Mentor Gaeilge, the leading promoter of the Irish language in business, has launched a proactive new award for Irish businesses across the 32 counties.

Pictured (LtoR) at the launch Mentor Gaeilge's Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc are Michelle Nic Suibhne, Bainisteoir Gnó Mentor Gaeilge, and Úna ó Donoghue, Killarney beauty therapist.

Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc is an innovative, practical and useful method for Irish businesses to gain recognition and potentially differentiate themselves in an extremely competitive market.

Aimed at promoting the day-to-day use of Irish in business, Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc will enhance the service provision of businesses by capitalising on the fact they are using their 'mother language' in conjunction with English to promote their business, products and services.

Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc is the initiative of Mentor Gaeilge and a public sector client. After a lengthy research and consultation period with business organisations, state agencies and Irish language groups, it was determined that there was great interest in launching an award focused on the use of Irish in businesses.

Currently, under the 2003 Language Act, 650 public sector companies are obligated to provide services through Irish under various schemes. To date, over 70 schemes have been agreed by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

This has created an increased presence of professional service provision through Irish. However, there is more that can be achieved and it is hoped the Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc will encourage more businesses to promote the Irish Language, given the official status of the language in the EU. The intention of the Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc is to enable business organisations to evaluate, develop and capitalise on the use of the Irish language as a complementary business and marketing tool. This standard sets out the minimum requirements and evaluation methods in order to attain the award.

Enhancing indigenous characteristics, or 'Irishness,' the Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc signifies awareness of and commitment to bilingualism in business, culture through language and a market leader in innovative customer service provision.

Speaking on the concept, Michelle Nic Suibhne, Bainisteoir Gnó Mentor Gaeilge, stated, "Businesses across the island of Ireland need to become more proactive in differentiating themselves from the competition. We are entering a downturn in the economy and it is essential for Irish businesses to become innovative in how they market themselves.

"What better way than to go back to our roots and promote the use of Irish? Having extensively researched the 'Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc,' we feel that this recognition will bring the language to even greater heights, while increasing language awareness in business and, importantly, it gives companies the opportunity to show publicly their support leading business excellence with bilingualism."

This award will be applicable to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and is an all island standard applicable to all private business who notify in writing or electronically (unless otherwise stated by the owner of the award), the awarding body that they wish to be inspected under the award scheme.

The 'Gnó le Gaeilge Q Marc' is applicable to all business, whether prior use of Irish has or has not been formally incorporated into business activities in the past. The process shall focus on areas of business where there is a business/commercial benefit toward the use of Irish.

Emphasis shall be placed primarily on bilingual usage, rather than the monolingual use of Irish and this is being seen as a great opportunity for businesses and individuals to bring something unique to their organisation.

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