Cork companies lauded for their diligence
THERE were smiles all round from County Cork representatives at a special accrediation event in Croke Park as local companies achieved a quality mark signifying they meet the highest standards of service and trust.
The Charleville office outsourcing firm Office Assist and Millstreet’s Munster Fire and Safety received accreditation at the coveted All-Ireland Business All-Stars.
All-Ireland Business All-Star accreditation is an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses, based on rigorous selection criteria.
The accreditation and awards are overseen by the prestigious All-Ireland Business Foundation, whose adjudication panel is chaired by Dr Briga Hynes of the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick and Kieran Ring, CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics.
Dr Hynes said the accreditation, which is now held by 300 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards, but have nothing to measure them by.
“We evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness and performance, and we speak to customers, employees and vendors. We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience,” said Dr Hynes.
The All-Ireland Business Foundation is responsible for overseeing the All-Ireland Business Summit and All-Star awards, ongoing All-Star accreditation, Thought Leader awards and promoting peer dialogue among members.
At the Croke Park presentation event, Minister of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said the commitment to quality of the small to medium enterprise sector was critical to the Irish economy.
“Ireland has the fastest growing economy in Europe and one of the fastest rates of business start-ups,” she said.