Four organisations picked up the top prize at the Northern Ireland Quality Awards, which took place last night (27 January) in the Ramada Hotel, Belfast.
Slemish College and St Patrick’s College Maghera achieved the top accolade in the Excellence in Education programme, whilst two private sector companies, Diageo Baileys Global Supply and Munster Simms Engineering were recognised for their achievements in international competiveness and business excellence.
The Northern Ireland Quality Awards scheme is organised and managed by the Centre for Competitiveness and sponsored by Department of Finance and Personnel, ESB, Northgate Information Solutions, Hewlett Packard and Forward Emphasis. The gala awards ceremony is organised in association with Invest Northern Ireland.
The different levels of recognition are based on the world class European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model that offers organisations the benefits of a structured approach to international competiveness. The awards process has been fully aligned with the EFQM recognition scheme in that the assessment process is uniform and Northern Ireland levels of recognition are compatible with those throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
Speaking at the event, Bob Barbour, Chief Executive of the Centre for Competiveness, said
“Such was the success within the education sector in adopting the principles of excellence that in 2009 an Excellence in Education schools programme was developed by the Centre for Competiveness in partnership with the Regional Training Unit, with support from Northgate. Both schools, Slemish College and St Patrick’s College, need to be commended for the hard work in achieving the Northern Ireland Quality Award in such a short space of time, and this should encourage other schools and colleges to reach for excellence.”
Presenting the Northern Ireland Quality Award to Diageo Baileys Global Supply Chain and Munster Simms Engineering, Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster said: “Given the dramatic economic challenges over the past eighteen months, raising awareness of how the pursuit of excellence can have a tangible effect on business and contribute towards growth and economic prosperity, has never been more timely.
“Diageo Baileys and Munster Simms are among the many ambitious companies which have demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial drive and an ethos of quality and business excellence.
“Our challenge is to continue to build on the considerable progress made to date in embedding business excellence in Northern Ireland and in our companies. By maintaining a focus on quality, we can ensure Northern Ireland continues to attract new inward investment and win business overseas.”
At the event, 16 organisations received various levels of recognition, based on the progress of their journey to excellence:
Northern Ireland Quality Award
Diageo Baileys Global Supply
Muster Simms Engineering
Slemish College
St Patrick’s College
Prizewinner
Christ the Redeemer Primary School
Clarehill Plastics
St Cecilia’s College
Mark of Excellence
Kilkeel High School
Legal Island
NICVA
STEPS to Excellence – Gold
Autoline Insurance Group
Cambridge House Grammar School
The Equality Commission
Executive Information Service Northern Ireland Executive
Malone Lodge Hotel
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board
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