Advant Medical – (www.advantmedical.com)
	“Selecting SSE as our business partner has proven to be a great decision. They truly understand the meaning of a business partnership. While executing their day to day activities to a very high standard they also provide innovative solutions and ways to improve our operations by volunteering their experience and know-how. This has helped reduce costs and improve our Cleanroom compliance.” Zimmer – (www.zimmer.com)

Founder of SSE Cleaning, Mary Connell talks to the Galway Independent about everything Specalised Cleaning should be. She talks about the SSE culture and operational procedures, quality, and the importance of building long term relationships with clients. Mary gives much credit to her employees and believes staff are the driving force behind the success of SSE since it began operating ten years ago. 

Read full article here 

Sean McGlynn, Sales Manager with SSE Cleaning, talks about the growth of the company since its inception 10 years ago. Sean looks ahead to further job creation, increased growth and sustainability in the months and years ahead. 

Read Full Galway Independent Article Here

www.galwayindependent.com 

Founded in 2003 by Mary Connell in response to a requirement for expertise focused on cleaning within cleanroom environments, SSE now celebrates its 10th successful year in business. 

The company has grown from strength to strength since its inception and now employs over 200 staff across 32 counties in Ireland. With offices in Galway and Dublin and new contracts being awarded regularly, this growth trend is set to continue well into the future.  

Here some of SSE’s customers and suppliers wish them a Happy 10th Birthday

Training is a number one priority for us here at SSE. That’s why we provide regular Continuous Training Programmes for our staff. 

Here’s just some of our Supervisors at the latest training day held in Galway. 

 We were all out in our finery on Saturday 30th November for the annual Galway Santa Dash.

This year our chosen charity was Kiltulla House, Brothers of Charity who do wonderful work. 

A big congratulations to SSE’s Dominic Jordan who graduated in Occupational Health & Safety earlier this month. 

Dominic is Operations Manager here at SSE and works with many of our clients on Health and Safety requirements and procedures in the Workplace.

Talk to Dominick today, call 091 773954 or email dominick@cleanrooms.ie.   

SSE have purchased a new Training Course geared for the Pharmaceutical Industry called ‘Cleanroom Cleaning Essentials’. This course is recommended for any person who is involved in working in the Cleanroom Environments.

This programme is internationally recognised by the International Cleanroom Educational Board (ICEB), a prestigious award that proves the excellence of the programme and its content within the area of Contamination Control.

Read More Here 

SSE have recently sponsored the Tavneena 125th School Anniversary in Charlestown Co. Mayo.  As part of “The Gathering Ireland 2013” and to celebrate 125 years, Tavneena National School are hosting a number of events in the Park Hotel, Kiltimagh this weekend to mark the occasion. 

A Message From Tavneena National School

Like many schools of its era, Tavneena National School, Charlestown has been through famine and hardship, a civil war and two world wars. It has gone from candles to computers, from the barest of facilities to state of the art technology. It has seen good times and bad, from the building of an airport on its doorstep to a major recession. But through it all our school has survived and this year celebrates its 125th year in existence, with a School Reunion under the banner of The Gathering. From far and near, from home and abroad, past pupils and teachers will converge on the school this August Bank Holiday weekend to mark what promises to be a terrific occasion.

The whole community, young and old, is hard at work in preparation. The weekend begins on Friday, Aug. 2nd with Mass at 6pm in the school, and the launch of a history of the school and locality. The book -‘Tavneena National School 125 Years; Across the Generations’- traces the story of the community from ancient times to the present day, and will be on sale on the night. Music, refreshments, a display of photographs and a kids’ disco follow. This is a time to catch up with classmates, neighbours and friends; a time to relive memories of bygone schooldays and all that went with them. 

On Saturday, Aug. 3rd, celebrations continue with a Dinner and Social in the Park Hotel, Kiltimagh. Tickets are €30 and are on sale locally – contact Michael Horkan Cashel, Kevin McCudden Lurga or Seamus Gallagher Lurga or email tavneena125@gmail.com. There will also be a raffle on the night with fantastic prizes, including return flights to the UK, home heating oil voucher, tickets to the Tommy Fleming Concert, weekend break in Mill Park Hotel Donegal, shopping vouchers, cash prizes and lots more. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the school on Fri. 2nd and again on the night. Many thanks to all our generous sponsors.

