Archives: 2017

CSR Activities Continue to Flourish as Awards Shortlist Displays Diverse Range of Projects

Chambers Ireland earlier in the month officially announced the shortlist for the 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Awards . With fifty companies shortlisted across the fourteen categories, this year’s CSR Awards displays a diverse range of projects from all industries and sectors, from SMEs to MNCs, across every region of Ireland.

In Conversation With David O’Flynn, Head of CSR at Dawn Meats Group

For this issue of our In Conversation with Series we had the opportunity to hear from David O’Flynn, Dawn Meats’s Group Head of CSR.   Please describe your role and responsibilities and how many years you have been in the company As Dawn Meats’ Group Head of CSR my role covers our 17 sites in

M&S Sustainability Programme Plan A turns 10 and has saved £750 million in costs

Each year M&S holds an event solely for stakeholders, to discuss their sustainability challenges, successes and goals. Our Senior CSR Adviser Darina Eades attends this meeting and here she shares the insights from the day and the successful evolution of M&S’s sustainability strategy.

Five Charities from Across Ireland Selected to Receive Support from the eir Fund

The eir Fund – Connecting Communities is eir’s Corporate Social Responsibility investment programme, open for application to any charity or NGO in Ireland, north or south, with a registered charity number. Decisions for funding are made on a local basis by eir’s employees based in the four provinces of Ireland. As a direct result of

Cook Medical joins over 85 of Ireland’s top companies as a member of Business in the Community

Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) recently announced that medical technology company Cook Medical has joined its business network of over 85 companies dedicated to responsible business and sustainability. BITCI is a non-profit business network dedicated to supporting companies of all sizes on their sustainability journey. It is the only network of its kind in

Great Place to Work is holding a conference event in Dublin

You are warmly invited to register for Great Place to Work conference event with a theme of Trust In A Fast Changing World, to be held in The Round Room at the Mansion House on Thursday 21st September 2017 with a special discount rate of €270 (plus Vat) per person for BITC members. Great Place

Virgin Media support Lessons for Life and the CoderDojo Coolest Project Awards

Lessons for Life Virgin Media staff have completed a gruelling two day bike ride in Cologne to raise funds for Lessons For Life, a charity that funds education projects in some of the toughest part of the world.

Lessons learnt from 10 years of Giving in Bank of Ireland

Give Together, Bank of Ireland’s charity and community investment initiative, is celebrating 10 years of giving this year. In the past decade, close to €31 million has been raised for good causes and over 7,000 days volunteered! Up to the introduction of Give Together in 2007, charitable support was largely driven by projects selected by

Considerate Constructors Scheme launches in Republic of Ireland

  The Considerate Constructors Scheme – the organisation established to improve the image of the construction industry – is now international, having launched its first registered site in Ireland.

BT Ireland diversity & inclusion week shines a light on the benefits of a more inclusive workplace

Last month, BT Ireland held its second annual diversity and inclusion week, designed to celebrate and encourage greater diversity and a more inclusive culture in the workplace.

ESB awards €322,226 to 38 charities working in the areas of suicide, homelessness and educational access and support

ESB recently awarded €322,226 to 38 charities working in the areas of suicide, homelessness and educational access and support, marking ESB’s Energy for Generations Fund spring funding round. Blossom Ireland, The Salvation Army and The Iveagh Trust were three of the worthy organisations receiving funding at a presentation event in ESB’s Head Office on East

HEINEKEN Sustainability Report 2016 – Brewing a Better World

  HEINEKEN Ireland published its 2016 Sustainability Report outlining its ongoing commitment to sustainability. It provides an update on the significant progress made in meeting the ambitious sustainability targets as part of its ‘Brewing a Better World’ strategy. HEINEKEN’S global sustainability efforts are focused on six core areas where they and their stakeholders believe the biggest impact can

Gender Diversity in Practice

  In this report, Business in the Community members share their experiences of building a culture of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) and focusing specifically on gender diversity

Update about BITCI’s biodiversity photography competition

  BITCI’s Biodiversity Photography Competition has been running for a few weeks now and the entries are flying in. Additionally, the feedback from our members has been great and because of this we have decided to extend the date for entries to the 31st of August 2017.

