The Marine Institute, Ireland’s national agency responsible for marine research, technology development and innovation, received the highest level for Excellence Through People award, at the recent event hosted by the National Standards Authority of Ireland held at Dublin’s Convention Centre.  

Excellence Through People (ETP) is Ireland’s only national human resource management quality standard dedicated to the role of people and their impact on business.    

Dr. Peter Heffernan, CEO,of the Marine Institute said, ”the Platinum ETP award has provided an important recognition of the investment made by the Institute in its staff and an equally important recognition of the tremendous effort made by staff in continuing to provide an excellent service to our customers. It has shown that our staff are standing shoulder to shoulder with high performing organisations in both the public and the private sector”.  

The scheme recently transferred to the National Standards Authority of Ireland from FÁS, provides a business improvement model for organisations to enhance performance and realise strategies through the development of their people that is attainable by all organisations in both the public and private sector, regardless of their size. Since Excellence Through People was first developed in 1996, more than 800 companies in Ireland have been awarded an Excellence Through People certification.  

Receiving the ETP Platinum award, one of only three currently received by a public body, Catherine Johnston, HR manager of the Marine Institute added, “Excellence Through People underpins the ethos of continuous learning in the Marine Institute.  Taking part in the programme since 2005, the ETP processes help us continually improve our business and the services we provide our customers, industry and stakeholders – particularly in working towards an Irish economic recovery through innovation and development,”

The Marine Institute now twenty years in service continues to seek, assess and realise the economic potential of Ireland's 220 million acre marine resource.  The Institute promotes the sustainable development of the marine industry through strategic funding programmes and essential scientific services.  It also safeguards our marine environment through research and environmental monitoring.  

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