Dublin, Ireland - 22nd February 2018: As a Government agency dedicated to building trust in every relationship, Science Foundation Ireland is delighted to announce that they have been officially recognised as one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland in 2018. Science Foundation Ireland was recognised at the annual Great Place to Work Best Workplaces in Ireland awards on Wednesday 21st February. This is their first year to be named as a top Irish workplace, based on the findings of a robust employee survey and a thorough assessment of their policies and practices by the Great Place to Work Institute.

Welcoming the announcement, Prof Mark Ferguson, Director General of Science Foundation Ireland and Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government of Ireland said, “I am thrilled that we have been recognised as one of the best places to work in Ireland; it is an important achievement for an organisation which strives for excellence in everything we do. Science Foundation Ireland's vision to be a global leader in scientific and engineering research, discovery and innovation is being realised because of the hard work and dedication of our valued team members, across all areas of the organisation.”

“From our administrative support staff through to senior management, it is the people in Science Foundation Ireland that embody our collaborative, passionate and progressive culture. I would like to thank them personally for their collective and individual efforts, for always aiming for excellence in the work they deliver, their integrity, their innovation and their commitment to the organisation and to each other.“

In 2018, Great Place to Work® Ireland enters its sixteenth year of recognising great workplaces with the publication of their Best Workplaces in Ireland lists, and the number of workplaces who are realising the benefits of empowering their employees to flourish in a supportive high-trust culture continues to increase.

“It’s been a mixed year for Irish workplaces” said John Ryan, CEO of Great Place to Work® Ireland. “They have seen good trading growth tempered by ongoing uncertainty over the impact Brexit will have. Infrastructure challenges are making planning for expansion difficult, and we’re on the threshold of full employment in our cities which creates a real headache for organisations who are trying to attract and retain top talent. The organisations on this year’s list know that beyond a certain point, employees aren’t going to be tempted by a slightly more generous financial package: they want an environment where they feel psychologically safe, encouraged to grow, provided with opportunities to develop, and empowered to do their best work. Irish workplaces should take advantage of reward and recognition opportunities as a chance to develop their employer brand; enhancing and amplifying their unique culture.”