Abbott Vascular and Cavan County Council were announced as overall O2 Ability Award winners, in the categories for Private sector and Non-Private sector respectively. The overall winner for a Best Small Company went to Kernan’s Eurospar, Donegal.

The Awards, now in their fourth year and created by disability organisation Kanchi, recognise organisations and business leaders that think and act differently about people with disabilities; seeing an employee’s strengths and abilities over any disability and recognising the economic potential of making their products and services available to all customers. Thirty-eight organisations were shortlisted as Ability Companies for this year’s Awards; who together employ 49,750 people in organisations spanning eight different sectors across 14 counties.

The 2010 category award winners included McDonald’s Drive-Thru, Ennis in the Customer Service category, EMC for Leadership and Waterways Ireland in the Environmental Accessibility category. Citi was named the Recruitment & Selection category winner with Dublin City Public Libraries & Archive winning in the Learning, Development & Progression category. Medtronic was named the winner of the Retention and Wellbeing O2 Ability Award.

Caroline Casey, Kanchi founder and creator of the O2 Ability Awards said: “When people are recognised for what they can offer or contribute they are valued and respected and in the current economic climate, recognising ability in business is more important than ever. One of the advantages of being an Ability Company is standing out from the competition, attracting new customers and being able to enhance employee and customer loyalty. Our Ability Companies are examples of excellence that other businesses can learn from.

We can and must continue to focus on achieving for all people with a disability an exciting future at work, packed with potential and facilitating the full development of their abilities. Organisations must see the importance of showing leadership and recognising ability and talent over disability. The purpose of the O2 Ability Awards is to provide an environment for continuous improvement and showcase excellence by organisations that champion change in the area of disability at work and in wider society.”

Danuta Gray, CEO, Telefónica O2 Ireland, said, “It is inspiring to see the wide spread of companies that are winning O2 Ability Awards. These are the organisations and business leaders that truly think and act differently, raising awareness, promoting leadership and encouraging best practice. It was also with great pride that we recently saw the launch of the first Ability Awards outside of Ireland in Spain, in partnership with our parent company Telefónica. Given the phenomenal success of the Awards here, it is now only right and proper that they are being sought after further afield, where I have no doubt they will be equally as successful.”

Presenting the award for the Private Sector, Mary Robinson said, “I am delighted to be associated with the O2 Ability Awards, an innovative programme engaging in an imaginative way with organisations and leaders throughout Ireland to promote the individual abilities of people who overcome significant challenges in their daily lives. It is particularly heartening that so many public and private enterprises continuously strive to recognise the abilities of people with disabilities and showcase the economic potential of developing accessible products and services for all.”

Senator Feargal Quinn was awarded the ‘Kanchi’ award in special recognition of his leadership in encouraging positive change and promoting business culture that seeks, respects, values and harnesses difference for the benefit of both business and society. Having won an O2 Ability Award 2005, Feargal Quinn has worked with and lent his support to several disability organisations, leading and influencing a vision that values difference.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, said, “These awards recognise how workers with disabilities can enrich the labour force and seek their full measure of success in today’s jobs market. I want to acknowledge the commitment shown by the Kanchi team in making the strong business case for the employment of workers with disabilities.

The leadership the Kanchi team shows is important in raising the profile of social enterprise and the contribution those with disabilities can make to the economic recovery project and the growth that we will soon experience again. These awards are widely recognised as demonstrative of high standards in the employment of workers with disabilities and employers across the private and public sectors value what they have come to signify. I congratulate the award-winners and I wish them continued success.”

Entrant organisations to the O2 Ability Awards underwent a four month in-depth assessment that examines all aspects of employment and customer service, conducted by disability management consultants and Kanchi’s assessment partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Ability Companies were judged by experts in the fields of business and corporate affairs, disability management, equality management and by people with disabilities themselves, before the final winners were selected.

The first of its kind in the world, the O2 Ability Awards was first established in 2005 and since then over 100 organisations have been recognised for embracing diversity in terms of employing people with disabilities or targeting them as customers. Overall winners in the past include Aura Sport & Leisure, Mayo County Council and McDonald’s franchise at Shannon. The success of the O2 Ability Awards in Ireland is evidenced by the recent announcement in April 2010 that for the first time, the Awards will take place outside Ireland in Spain, supported by O2’s parent company Telefónica.

