HAI Certificate Latest – Celebrating the Graduating Class of 2024/2025!

Celebrating the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail Merchanting – Graduation Class of 2024/2025

Hardware Association Ireland is proud to celebrate the graduation of the 2024/2025 class of the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail Merchanting. This year’s graduates, representing hardware retailers and builders merchants from across the country, have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to professional development in our sector.

We extend our warmest congratulations to every student who completed the programme. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work over the past year is a credit not only to themselves but to their employers and the wider industry.

Class of 2024/2025:

Alastair Coyle – Walsh’s Homevalue
Joshua Duggan – McMahons Builders Providers – Dunmanway
Dean Hatfield – McMahons Builders Providers – Limerick
Seána Hurley – McMahons Builders Providers – Fermoy
Garreth Nolan  – Brooks Timber & Building Supplies – Bray
Mark Reilly – Brooks Timber & Building Supplies – Bluebell

A special commendation goes to our two Student Award Winners:

High Achieving Student
Awarded in recognition of outstanding academic performance.
Vytas Preskaitis – Morris Builders Providers & DIY

Student of the Year 2025
Awarded for all-round excellence, demonstration of learning, and engagement throughout the programme.
Clare O’Reilly – Murdock Builders Merchants – Finglas

Both award recipients exemplify the high standard and ambition that this course is designed to support, and we applaud their achievement, along with all this year’s students, who consistently demonstrated their commitment to their further learning & development.

We would also like to thank the mentors and employers who supported each student through their learning journey, as well as the trainers and facilitators who delivered expert-led, industry-relevant training throughout the year.

This year’s graduation celebration was made even more special by the news that the HAI Certificate in Hardware Retail Merchanting was named Best Learning/Professional Development Programme at the prestigious Association & Institute Awards 2025 – a well-earned recognition of the collective effort that goes into making this programme a success.

Students and Mentors have their say

Earlier this year, HAI sought the feedback of this year’s students and mentors to gauge their experience to date. Feedback at this stage of the programme has been glowing, with both students and mentors pleased with progress to date and the opportunities for growth it provides:

“I have gained valuable insights into how different areas of a business operate and how small changes can make a big impact on quality of service and customer experience overall.”
Mark Reilly, Brooks Bluebell – HAI Certificate Student

“I have learned a lot from the course so far. Particularly how many areas in business are more closely tied together than people might expect. I have learned how best to approach and deal with customers and how to make a sale. I learned a lot about stock control and stock take.”
Vytas Preskaitis, Morris DIY – HAI Certificate Student

“The course has been very beneficial to all Brooks and MBM participants over the past number of years and has assisted the participants in securing promotions”
Brendan Sammon, Brooks Bluebell – HAI Certificate Mentor

“This is a very useful tool for staff trying to take the next steps towards management.”
Shane O’Dwyer, McMahons Builders Providers

With thanks to Octabuild for their Product Knowledge 

A sincere thank you goes to Octabuild and its member manufacturers (: Bostik, Dulux Paints, Etex Ireland, Glennon Brothers, Grant Engineering, Gyproc, Irish Cement and Kingspan Insulation) for their continued and generous support of the programme. Their contribution of specialist product knowledge and real-world insight is a vital part of this course’s success, and we look forward to building on this valued relationship in the year ahead.

Have any queries? Contact aoife@hardwaressociation.ie