Creative Challenge in Galway

The Connacht Hospitality Group staff took part in the Galway Apprentice Challenge.

Teams had been working away behind the scenes for the past weeks, refining their offerings which were launched on the streets. From customised t-shirts to bespoke postcards and sustainable compost, the judges were busy taking notes and assessing the creativity and teamwork of each group.

Each year the businesses across the group ask their staff to vote for their favourite charity, which they raise funds for during the year. A new element for 2024 was a Galway version of the TV show The Apprentice, with a Sales and a Marketing challenge followed by a board room presentation in front of Connacht Hospitality Group General Manager Wayne Neilon and his advisors Brian Lynch and Jacqueline O’Dowd.

Galway Bay Golf Resort were crowned winners after having raised the most funds on the day as well as excelling in the Marketing task. The funds raised reached a combined total of €5,780 between the five teams.

Group General Manager Wayne Neilon described the experience as “incredibly rewarding”. 

“One of the most satisfying elements of the day was to see how our companies’ values shone through at each stage of the process. It was an opportunity for our teams from across different disciplines to work together in a very different dynamic to their regular working relationship. Obviously, the funds raised were a wonderful achievement, but the energy and enthusiasm I witnessed yesterday was what gave me the greatest sense of satisfaction and pride.”

The teams from The Connacht Hotel, An Pucan, HYDE Hotel, M Fitzgerald’s and Galway Bay Golf Resort have returned to their normal work now but will continue to fundraise for their chosen charities which include NBCRI, GRCC, The Simon Community, Cope Galway and Croi.