The O2 Ability Award for Overall Winner in the Private Sector was presented by Mary Robinson. The Non-Private sector award and Best Small Company award were presented by CEO, Telefónica O2 Ireland Danuta Gray and businessman Denis O’Brien. The six category awards were presented by former TV3 Presenter Lorraine Keane, one of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs and Dragon’s Den star Sean Gallagher, broadcaster, Claire Byrne, Irish soccer legend Packie Bonner, Senator David Norris, TV Presenter Grainne Seoige, former Miss World Rosanna Davison, TV Presenter Jenny Buckley, TV3 Apprentice winner Steve Rayner with fellow contestant Breffny Morgan, Niall O’Farrell owner of Black Tie and magician Keith Barry.

Caroline Casey and Ryan Tubridy

The pair will co-host the awards that see’s 38 organisations shortlisted for an O2 Ability Award, which recognises their efforts to champion change in the area of disability at work and in wider society.

Celebrating their 4th year, the O2 Ability Awards received entries from over 100 organisations that together employ 49,750 people, spanning eight different sectors across 14 counties.

Mary Robinson will be in attendance to present an award – three overall winners (one from the private sector, non-private sector and best small company), six category winners and the ‘Kanchi’ special recognition award will be presented.  Overall winners in the past include Aura Sport & Leisure, Mayo County Council and McDonald’s franchise at Shannon.

The Awards event will feature in a special documentary on the O2 Ability Awards broadcasting on RTÉ One on Thursday 13th May at 10.45pm.
 
The first of its kind in the world, the O2 Ability Awards was first established in 2005 and since then over 100 organisations have been recognised for embracing diversity in terms of employing people with disabilities or targeting them as customers. The success of the O2 Ability Awards in Ireland coupled with the ongoing support of Telefónica saw the Ability Awards launch in Spain in April 2010, a move that highlights Ireland is leading the way in changing the working landscape for people with disabilities.

Other guest presenters at the awards show include Chair of the O2 Ability Awards Denis O’Brien, Harry Crosbie, former TV3 Presenter Lorraine Keane, one of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs and Dragon’s Den star Sean Gallagher, broadcaster, Claire Byrne, former Miss World Rosanna Davison, TV Presenter Jenny Buckley, TV3 Apprentice winner Steve Rayner, magician Keith Barry and former international Irish soccer player Packie Bonner.

And if you missed it last night ….you can catch it again on the RTÉ Player

Visually Impaired Social Entrepreneur brings Ability Awards to Spain

(L to R) Ian Elliott, Programme Manager, Kanchi, Luis Abril, General Technical Secretary, Telefonica S.A., Cezar Alierta President, Telefonica S.A., Caroline Casey, Founder, Kanchi, H.E. Justin Harman Irish Ambassador to Spain

Visually impaired social entrepreneur and founder of disability organisation Kanchi, Caroline Casey, today joined Ireland’s Ambassador to Spain, Justin Harman and César Alierta, Chairman of Telefónica, to launch the Telefónica Ability Awards in Spain, the first country outside of Ireland licenced to run the awards programme based on the O2 Ability Awards model created and operational in Ireland since 2005. The expansion to Spain marks the first franchise of the Ability Awards internationally and is an historic achievement for Kanchi, highlighting the strength and innovation of Irish social entrepreneurship.

The Telefónica Ability Awards, like the O2 Ability Awards, will recognise organisations throughout Spain for best practice in the inclusion of people with disabilities as employees, customers and members of the community. The auditing and benchmark templates created in Ireland will be used to assess organisations that enter the programme in Spain. Kanchi is currently in negotiations with several pan-European organisations to establish the Ability Awards programme in countries throughout Europe and beyond. The application process in Spain opens today with the first Awards taking place in November 2010.

