Waterford Chamber

Waterford Chamber and Vhi Healthcare announced the 4th round winners of the 2007 series of Business Excellence Awards at a special awards ceremony in the Athenaeum House Hotel on Monday, 7th January. Read more >>>

The winners in each category are as follows:

Pictured below (l-r): John McGrath, Vhi Healthcare; Alain Meric, AOL; Mayor Mary O’Halloran, Waterford Viking Triangle; Andrew O’Neill, Chamber President; Emese Papp, Lamber de Bie; Ger Hickey, Hickey Fabrication; Michael Broderick, Vhi Healthcare.

In opening the event President Andrew O’Neill commented “we feel the awards are deeply significant because they acknowledge both individuals and firms that provide exceptional service or outstanding business performance in the following sectors: Manufacturing, Retail, Hospitality/Tourism and Services. 

Hickey Fabrication Services Ltd was awarded the Manufacturing award for expanding significantly since their formation in 2001. They now have 43 employees and have recently relocated to a state of the art manufacturing facility in Kilmacthomas.  Ger Hickey thanked his great team for their hard work and said ‘he was delighted to receive the award’.

Lamber de Bie Flowers received an Award for Excellence in Retail.  Established in 2000 by owners Lamber de Bie and Pat Fennessy, their moto has always been to innovate, not imitate.  Lamber de Bie Flowers recently won Best Small Store in the Southern Region at the CREST Retail Awards. On receiving the award Lamber said ‘this would never have happened without the enthusiasm, knowledge and determination by all team working at Lamber de Bie Flowers’.

Waterford Viking Triangle received the well deserved Award for Excellence in Hospitality/Tourism.  Mayor Mary O’Halloran accepted the award on behalf of the committee and said ‘A number of elements make up Waterford’s Project 2014 but probably none will capture the imagination quite as much as the Viking Triangle. 

AOL Broadband received the Award for Excellence in Services. AOL were recently announced the overall winner at the CCMA awards, winning Contact Centre of the Year, Contact Centre Manager of the Year and Online Chat of the Year.  Linda Ferguson, Director of HR and Communications puts the overall success down to ‘the dedication of all our staff and their commitment to professional standards – and AOL’s commitment to training and development, lifelong learning and career-progression, all of which contribute to employee motivation and morale’.  Alain Merc accepted the award on behalf of AOL and thanked the Chamber and Vhi Healthcare.

John McGrath, Corporate Account Manager, Vhi Healthcare said, "I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the latest winners on their well deserved achievement which acknowledges their on-going commitment and dedication to delivering customer and business excellence. Vhi Healthcare is proud to support the Excellence Awards in conjunction with Waterford Chamber and we would encourage all local businesses to enter this prestigious programme to ensure their promotion of excellence is publicly recognised and applauded."