Galway’s Tribe Hospitality Group, which is comprised of six eateries around the city, has been awarded Ireland’s highest business accreditation for standards of trust and service.
The much loved businesses that make up the Tribe Hospitality Group are Mr Waffle, Ground + Co, Baby Ground + Co, Delight, Saol Café and The Galway Plate.
They have recently been awarded the coveted All-Ireland Business All-Start Accreditation, an independent standard of recognition for home grown businesses.
The accreditation is 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 over 350 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium businesses which operate to their own standards, but have nothing to measure them by.
She said that in order to receive this accreditation they evaluate a company’s background, trustworthiness, and performance by engaging with their employees, customers, and vendors.
“We also anonymously approach the company as a customer and report back on the experience. The business goes through at least two interviews and is scored on every part of the process against set metrics.”
Tribe Hospitality Group employs 100 people in Galway and its eateries and cafes are a firm part of Galway life. However, the success of this company is down to more than hospitality.
The company has grown by 70 percent in the past three years, with that success attributed to investment in staff and a clear progression plan for the business.
“We wanted to be more than just a place of work; our staff are the fundamental reason why our business has grown. Investment in people is the single most effective way of being successful in life and in business,” explained Kevin Nugent of Tribe Hospitality Group.
“Tribe Hospitality Group have developed their own academy where all staff have the opportunity to bring their strengths and uniqueness to the business. We want to see people thriving. Making your team feel heard and seen is when they flourish.”
The group also has a focus on mental and physical well being with weekly running groups, staff gym sessions at the Train Station Galway, which is 100 percent funded by the business.
“I started my career over 15 years ago and learnt a valuable lesson early on, we all need people,” Kevin added, saying that he has learned a lot from the people he has worked with at the hospitality group.
“Everyday I see such personal growth in people that would have started with us as a college part time job and now they are managers and are showing me which way, the business should progress and grow.
“Its an old adage but if you surround yourself with good people, show them respect and allow them to bring their skillset to the table then brilliant positive things happen.
“Gaining this accreditation has been a real reward for everyone and that by doing things in your own authentic way is always the right way of doing this.”