Since 2005, over 130 businesses and organisations in Ireland including Superquinn, McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Kerry County Council, Aura Sport & Leisure, AIB Group, Eircom and Microsoft have been selected as O2 Ability Award organisations. Managed by disability organisation Kanchi, the O2 Ability Awards are the first business awards in Ireland for best practice of the inclusion of people with disabilities, both as employees and as customers. This year’s O2 Ability Awards will take place in Dublin on 12 May.

Kanchi founder, Caroline Casey said: “I am very proud that a small social enterprise like Kanchi from Ireland is leading the way on disability in Europe by bringing the Ability Awards to Spain. With Telefónica’s support and commitment, Spanish organisations will now have the opportunity to showcase best practice in employing people with disabilities and targeting people with disabilities as customers. The ongoing support of Danuta Gray and O2 over the past five years has opened the door for this fantastic awards programme to be rolled out throughout Europe”.

Ireland’s Ambassador to Spain, Justin Harman said: “I am delighted to be associated with the launch of the Telefónica Ability Awards, a ground-breaking Irish initiative now being implemented in Spain. In celebrating best practice and progressive attitudes to the inclusion of people with disabilities, the Ability Awards have been challenging individual organisations and indeed society as whole to see beyond any disability and to value individuals and employees on the basis of the unique strengths they bring. I would like to congratulate Caroline Casey and Kanchi on their work in developing the model for the Awards and to pay tribute to O2 for supporting the Programme in Ireland since 2005 and to Telefónica for becoming involved here in Spain.”

Speaking at the launch of the awards programme in Madrid, Chairman of Telefónica, César Alierta said: “The Telefónica Ability Awards demonstrate a firm commitment from Telefónica for the inclusion of disability in the world of business as it aims to give recognition to these companies and institutions that integrate people with disabilities, whether as employees, suppliers or clients”.

Danuta Gray, CEO, Telefónica O2 Ireland said: “It is with great pride that we watch Caroline and Kanchi launch the first Ability Awards outside of Ireland in Spain. The Awards, which we are very proud to have supported since 2005, have come a long way since then and given the success they have enjoyed in Ireland, it is right and proper that they are now being sought after further afield. Telefónica in Spain understands the enormous benefits that this unique initiative brings to their business, from an employee and customer perspective and ultimately from a business perspective”.

Fingal County Council became the first of the Ability Companies 2010 to feature live on Newstalk on Wednesday 24th of March. David O’Connor, County Manager at Fingal County Council, spoke of the “rigorous process” and praised the “very cleverly conceived” O2 Ability Awards. Mr O’Connor also revealed how the Ability Awards programme has provided “a coherent aim” for his organisation.

Cecilia Ronan from Citi was in the hot seat on Wednesday 7th of March. Ms Ronan, HR Director at Citi, revealed how the O2 Ability Awards programme brought “a huge sense of pride” to Citi, showcasing the overwhelming engagement in employee-led programmes on disability awareness. Citi employees have amazed Management, leading the organisation’s successful campaign to become a 2010 O2 Ability Company.

Be sure to stay tuned to Newstalk 106-108fm where Ability Companies will feature at least every Wednesday morning until the Awards ceremony on the 12th of May.

Follow Kanchi on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/Kanchi_Ireland

Pictured at the announcement of the Ability Companies are (LtoR) Majella Fitzpatrick, Head of Corporate Affairs, Telefonica O2 Ireland and Caroline Casey, founder of Kanchi and the Ability Awards.

This year over 100 organisations participated in the Awards programme, which recognises organisations that champion the ability and value of employees and customers with a disability.

Among the 38 organisations shortlisted are 18 organisations that are first-time participants in the O2 Ability Awards programme. These include The Courts Service, Dublin Tourism, EMC, Homebase, Imaginosity, Medtronic, Trinity College Dublin and Waterways Ireland. Each participating organisation has undergone an on-site assessment undertaken by disability management consultants and Kanchi’s assessment partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The organisations shortlisted for this year’s O2 Ability Awards together employ 49,750 people in organisations spanning eight different sectors across 14 counties, with 22 of the organisations based in Dublin City or County.

