Archives: 2018

Reimagining banking in local economies

On September 20th, Bank of Ireland won the Marketplace category at the Chambers Ireland CSR awards for their innovative Workbench concept. In simple terms Workbench is a space in the bank branch put aside for entrepreneurs to work and meet. The unique concept connects entrepreneurs, Bank of Ireland colleagues and the local community, by offering

European Pact for Youth – Updates

BITCI held a stakeholder round table on October 10th as a follow up for those who attended the first EU Business-Education Summit in Brussels in November 2017. At this Summit CSR Europe, the EU Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament launched the European Pact for Youth national action plans of member states, including

In Conversation with Cathriona Fitzsimons PM Group

This month we are delighted to give readers the opportunity to get to know Cathriona Fitzsimons the Corporate Responsibility Co-ordinator for PM Group.PM Group is an international provider of professional services in engineering, architecture and project management.

A week of reckoning for climate change

Ever since the world came together almost three years ago to celebrate the agreement reached in Paris at the COP21 to prevent the catastrophic consequences of extreme weather events, there has not been an uneventful week in the fight against climate change. Last week was no different. On Monday, the Intergovernmental Panel on

In Conversation with Derval O’Brien, CSR Programme Manager with EirGrid Group

We are back with our In Conversation Series getting to know CSR and Sustainability professionals leading the sustainability agenda for Ireland’s top businesses. This month we hear from Derval O’Brien, the CSR Programme Manager with the EirGrid Group.

14 companies come together with government to promote greater inclusion and diversity in the workplace

Thursday, September 27, 2018: 14 private sector companies have come together as founders of The Open Doors Initiative, which will assist some of the most marginalised groups in society to gain access to workplaces through training and employment experience. An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar formally launched the initiative at Accenture’s The Dock in

Lidl Ireland take home the Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility Award 2018

  Lidl Ireland has been awarded the Outstanding Achievement in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) 2018 Award at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards. The ceremony was held in the Clayton Hotel, Burlington Road in Dublin last night (20 September 2018). Lidl Ireland’s CSR programme demonstrated company-wide engagement and impressed the judging panel by performing consistently well

BITCI supports the call to improve access to employment for holders of Stamp 3

The Irish economy is set to continue to grow and within this context there is a serious shortage of skilled people to fill jobs. Employee recruitment and retention are becoming critical business challenges. Business in the Community Ireland supports the call to improve access to employment for holders of Stamp 3. Stamp 3 holders are

Volunteers in Tanzania – Helping the Most Vulnerable Live Fuller, Healthier Lives

Located in eastern Africa, Tanzania borders both Lake Victoria and the Indian Ocean. It’s home to Mount Kilimanjaro, the continent’s highest peak, as well as waterfalls and forests, wildebeests and giraffes. It’s also home to 55 million people, many of whom struggle with access to healthcare. For nearly 20 years, the Abbott Fund has invested

CSR is a fundamental issue at Deloitte

For Brendan Jennings, Managing Partner of professional services firm Deloitte, corporate and social responsibility is not just a big deal, it’s an all-pervasive one. “I see CSR as a fundamental issue for us and I see it in broader terms than perhaps people have traditionally viewed it,” said Jennings. “Our role in society is very

Top tips for getting maximum benefit from Employee Networks

Many businesses support employees to set up employee networks. While the name may vary (diversity network groups, employee resource groups etc), the purpose is typically to foster inclusion in the workplace. The networks provide a forum for cohorts of employees who share a common interest or challenge at work. The most common themes are Women

KPMG impacting diversity and social inclusion through a Mentoring Programme for immigrant job seekers

KPMG has finished the seventh term of the Financial Services Mentoring Programme run in cooperation with the EPIC Programme in Business in the Community Ireland. Since 2011, a total of 25 KPMG staff have volunteered to support 30 immigrants through one-to-one mentoring meetings. The sessions have helped participants to develop knowledge of the Irish financial sector and

Chambers Ireland CSR Awards shortlist 2018

Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace marks this year’s Chambers Ireland’s CSR Awards theme with the shortlisted projects across the fourteen award categories proving to be a showcase of CSR activities conducive to positive organisational change, employee benefit and much more.

Veolia to deliver first Carbon Energy Fund Ireland contract to Dublin’s Mater Hospital

Global resource management company Veolia, working through its specialist energy performance team, has been awarded the first Carbon Energy Fund Ireland, CEFI, contract for a hospital in Ireland.

