Archives: 2016

Sustainable Supply Chain: Sodexo UK and Ireland supporting coffee farmers

This Fairtrade Fortnight Sodexo UK and Ireland is highlighting the importance of Fairtrade to support the livelihoods of coffee farmers in Peru who produce the beans for Sodexo’s Aspretto coffee brand. Sodexo hosts Peruvian coffee farmer Kim Reeves, Retail Category Manager Hot Beverages for Sodexo, travelled to Peru in August 2015 to trace the coffee

Ulster Bank and Young Social Innovators project gets underway and Ulster Bank Academy wins at the Irish Institute of Training and Development Awards

Ulster Bank launched its new three year partnership with Young Social Innovators(YSI) in January. Through its support the bank will be helping to ensure the continued success of Ireland’s largest social innovation programme where young people tackle the social issues facing them locally, nationally and globally. As the programme gets underway, twenty teams of students from around Ireland

Accenture Women on Walls Campaign

Accenture are delighted to announce the launch of Women on Walls.   The genesis of the idea came to Eithne Harley and Michelle Cullen during a visit to the Royal Irish Academy (RIA), one of Ireland’s foremost institutions for learning and academic excellence. Not a single portrait of a woman adorns the walls of the

On our CSR radar this month

To help you stay informed on all things CSR please find below a collection of recent national and international news items and reports that we have tracked and shared on social media during the month of March. CSR Europe launches Blueprint For Embedding Human Rights in Key Company Functions  (CSR Europe) The publication breaks down the embedding process into six different elements, describes trends for each and

Will your business stand up for biodiversity?

We’re launching a new infographic that calls on organisations to raise awareness of Ireland’s threatened biodiversity and take action to protect and enhance it. Whether you work for a tech giant, professional services consultancy, food manufacturer, public utility or pharmaceutical company, your organisation relies on the ‘ecosystem services’ we get from the natural world. Ecosystem

Improve employee engagement in your CSR initiatives: practical insights and advice

“Staff in my organisation gets involved in volunteering initiatives however I question whether they are truly engaged and motivated by the opportunities presented to them.” “I struggle to get staff to sign up to company volunteering initiatives.” “Company volunteering initiatives are always signed up to by the same staff.” If you have been responsible for

Chambers Ireland CSR Awards 2016 Application now open

The Chambers Ireland CSR Awards 2016 launch took place on March 10th in Ulster Bank, George’s Quay. Gerard O’Neill from Amárach Research spoke at the launch on The Trust Recovery: Implications for Irish Businesses. If you would like to read his presentation, you can download it here . Applications are now open and the deadline is 12pm

Tipperary, Clare and Limerick Record New Participation Levels in Schools’ Business Partnership Programme

by Eleanor Walsh, BITCI Dew Valley Foods and Teleflex are joining an esteemed group of companies who already are enjoying solid partnerships with schools in the region.  These are Marks & Spencer (Clonmel), Cook Medical, Vistakon, Carambola Kidz, Kirby Group, Limerick IT, Boots (William St), Analog Devices Ireland, Shannon Group and ESB (Kilrush). As spring of 2016

Photo Captions – March 2016

Engineers look younger every year – Arup, Cork host the boys from Sunday’s Well BNS Students from Moyne College, Mayo learning about communication skills at a careers fair hosted by Ballina Beverages Business in the Community welcomes children from St. Mary’s Primary School, Dorset Street for a wonderful workplace visit as part of the Time

These Boots Are Made for Caring

Anne Teresa Morgan, Boots Pharmacist Teacher Practitioner What is your role in programme? Company Coordinator What in your opinion are key success factors leading to an effective programme? The company having belief in the programme – feeling what they do really does benefit the students. To enjoy delivering the programme, and share the benefits of

St. Oliver’s Teachers Visit Irish Cement

Students from St. Oliver’s Community College in Drogheda have benefitted enormously from the link with nearby Irish Cement Ltd for the past eight years. Hundreds of LCA students have gained a unique insight into the word of work through the S @ W programme and a visit to the plant near Duleek is always a

Celebrating our 10 Year Partnerships

Celine McGrath, BITCI reflects… A very special event took place in Cork City on February 12th last week as 5 SBP partnerships celebrated 10 consecutive years of working together – where did the time go? Back in 2005 Cork wasn’t that different – lots of building work and traffic jams – but what happened in the

Kingspan Insulation Ltd & Castleblaney College

Spotlight On…Ms. Olivia Kennedy, Programmes Coordinator, Castleblayney College   Tell us about your contribution to The Schools’ ‘Business Partnership Our school was delighted to be twinned with Kingspan in Castleblayney to run the ‘Skills @ Work’ programme, organised by Kate Horton, BITCI. What does this mean for your school? The programme covers many of the Specific

Making Waves with the SFPA

The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) facilitate a unique experience for students to learn about Sea Fishing and Sea Food Sectors The Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) working with Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) have established Skills @ Work partnerships with three post primary schools around Ireland and work with senior cycle students in Colaiste Gleann

60 Seconds with Georgina Ireland – Laois County Council

What is your favourite part of the Skills @ Work Programme? I think the mock interviews are my favourite part. All students become equal in their nervousness and their fear of the unknown at this part of the programme.  In my experience, they all take something positive from it. Just to see the smile of

Materiality assessment in CSR & Sustainability: What is it and why is it important to your sustainability strategy?

Developing a materiality assessment was the topic of our recent Members Network Meeting where members of the network had the opportunity to experience, through a role play scenario, the process involved in developing a materiality assessment.

What was your favourite childhood book?

Black Beauty, Matilda, the Wizard of Oz… Can you remember your favourite book growing up? Thinking back to our favourite childhood book can bring back so many memories, growing up with these magical stories. Whilst they are now memories for adults, they are possible adventures and worlds to be discovered for so many young children

Learning for Life has been recognised as the best Back to Work initiative in Ireland by training and development experts

Diageo received the recognition at the National Training Awards, which recognises the very best in practice and excellence in learning and development programmes in the State.