SQT Blog

In the current times, it’s nice to see an initiative which reminds us to think of the good things in life.

The Irish Hospice Foundation is planning Ireland’s first “Thank You Day” next month on Thursday, November 25th, to coincide with Thanksgiving Day in the US.

Yesterday it launched two fundraising initiatives to mark the campaign. The “Thank You Book”, a gratitude journal for everything that is positive and great in your life, is being promoted for the Christmas market. Scattered through it are thank you notes from people such as Martin Sheen, Seamus Heaney, Gabriel Byrne, Sinéad O’Connor and Maeve Binchy.

Gabriel Byrne’s note simply says “For breath, thank you” while Christy Moore writes “That day, when you stopped and asked ‘how are you?’ – it meant the world to me”.

The Irish Hospice Foundation has also introduced a range of thank you cards containing some of these messages. Both the book and cards for sale in shops around the country or from www.thankyouproject.ie.

All funds raised will go to the children’s hospice homecare programme. The foundation hopes to raise €100,000 from the campaign. It will go towards funding the Republic’s first paediatric palliative care consultant and outreach nurses in the community.

www.thankyouproject.ie

http://www.hospice-foundation.ie/

We are all guilty of forgetting to say “Thank you”, so from all in SQT we would like to say “Thank you” to you our customers for your support and loyalty over the years, it is so very much appreciated.

Much to our delight, we received this email from a customer last Friday, as a result of which we started the long weekend with a smile on our faces.

“Dear Jean and Team,
I wish to compliment you on the professional and friendly way you operate your business.  I recently attended HACCP Development, Implementation & Verification in Limerick. The notes supplied, the pens etc were very well presented which made learning very easy. The venue choice was excellent, easy to find, the hotel has great facilities which made the whole learning experience very pleasant and provided a relaxing, professional and productive atmosphere.

Last but certainly not least your choice of trainer – Denis Kiely made the whole training and learning experience one that was extremely simple and positive. His wide range of experience and knowledge was reflected in how he could relate to different food businesses and provide us with the support we needed. His knowledge on this subject matter is clear, concise and that of an expert. He really shone out as a trainer. Even as a trainer myself, I found myself developing my training skills from the way he displayed and delivered his training.

I found the client came first at all times. You provided me with a great learning atmosphere and environment.
Again,
Thanks,
Anna”

It is fantastic to get spontaneous feedback like this from a delegate, it lifts the whole team and reminds us the impact a simple “Thank you” can have.

Best of luck to the Irish Hospice Foundation with their initiative, it’s a great idea.

We would like to congratulate a number of our customers who have been shortlisted as finalists for the 2010 Sustainable Energy Awards. The annual Sustainable Energy Awards encourage, recognise and reward excellence in energy management among energy users of all sizes. 2010 is the seventh year of the awards and SEAI received over 450 expressions of interest across 9 categories this year.

A growing number of organisations wish to reduce their impact on the environment and incorporate best energy practices, often saving money along the way.

We have a wide range of Energy Management courses available, including the first IEMA-approved EN 16001 course worldwide.

Best of luck to our customers in the final. Winners will be announced at a gala event in Dublin on 25th November

Our students did very well in the July exams for the NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety. These exams are quite challenging. The pass rates for our candidates for each Unit were high well and exceeded NEBOSH averages for all centres:

Unit A: 57% pass (NEBOSH average pass for all centres 49%)
Unit B: 89% pass (NEBOSH average pass for all centres 65%)
Unit C: 67% pass (NEBOSH average pass for all centres 53%)

Congratulations to all – the hard work paid off. Well done to Finbarr Stapleton, the tutor for this course, who worked hard preparing students for these exams. Finally thanks to Eilish, SQT Examination Secretary, for her work for these exams.

Best of luck to the next cohort of students who commenced in September. The NEBOSH International Diploma in Occupational Health & Safety is a supported distance learning course. Generally we start two courses each year in September and January. Each student takes three examinations, (Units A, B and C), and then completes an assignment (Unit D). Exams are held twice per year (January and July). Successful completion of all four Units leads to being awarded a NEBOSH Diploma. The award is at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.