A Sligo company has become one of the first businesses in the country to achieve a new quality mark signifying that they meet the highest standards of quality and trust.

Get Up and Go Publications has been awarded the coveted All-Ireland Business All-Star accreditation – an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses, based on rigorous selection criteria.

The accreditation is overseen by the All-Ireland Business Foundation, whose adjudication panel is chaired by Dr. Briga Hynes of the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick and Kieren Ring, CEO of the Global Institute of Logistics.

The Sligo company previously attained recognition as an All-Star brand through the business network.

Get Up and Go Publications Ltd, based in Sligo since 2008, produce a range of inspirational diaries all over the world via their e-commerce platform.

They also offer a customized home-work journal for secondary schools which has received very positive reviews.

Eileen Forrestal of Get Up And Go Publications said: “We believe that the Business All-Star accreditation is going to be a true quality mark for indigenous Irish business.”

“As a business, we are very concerned with setting standards, but those standards need to be constantly measured.

“We have been looking for something like this – an accreditation process which is tough, externally verified and allows us to constantly measure our performance.”

Kieren Ring said: “Get Up and Go Publications is not only a great idea but also a great company.”

He said the idea of providing teens and adults both young and old with a daily motivational journal to help them better plan their lives was inspired.

“The performance of the company proves that there is a market for motivational publications that empower readers to think positively about daily plans and goal setting.”

Dr. Hynes said is now accreditation, which is now held by 170 firms, is needed by the thousands of small and medium firms out there who operate to their own standards, but have nothing to measure them by.

“It provides very importantly credible and transparent benchmarking that hasn’t been available up to now, allowing companies to very clearly understand where they are versus their competitors,” she said.

The All-Ireland Business Foundation will be responsible for identifying and accrediting best-in-class Irish business, overseeing both the awards and ongoing accreditation, promoting peer dialogue, in addition to hosting the All-Ireland business Summit on May 1 and 2 next year.

CAPTION: Caitriona McGloin, and Eileen Forrestal, Get Up and Go Publications, Sligo (L) with All-Ireland Business Foundation Programme Director Elaine Carroll and Brendan Sands of Get Up and Go Publications, at the launch of the All-Ireland Business Foundation Accreditation awards.