Sunday, Aug. 4th marks the 10th Anniversary of the Restoration of Lurga Shrine. To mark the occasion there will be Mass at the shrine at 6pm and all are welcome. The shrine has been in existence there for over eighty years and holds special memories for many people.
The Tavneena N.S. Reunion is a unique event in the life of our community. Make a note of the date, and get your tickets in good time. See you there!

The “One for ALL” 6 KM walk in memory of Liam McNamara will take place in Louisburgh in Co. Mayo on Saturday 6th July.  Liam was 37 when he passed away last July following a two and a half year battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

All funds raised will go to MIRT, the Mater Institute of Research and Therapy for Blood Cancers, which is a campaign within the Mater Foundation. MIRT aims to drive progress and innovation in the understanding and treatment of blood cancers, through the exchange of ideas and the pursuit of excellence in research and development. 

SSE were delighted to sponsor the Merit Medical charity night for the well known Lily-Mae foundation on April last. Lily-Mae you are an inspiration to us and a true warrior.  

Proud sponsors SSE would like to congratulate Eugene and his crew for an excellent trip and  look forward to future fund raising events. 

The Diversey 360km Cruise For Cancer fund raiser completed the last leg of its journey on Tuesday 25th June when it left Richmond Harbor, Clondra and cruised home to Dromod Harbor. 

Job Title: Aerial Cleaning Supervisor

Location: Dublin and surrounding areas. 

Qualifications: See description

Experience Required: 1 – 2 Years

Manage Site Operations

• Reporting to operations department
• Responsible for a number of accounts & support operations division.
• Ensure the required work, standards and financial targets are achieved in areas of responsibility.
• Contract start-up planning implement the ISO Quality Management Systems.

• Promote new/additional services on site
• Liaise with client representatives
• Promote quality client communications/partnership
• Promptly deal with any client issues or complaints
• Check that all quality related discrepancies are rectified
• Attend client meetings, become actively involved in site procedures, suggest improvements and provide feedback to clients.

Staff Management

• Delegate work as deemed necessary
• Implement performance management systems on site and conduct appraisals and reviews
• Management of and advising onsite supervisor on disciplinary matters
• Team building
• Liaising with employees at all levels
• Identify and monitor training requirements of supervisor and staff
• Recruitment and selection of new employees
• Liaise with training manager re training requirements of supervisor and staff

Administration and Budgets

• Ensure special orders of all work onsite is carried out
• Check timesheets, special orders and site expenditure
• Plan budgets and ensure targets are met
• Plan preventative maintenance on all machinery/upkeep of asset register

Account Development

• Communicate with business development personnel
• Generation of new business
• Forward planning on growth of business and expenditure.

 Health and Safety

• Ensure all current Health and Safety legislation is being adhered to by contract and other management
• Conduct risk assessments
• Investigate accidents to ensure the safety management system is effective

 Job Specific Characteristics

• You must have experience as a cleaning supervisor
• Understanding of Cleanroom Medical/Pharma industry will be an advantage but not critical as training will be provided.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Fluent English, both verbal and written necessary
• Strong management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities is a must
• Attention to details crucial
• Flexibility
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team
• Computer literacy required
• Full Clean Driving Licence necessary
• Legal entitlements to work full time in Ireland required.

It will be necessary to work alternative hours shift patterns or unsociable hours including weekends from time to time. Local requirements governing your work and travel in various locations may be required.

If you are interested in a career with SSE, where you will have ample opportunity to progress within the company,  please email your CV with cover letter to info@ssecleaning.ie or call us on 091 77395

Heartfelt congratulations to the 2013 Castelgar Camogie Team who claimed the All-Ireland intermediate club camogie title at Donaghmore-Ashbourne last weekend. A special well done to the two SSE girls Katie and Marian pictured below.  

From L to R – Marian Farragher, Katie Connell, Louise Farragher  

SSE’s Managing Director, Mary Connell speaks to the Irish Times about Business, the economy and company expansion.

What sets your business apart from rivals? 