Make an impact on Education with Time to Read

Our Business Action on Education Team is now accepting new applicant company volunteers to participate in the 20-week Time to Read.The programme has helped children in 47 primary school second classes double their reading ability compared to their classmates. BITCI manages and facilitates the programme.

Marian Troy, Head of Corporate Affairs at SSE Ireland talks about the Mark

Achieving the Business Working Responsibly mark is a visible testimony of excellence in CSR and Sustainability.  Some of the top companies in Ireland, across many business sectors, have achieved the Mark, showcasing their organisations as best in class.

The European Sustainability Awards

The European Commission has recently opened the call for applications to participate to the first European Sustainability Award. This initiative, which is in response to a proposal from CSR Europe and in support with the EU Multi-stakeholder Platform on SDGs, has the objective to reward the efforts and creativity of European people, businesses and organisations.

Diageo’s Learning for Life graduation ceremony

Storm Hector did nothing to dampen the enthusiastic spirit at Diageo’s Learning for Life graduation ceremony on the 14th June. Twenty two graduates, along with their families, Diageo employees, and other members of the community attended this celebratory event. While the Learning for Life programme has been providing education and support for the long term

Tony O’Malley talks about the benefits of the Mark

Tony O’Malley CEO of Fujitsu Ireland talks about the benefits of going for and achieving the Business Working Responsibly mark. The only independently audited standard for CSR and Sustainability in Ireland.

Leading companies come together to address key sustainability challenges for Ireland

Business in the Community Ireland launches Leaders’ Group on Sustainability and CEOs sign up to Low Carbon Pledge to reduce carbon emissions intensity by 50% by 2030. CEOs of Ireland’s top companies have today launched The Leaders’ Group on Sustainability, a business coalition dedicated to addressing the most pressing sustainability priorities as well as future opportunities for Ireland. Business in

The time for action is now

In light of the launch of the Leaders’ Group on Sustainability and the Low Carbon Pledge our CEO Tomás Sercovich shares his thoughts on the importance of collaboration and the need for businesses to rethink their business models.

Minister of State Stanton congratulates BITCI on being selected as emblematic project for 30th Anniversary of Cohesion Policy in Europe

The Minister of State for Equality, Immigration and Integration at the Department of Justice and Equality, Mr. David Stanton T.D., today congratulated Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) on their achievement in being chosen as an emblematic project as a recipient of funding from the European Social Fund, one of the Cohesion Policy funds.

All you need to know about Version 4 of the Business Working Responsibly mark

For this issue of CSR News we talked to our Business Working Responsibly mark team to give us some quick updates on the new version of the Mark, the only independently audited certification for CSR and Sustainability.

Three and Jigsaw join forces to connect young people with better mental health

Three to help Jigsaw deliver online mental health platform / portal for young people as 59% of 16 – 24 year olds say their smartphone makes them feel safer* Three and Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health in Ireland, recently announced a new three year charity partnership that will see the delivery of

St Mary’s Primary School visit BITCI

We had some very special guests in the office yesterday morning as we welcomed pupils from St Mary’s Primary School, Dorset Street. The office visits is an exciting part of the Time to Read volunteering programme that some of our own staff have participated in this year. The visit opens up the world of work

Minister Donohoe visits our offices

Last Friday 13th of April we had the pleasure to welcome the Minister of Finance and Public Expenditure & Reform, Paschal Donohoe T.D. to our new offices. It was a great day for our organisation as we all came together to meet with the Minister and communicate about our collective impact.

Business in the Community Ireland’s Student Mentoring Programme celebrates the latest graduates of the programme

  Thursday 12 April: Today, 96 business volunteers and 96 students graduated from the Student Mentoring Programme which is run by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI). The Student Mentoring programme, partners School Completion Programme schools, mainly DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) with a local business which then provides mentors to a number

Lidl To Introduce Autism Aware Quiet Evenings to All 194 Stores Across Ireland and Northern Ireland

Lidl has recently announced it will implement Autism Aware Quiet Evenings across its entire network of 194 stores in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Due to the success of an initial trial last year and the positive feedback received from customers, Lidl is now in a position to roll this initiative out to all stores

Engage your employees, improve literacy, make an impact on education

Would you like your company to be involved in one of the most impactful employee engagement programmes designed to improve the literacy of Ireland’s young children? Then Time to Read is for you.

#StrongerTogether with Claire Hanrahan, BT Ireland Volunteer

BT is part of the Business Impact Map and the #strongertogether campaign. The interactive map launched last week showcases what companies are doing for their local communities across the country and also shows the collective impact of the network.