Archives: 2015

Time to Read Steering Group Committee Members:

Dr. Eithne Kennedy | St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra Helen Coleman | Principal | St. Finian’s Primary School, Finglas Mary Kenny | National Coordinator | School Completion Programme Kristin Quinn | Corporate Responsibility Manager |  ESB Bevin Cody | Corporate Affairs |  ESB Maria Tobin | Home School Community Liaison | NEWB Emer O’Brien | Representing the Library Association of

EirGrid publishes new draft strategy for the development of Ireland’s transmission grid

New strategy is influenced by public feedback, advances in technology and a commitment to minimise the need for new infrastructure. Strategy highlights new technical option for Grid Link, options on Grid West, and confirms existing 400kV solution as the most appropriate for North South Interconnector. EirGrid is seeking feedback at www.eirgrid.com/yourgridyourviews EirGrid last week published Your

AIB leading the way in environmental practices

AIB are a long established organisation and their 200 branches across Ireland mean that their impact on the environment has a wide reaching effect and this is something they take very seriously. AIB are active in every sector of green business and they are embracing best practice to drive business value, both internally and externally.

International Women’s Day at Accenture

In March Accenture Ireland celebrated International Women’s Day with over 1,100 clients, students and staff at the Convention Centre Dublin, on the morning of the 6th March. The morning consisted of two panels of inspirational speakers. The first outstanding Leaders panel advised that in order to be successful, we need to take care of both

CSR in focus: Shell’s commitment to community in Co Mayo

A decade ago most Irish business leaders would have described corporate social responsibility (CSR) as a somewhat fluffy, ‘nice to have’ business philosophy. Nowadays, most senior company executives would acknowledge that it is a ‘must have’ business enabler. Society in general and communities in particular now expect businesses to be exemplary corporate citizens in the

If gender diversity is good for business, why not for all walks of life by Eamonn Sinnott

Intel Ireland General Manager Eamonn Sinnott had the opportunity to write an opinion piece for the Sunday Independent recently to start their series “One Good Idea”. Eamonn wrote on the opportunity for Ireland should it embrace gender diversity in all walks of life: One Good Idea – if gender diversity is good for business, why

Go Green this May

See Change is a partnership of more than 70 Irish organisations working together to change minds and to challenge the stigma of mental health problems in Ireland. Business in the Community Ireland is a proud partner of this initiative. See Change’s role involves generating big, disruptive ideas to grow a social movement for change and

Survey : Shared Value and Strategic CSR

A team of CEMS students from UCD Smurfit Business School are carrying out a survey about Shared Value and strategic CSR. The objective of the project is to determine the prevalence of the concept of Creating Shared Value (CSV) in Irish companies and the extent to which it has been embraced. They are looking to

In conversation with Karina Howley, Head of CSR KPMG

This month we have the pleasure of talking to Karina Howley, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at KPMG.

Meet us at the Smart Business Show – Sustainability workshop 23rd April 12pm

We have partnered with the Smart Business Show to inspire SMEs to communicate about their responsible and sustainable business practices.

Top Irish Companies Share Their Experiences…

Caroline O’Connor | Corporate Responsibility Manager | Gas Networks Ireland “24 Companies from around Ireland are currently involved in the Time to Read programme. We asked a selection of employees and managers from some of the 24 companies involved in the programme to discuss their experiences.” “Time to Read addresses key elements of Ireland’s plan

A Principal’s Perspective

The Time to Read programme has seen a huge growth within the last year. One of our new partnerships, between the Insurance Institute of Ireland and St. Vincent’s GNS has been going from strength to strength. The principal, Margaret O’ Connor outlines her experience of the programme since its launch in September. “The Time to

Teacher’s Corner – St. Finian’s NS, Finglas & Irish Life

Interview with Niamh Scanlon, 2nd Class teacher in St Finian’s, which is partnered with Irish Life: How do you feel the programme has benefited your students? “The interest and excitement around reading is almost infectious. They now love going to the school library and choose their reading material with much thought and deliberation. They share