We are specialists in the cleaning industry; we have an in-house microbiologist and the flexibility to respond quickly to our clients needs.

We clean the entire factory from the warehouses to reception to boardrooms to the labs. We clean the areas where medical devices are developed and we even clean the toilets. We prepare pharmaceutical and medical device companies for audits by the Irish Medicines Board, so we’d tell them what maintenance they need to do in the facility.

What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received? 

Never keep the customer waiting. We can anticipate most of the time what will pop up so we try to stay one step ahead and always be on the case. We are always trying to help them maintain the highest standards.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in business? 

If I was setting up the business again, I would push it more and expand more quickly. In the earlier years, we were very cautious, nearly too cautious, and expanded very gradually.

The upside to that is we have more than 100 staff and have been in business nearly 10 years, most likely because we didn’t rush into anything.

What has been your biggest challenge? 

Letting multinationals know what we can do and how we do it. It was really hard break- ing into the multinational cleaning sector. The cleaning industry itself is a huge challenge. There are a lot of intricacies and regulations set out by various bodies, including the US Food and Drug Administration and the Irish Medicines Board.

Who do you most admire in business and why? 

Noel Noonan, the founder of Noonan Services Group. There used to be a very bad impression of the cleaning industry. Cartoons mocking the cleaning industry were everywhere. Noel changed all that. Nowadays our staff get a lot of respect on site.

What piece of advice would you give to the Government to stimulate the economy? 

There are so many people applying for jobs and they have no experience on their CVs, so they are not getting jobs. There are thousands and thousands who can’t get work.

The Government should organise a work-experience scheme, different to the JobBridge scheme, in that the work experience placements would just be for a few weeks. That way, people will have at least some experience when applying for jobs.

Do you think the banks are open for business to SMEs at the moment? 

We don’t have any loans and we don’t have an overdraft. We didn’t even have a loan when we started the company. We’re lucky in that we’ve always had a good cashflow and we expanded slowly so we never required huge amounts of funds.

How do you see the short-term future for your business? 

We’ve hired reps in Dublin and have started expanding there in the past 10 months. Besides that our main aim is to keep doing what we are doing at present.

What’s your business worth and would you sell it? 

I wouldn’t have a clue what it’s worth. I love what I do. If someone offered me €100 million in the morning maybe I would sell it. I’d definitely pop some champagne and think about it.

In conversation with Pamela Newenham. 

Jim Murren, Former IDA Regional Manager, has been appointed Chairman of SSE.

In a career spanning over 40 years, Murren’s first job was with the Revenue Commissioners, serving as a Tax Official (1968 – 1971). He joined the Finance Department of the IDA and subsequently worked within the Rescue Division and other operating roles (1971 – 1982) advising many companies in the late seventies, following Ireland’s accession to the European Union. In 1983 Jim joined the IDA’s office in Athlone where he worked with a wide range of overseas companies that located to the Midlands Region. In 1990 he joined the IDA’s West Region office and in 2000 was appointed Regional Manager here.

With responsibility for the West Region, Jim has worked with some of the world’s leading companies such as, Boston Scientific, CISCO, AVAYA and Coca Cola. He has also worked with a wide range of indigenous companies. 

Speaking about his new role, Jim said, “I am excited to join the team at SSE. As a company they have achieved great success and provide a highly knowledgeable and quality service to both multinational and indigenous companies throughout Ireland. I am looking forward to making a contribution to the future growth of this company.”

Mary Connell, Managing Director, SSE said, “We are delighted to welcome Jim to SSE and he has agreed to take on the role of Chairman. He has excellent experience in business development and growing companies, both large and small. We are looking forward, with his support, to taking SSE on to the next level of development with Jim as part of our management team.”

Jim also holds a Masters Degree in Regional Development from the National University of Ireland Galway.

SSE provide a wide range of services to a variety of industrial sectors including, medical device companies, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies and companies in the ICT sector. Their services include contamination control including auditing and training and infection control in addition to contract cleaning and facilities management.

The Volvo Ocean Race is the world’s most prestigious offshore race. The Festival was held in Galway in July 2012 and SSE was delighted to be appointed with the contract for the onsite cleaning for the duration of the event.

The Festival in Galway was held in two areas: the Race Village and the Global Village.