Launch of new National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017 – 2020 “Towards Responsible Business”

BITCI (26 June 2017) participated in the launch of Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility 2017 – 2020 “Towards Responsible Business” by Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald.

Biodiversity Communications: Raising Awareness Internally and Externally

We recently held our 3rd Biodiversity Learning Network of 2017, which focused on communications around biodiversity. We asked ourselves the following questions: How can companies raise awareness of biodiversity among employees and in communities? How can we identify and engage the passionate individuals within our own organisations? How can we support internal dialogue between departments

Cork Business Forum roundup

Business in the Community Ireland is committed to increasing the reach of the network and promote members in the Munster region. Therefore, in partnership with Cork Chamber, we held our 2017 Cork Business Forum on May 30th in the Clayton Hotel.

The European perspective on the Sustainable Development Goals

  Here are some updates from the European Business Summit which took place in Brussels on May 22nd and find out the key messages for businesses in Ireland:  

Young Social Innovators finalists set to battle it out!

10/05/2017 – Customer Experience and Products The culmination of this year’s Young Social Innovators programme, supported by Ulster Bank, happens tomorrow as the 11 finalists present their ideas to the judges to determine the ultimate winner. With teams from around the country competing, it’s an action packed day, focused on finding the Gold Award winning

Three volunteers using their professional skills to support education leaders

A common barrier to volunteering in the workplace is the shortage of time. This problem can be even more acute for senior business leaders. However, short-term volunteering opportunities that match people’s professional skills and experience to specific needs in community organisations and schools are a way to engage employees in a time-efficient way for positive

Northern Trust building a culture of Smarter Travel

At the Smarter Travel Awards 2017, Northern Trust won the overall Smarter Travel Workplaces award along with the Car-sharing and Workplace Coordinator awards. What can we learn from Northern Trust’s experience of building a culture of Smarter Travel?

Northern Trust building a culture of Smarter Travel

At the Smarter Travel Awards 2017, Northern Trust won the overall Smarter Travel Workplaces award along with the Carsharing and Workplace Coordinator awards. What can we learn from Northern Trust’s experience of building a culture of Smarter Travel?

Intel Ireland launches new biodiversity report

New report captures the history of biodiversity protection, enhancement, restoration and habitat creation on the Intel Ireland campus as well as broader environmental engagements and plans for the coming years. Intel Ireland has a long history of supporting biodiversity and since first arriving at our campus in Leixlip in 1989 we have worked to enhance,

Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards

Applications for this year’s Dublin Bus Community Spirit Awards are now open. Voluntary or community groups located within the Dublin Bus network are encouraged to apply. Entrants must complete an application form, which includes a proposal with details about their organisation and the project which they wish to have funded. Since 2003, Dublin Bus has

WBCSD launches CEO Guide to the Circular Economy & Factor10 initiative

At the World Circular Economy Forum which took place in Helsinki on June 5th, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) released its CEO Guide to the Circular Economy .

In conversation with Christina van der Kamp, corporate responsibility manager at Gas Networks Ireland

In this month of our In Conversation with series we are delighted to talk to Christina van der Kamp, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Gas Networks Ireland.

Why your company’s volunteering programme is crucial for employee engagement and attracting new talent

In recent years Business in the Community members like Deloitte have been leading the way on developing meaningful employee volunteering opportunities as a way of motivating staff while generating positive social impact.

Communications – Reaching Your Target Audience

To fully reap the benefits of being a responsible business you must communicate your responsible business / CSR initiatives effectively. Last year our Q2 2016 Network Meeting explored CSR communications through storytelling and through making your message matter – essentially what message to communicate. But having a great story to tell is of little use

Mentoring Celebration

L to R:   Maurice Pratt, Board, BITCI; Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton T.D. and Tina Roche, CEO, BITCI. The mentoring celebration was a very uplifting occasion.   Sharing their experiences on mentoring:   Molly Jo Brennan from Curragh PP, Kildare; Eoin Speight former student in Patrician College, Finglas and now working in the City of London;

Announcing BITCI’s Biodiversity Photography Competition

  Today (22nd May) is the International Day for Biodiversity and BITCI is marking it by announcing our Biodiversity Photography Competition!