Tenth Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Awards Launched

BITCI News - Mar 07, 2013

Chambers Ireland today (07/03/13) announced that nominations for the 2013 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards are open. Now in their tenth year, the Awards were launched by Aidan Cotter, CEO, Bord Bia, run in association with the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, partnered by Business in the Community Ireland and kindly sponsored by BAM. The launch was kindly hosted by O2, winner of last year’s award for Outstanding Achievement in CSR.

Speaking this morning, Ian Talbot, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive said, “A lot has changed since the introduction of these awards ten years ago. However, what has made them so successful isn’t what has changed but what has stayed the same: the consistently high quality of the entries and the commitment of the Irish business community to the values of corporate social responsibility.”

Tina Roche, Business in the Community Ireland Chief Executive continued, “A strong reputation is the most valuable asset a business can have. How you manage risk to your reputation is vital and a strong and robust Corporate Responsibility strategy can give clear guidance on policy and procedure gaps particularly in areas of supply chain and external stakeholders. Each year in these awards we see how companies are enhancing and improving their CR strategies and making them an integral part of how companies do business. These awards champion this practice which is integral to Ireland’s business reputation.”

“Sustainability and CSR are core to BAM’s culture and we are again delighted to be involved with Chambers Ireland to sponsor the CSR Awards, particularly in 2013, the tenth anniversary of the initiative. The Awards both highlight and celebrate the positive impact that socially responsible organisations have on all aspects of the communities in which they operate” said Theo Cullinane, BAM Chief Executive.

Tony Hanway, CEO Telefónica Ireland, operator of the O2 brand and winner of the 2012 Outstanding Achievement in CSR Award said, “We were delighted to be awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility Award last year. For us it represented the culmination of a lot of hard work and dedication by the company and all our employees to CSR over the years. In particular we were delighted with the external recognition of our Think Big programme which we run in conjunction with Headstrong to promote positive mental health among young people in their local communities. The Awards are of huge importance as they really shine a positive light on Corporate Responsibility and provide a vital showcase opportunity for all the excellent CSR work that is taking place in Ireland”.

Award categories include: Excellence in Environment, Community (divided into Charity, Volunteering and Community Programme), Workplace, Marketplace, International CSR, CSR Communication, Best SME and the overall Outstanding Achievement in CSR Award.

For further information or to apply please visit www.csrawards.ie. The closing date for nominations is Thursday 25th April 2013.