The Race Village

The Race Village, which hosted the crews, offered top-class entertainment, a host of concessions and was the base for the on-water events throughout the festival.

The Global Village

The Global Village hosts some of the major events of the festival in the Global Arena, attracting the most influential business people in Ireland and internationally.

The Global Arena in the Global Village held functions up to 2500 people which SSE would ensure the function room was cleaned and prepared for the next event to take place.

SSE had a crew of over 40 staff working two shifts with Team Coordinators to ensure all areas were covered at all times.

SSE were the first on site every morning and the last to leave at night to ensure that the Race Village and Global Village was clean and tidy for the next day’s events.

More than 820,000 people attended events during the first five days of the festival with final figures close to the million mark, over the 9 days, so it was a massive festival for SSE to be part of.

SSE worked hard to maintain the highest standard of cleaning to ensure the Global Village & Race Village was clean and tidy for all the hundreds and thousands of people that passed though every day.

SSE would like to thank all the people for their feedback and great comments on how clean and well the Global Village & Race Village looked after SSE’s hard work.

We’re looking forward to the Volvo Ocean Race coming to Galway again.

Congratulations to Mark Butler, European Vice President, Merit Medical on the opening of their new expanded facility at Parkmore Business Park East, Galway.

The €20m facility will result in 200 jobs in R&D, Shared Services, Operations Support and Manufacturing.

Manufacturing Ireland Magazine Feature –

Download PDF Version Here.

Specialised Sterile Environments (SSE) is a client focused, quality oriented team of professionals delivering a gilt-edged contract cleaning service, making them industry leaders in all they do.

“We have recorded significant growth in the last two years, but no one is recession proof. We have listened to our customers and adjusted accordingly,” said Mary Connell, Managing Director.

SSE offers a high –quality service, cost effective contract cleaning / facilities management solutions provider unmatched in the industry. Located in Mervue Business Park, Galway and was set up in December 2003 by Mary Connell.

Mary spotted a gap in the market for specialised cleaning in the medical device sector and devised a business plan to fill it. SSE obtained its ISO 9001 approval in Jan 2004 and since then it has expanded, branched out and flourished. Today SSE employs over100 people.

Over the last number of years it has expand its reach beyond the Galway area, whereby nearly 50 per cent of current contracts are now in areas such as Dublin, Sligo, Waterford, Limerick, the Midwest, and Midlands.

SSE has evolved and adapted to the industries around them. Initially set up to service Medical Device companies, SSE now delivers solutions to Electronic Manufactures, Pharmaceutical Companies, the Gaming Industry, and Static Office solutions. Apart from cleanroom services SSE offers a full Facilities Management portfolio, from Pest Control, Washroom Consumables, Cleanroom Consumables, Sub-Contract Landscaping, Facility Cleaning and much more.

The SSE team under the guidance of Mary Connell developed a Cleanroom Technology Training Programme – ‘Contamination Control Practices within the Cleanroom’.

In October 2009 this training programme received accreditation from the International Cleanroom Educational Board (ICEB) and is the only certified programme of its type in Ireland and the UK.

Speaking about the programme, SSE Sales Manager Sean McGlynn said, “The programme provides a thorough understanding of the impact of contamination within the Cleanroom environment. Research shows humans bring 90% of all contaminants into a cleanroom. The programme instils a fundamental awareness in personnel of how their routine and behaviour affects cleanrooms.”

He continued, “The ISO 9001/ 2008 obtained by SSE means we have obtained the highest standards necessary for these industries. We strive to adhere to the most recent developments required by various organisations such as the Irish Medical Board (IMB) and Federal Drugs Authority (FDA).

Changing with the Challenge

The industries in which SSE focused its initial business, Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals, is one of the few sectors of industry untouched by the current downturn.

“We have recorded significant growth in the last two years, but no one is recession proof, said Mary.  We have listened to our customers and adjusted accordingly. We have had to make significant reductions, but have never lost a contract to a competitor in that time.”

Investment Plans

“Last year we increased staff numbers by 25%. That came about by investment and further expansion.”

“This year (2012) we are targeting growth nationwide and intend creating further jobs in areas such as Sales Staff and Operators,” explained Sean.