Sectors represented this year include financial services and banking (AIB Group and Citi); pharmaceutical and medical (Abbott Vascular and Medtronic); ICT (Microsoft, EMC and Eircom); hotel/catering and restaurants (Four Seasons Hotel and McDonald’s); education and training (Dublin City Public Libraries & Archives and The Homework Club) and the social/voluntary sector (The Melting Pot, Roscommon). The sport and leisure sector is best represented this year with six participants including Croke Park, DCU Sport, Laois Sports Partnership, Leisure World Cork, the National Aquatic Centre and Westport Leisure Park.

Fifteen organisations from the public sector also make this year’s shortlist including The Central Fisheries Board, Iarnród Éireann, Cork County Council, Carlow Local Authorities, Fingal County Council, Cavan County Council and the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

Announcing the Ability Companies, Caroline Casey said: “The diversity of the Ability Companies shortlisted for an O2 Ability Award demonstrates how organisations in all areas of business recognise the value of people with disabilities to their business, as customers and as employees. It’s an exciting time – these organisations are creating a momentum for change and seizing a competitive advantage in a challenging economic environment”.

The 2010 Ability Companies are:

Abbott Vascular
AIB Group
Carlow Local Authorities
Cavan County Council
Citi
Cork County Council
Croke Park
DCU Sport
Department of Social & Family Affairs
Dublin City Public Libraries & Archive
Dublin Tourism
Eircom
EMC
Fingal County Council
Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin
Galway University Hospitals
Health Service Executive, Local Health Office, Dublin South City
Homebase
Iarnród Éireann
Imaginosity, Dublin Children’s Museum
Kernan’s Eurospar
Kilkenny County Council
Laois Sports Partnership
Leisure World Cork
McDonald’s Drive-Thru, Ennis
McDonald’s, Dungarvan
Medtronic
Microsoft Ireland
National Aquatic Centre
South Dublin County Council
The Central Fisheries Board
The Citizen’s Information Board
The Courts Service
The Homework Club
The Melting Pot, Roscommon
Trinity College Dublin
Waterways Ireland
Westport Leisure Park

Many congratulations to all our Ability Companies and well done!

This fantastic coverage of the Ability Awards across Ireland’s leading Media organisations is a testament to the organisations participating in the Awards, and in the power of Kanchi and our “Ability Companies” to change mindsets by inspiring businesses to see the ability in people with disabilities.

A total of 105 eligible organisations registered to participate in the O2 Ability Awards 2010. 77 Private Companies and 28 Public Organisations from across 23 Industry Sectors aggregately employing 79,720 people are positively promoting the ability, value, and potential of people with disabilities as both employees and customers.

The provincial spread of registered companies reflects the ever-widening geographical reach of the Ability Awards. From Donegal to Cork, and Galway to Wicklow, despite the current economic climate, all of these organisations are challenging mindsets and encouraging a greater awareness of ability, making a difference to millions of people throughout Ireland.

On behalf of all our stakeholders, Kanchi would like to say well done and thank you for thinking differently by participating in the O2 Ability Awards 2010.

Good luck to all the organisations participating in the next stage of the programme.

Here at Kanchi, we are celebrating by recounting the success thus far of the O2 Ability Awards 2010. This year, 105 eligible organisations registered to participate in the O2 Ability Awards 2010. Of these registered organisations, 85 submitted final detailed application forms. A record breaking 70% of these were new organisations: organisations which had not been deemed an “Ability Company” by Kanchi’s O2 Ability Awards before. Organisations from across 25 different industry sectors and 21 Counties applied.

It should be noted the standard of applications was incredibly high this year. Therefore, 42 organisations will receive on-site assessments. This is a testiment to the commitment Irish companies are making to the business case for disability.

Gaby Murphy, Kanchi’s Managing Director said: “It is fitting that we can today announce details of the growing level of interest in the O2 Ability Awards which reflects Ireland’s commitment to the United Nations International Day of Disabilities. The quality and calibre of entries this year is significant in terms of organisations not only embracing disability policies put putting them into action – there is clear evidence of a positive shift in practice when it comes to accommodating both employees and customers with disabilities”.

A full list of companies shortlisted will be released during February 2010. A televised series documenting a selection of organisations that participate in the O2 Ability Awards will be broadcast on RTÉ in May.