Friends First & Scoil Cholmcille JNS

Scoil Cholmchille JNS has been partnered with Friends First since September 2014. We asked two children (Noah & Alex) from Scoil Cholmchille along with their volunteer readers (Niamh Kennedy & Tom Browne, CEO) to answer a few questions about what Time to Read means for them. Noah did you like Time to Read? “Yeah, I

The ESB’s Time to Read Story

Kristin Quinn, Corporate Responsibility Lead, discusses the ESB’s support and involvement in the Time to Read initiative. The ESB is very pleased to be Business in the Community’s national partner for the Time to Read Initiative. Now in its second year, the partnership has grown from strength to strength with almost 50 company volunteers working

Corporate Responsibility Manager for Tesco Ireland

Our member Tesco Ireland are looking for a Corporate Responsibility Manager who will be responsible for developing and delivering Tesco Ireland’s CR strategy, implementing community initiatives, and supporting Store Managers & Community Champions to develop strong community relations across the Country. Working within the Corporate Affairs Department, the Corporate Responsibility Manager will work closely with the

The Effective Community Engagement workshop series

The Effective Community Engagement workshop series is designed as an introduction to the components of effective community engagement for member company coordinators. This series of workshops are ideal for those new to corporate community involvement, providing step by step processes based on delivering effective community partnerships. At the workshops we will hear from CR practitioners

These are the reasons why every business should think about sustainability

The Journal.ie talked to our Membership Services Manager, Bernadette Phelan, about what sustainability can do for business, especially SMES. Read on if you’ve missed it.

CSR Stakeholder Forum on the National Action Plan for CSR (March update)

In April 2014 The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Mr. Richard Bruton T.D launched “Good for Business, Good for the Community”, Ireland’s National Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility

Get up to speed with the latest energy saving technologies at SEAI’s Energy Show

Business in the Community Ireland and SEAI share a common vision to drive ‘Best in Class’ business practices in the area of sustainability.

Supporting Irish SMEs to be More Responsible and Sustainable

Business in the Community Ireland’s launches Responsible Business for SMEs Irish SMEs are now able to access a new service that gives them practical support and guidance with their responsible and sustainable business practices through the launch of a new service for SMEs by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI). Ireland’s only network for responsible

Awards to Recognise Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility Launched

Chambers Ireland yesterday announced that the application process for the 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards is open.

200th School Milestone Achieved by BITCI

On February 4th 2015, we launched our 200th partnership in the historic Aula Maxima Room of NUIG’s famed Quadrangle. The Schools’ Business Partnership programme has successfully partnered 200 schools across Ireland with companies to improve secondary level completion rates. Enterprise Rent-A-Car will partner Gairmscoil na bPiarsach, Ros Muc, through SBP’s Skills @ Work programme. Speaking at the

Procter & Gamble – MET Session on Wellness

The work place is one of the main stress inducers for most people and many employers are now providing their staff with training and tools on how to look after themselves and deal with the whole stress issue, it’s all about ‘wellness’. Schools are no different and can be very stressful places for both teachers

Innovation – Management Excellence for Teachers

Our Management Excellence for Teachers Programme aims to harvest the knowledge, skills and expertise of Ireland’s visionary business leaders by facilitating them in providing personal or professional development to whole school staffs. The programme creates the space for Ireland’s top businesses to share company and staff skills through workshops with a school staff on topics

Bank of Ireland launches inaugural responsible business report

Bank of Ireland has launched its inaugural Responsible Business Report. The report contains a detailed overview of the current initiatives and business practices that comprise responsible business in Bank of Ireland across five pillars: customers; community; colleagues; environment and governance. Speaking at its launch, CEO Richie Boucher stated: “While the report contains many interesting elements,

Three Joins The Schools’ Business Partnership

Three Ireland is pleased to announce its partnership with St. Joseph’s CBS in Fairview through The Schools Business Partnership programme. Already 24 employees have volunteered to deliver the Skills @ Work programme between January and March 2015. With three of the four sessions completed, the 36 students will now visit the Three offices on Sir