PublicJobs has been awarded 5-star recognition from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) – becoming the first Civil and Public Sector organisation in Ireland to achieve this level of international accreditation. The award was formally presented by Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD, at a reception in Government Buildings on Wednesday 5 November 2025. This remarkable achievement marks the culmination of a journey of improvement and transformation, supported by the Centre for Competitiveness (CforC), EFQM’s national partner in Ireland. 

A Journey to Excellence 

Over the past two years, PublicJobs has worked closely with CforC to apply the EFQM Excellence Framework, engaging in a comprehensive programme of workshops, projects, and self-assessment activities designed to embed a culture of excellence and innovation. This led to the preparation of a detailed submission to EFQM in Brussels, supported by extensive evidence of performance and impact. A team of international, independent EFQM Assessors reviewed the submission, conducted on-site interviews, and met with staff and management to assess PublicJobs’ effectiveness across all areas of the organisation. The assessment recognised PublicJobs for its strategic leadership, employee engagement, stakeholder satisfaction, and commitment to transformation and innovation – confirming its position as a leader in excellence within Ireland’s public service. 

Recognising Leadership and Impact 

Margaret McCabe, CEO of PublicJobs, added: 

Dr Tony Lenehan from CforC Ireland congratulated PublicJobs on their significant achievement and award, and stated “The EFQM Framework provides a robust, evidence-based approach to managing change, improving performance, and delivering public value. It’s a model that works equally well for public and private sector organisations, helping them lead with purpose and create lasting impact.” 

CforC: Supporting Excellence Across the Public Sector 

The Centre for Competitiveness (CforC) is proud to have supported PublicJobs on their EFQM journey – from early workshops and diagnostic reviews through to formal assessment preparation. As the national partner of EFQM for Ireland, CforC works with organisations across all sectors to adopt the EFQM Model – a globally recognised management framework used by more than 30,000 organisations worldwide. It enables organisations to measure where they are on their journey to excellence, identify areas for improvement, and develop innovative solutions to enhance performance and competitiveness. Through achievements like this, PublicJobs joins a growing number of Irish organisations – both public and private – who are using the EFQM Framework to deliver sustainable excellence and world-class service. 

About the EFQM Framework 

The EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) inspires organisations to achieve sustainable excellence by helping leaders learn, share, and innovate. The EFQM Model is a holistic management framework that helps organisations assess performance across leadership, strategy, people, partnerships, and results — driving improvement and fostering innovation at every level. 

For more information on the CforC supports available, visit our Assessments and Certifications page

Or enquire now about one of our EFQM readiness/assessment workshops

Pictured above (L-R): Mr Darragh McGrath, Head of Governance and Quality, Publicjobs;
Mr.Jack Chambers TD, Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation; Ms Margaret McCabe, CEO, Publicjobs, Dr Tony Lenehan, CforC Ireland