Archives: 2017

In Conversation with Nick Reynolds, CSR Adviser at BITCI

We are excited to be launching a new In Conversation Series with our very own CSR Advisers from the Membership Services Team who work with some of Ireland’s leading brands on their sustainability. We kick off this new series with our environmental expert, Nick Reynolds.

Business in the Community Ireland join forces with the newly opened UCD Centre for Business & Society (CeBaS)

Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI, the country’s network for CSR and Sustainability) today announced its partnership with the UCD Centre for Business and Society (CeBaS) at the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

Q3 Network Meeting Sustainability: transformation, innovation, collaboration

“Everyone is striving for independence but the future will be platform economies built on collaboration and interdependence” (David Erixon, Head of Digital & Customer Innovation, Ulster Bank) The theme for the Q3 Dublin and Munster network meetings was innovation, business transformation and collaboration for sustainability.

Measuring and validating what you do

According to Kenneth Daly, Marks and Spencer Ireland, the Business Working Responsibly mark is a robust measurement tool that recognised and validated everything they do in relation to sustainability for the company, the environment, their people and customers. Hear more in the short video.

KBC enables the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland to collect digital donations

Earlier this year, KBC Bank Ireland announced the Alzheimer Society of Ireland (ASI) as its new charity partner. Since then, KBC employees have been actively promoting and fundraising for the charity through a variety of means. Over 60 KBC employees took part in a gruelling Hub2Hub 600km relay across Ireland; 10 employees supported a care

Progressive Workplace Gender Transition Policy & Guidelines Launched by Dublin Bus

As part of its Equality, Diversity and Non-Discrimination Strategy, Dublin Bus has launched one of the most comprehensive and advanced Workplace Gender Transition Policy and Guidelines in the country. In July 2015 the Gender Recognition Act was signed into law which means that persons over the age of 18 years can self-declare their true gender

CSR Awards Highlights

September was an important month in relation to celebrating the fantastic CSR initiatives from businesses in Ireland. We would like to congratulate in particular the member companies that have received the Chambers Ireland and Business to Arts Awards.  

BITCI joins forces with Thrive CSR

New CSR software solution launched to help companies track volunteering and community engagement 12th September 2017: Employees want to understand the impact their company is making and this impact goes far beyond just euros on the bottom line. Almost all large companies have embraced Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability as a way of deepening
business working responsibly mark

How the Business Working Responsibly Mark can help with staff engagement

Last October fourteen companies were accredited with the Business Working Responsibly Mark. We asked one of the recipients, Ricoh Ireland’s General Manager Gary Hopwood, how did the Mark help their business. Gary Hopwood says the Mark has helped them greatly with staff engagement, amongst many other benefits.
business working responsibly mark

The most and least challenging issues facing companies when it comes to sustainability

Each year Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) analyses the areas that organisations find least and most challenging in the Business Working Responsibly mark questionnaire . The Business Working Responsibly mark standard, for responsible and sustainable practices, is based on ISO26000 and is open to any organisation.

In Conversation with the Head of Sustainability at Sisk Brian Handcock

International construction company John Sisk & Son have joined the network this year at strategist level. We are delighted to get to know their Head of Sustainability for UK and Ireland, Brian Handcock, in our monthly In Conversation piece.

Our Sustainability report 2016

Welcome to the 2016 Sustainability Report of the Community Foundation for Ireland and Business in the Community Ireland. This report has been prepared in accordance with the GRI Standards: Core option and uses the NGO Sector Disclosures. Currently we are the only Irish organisation to report using the new GRI standard format.

Intel to offer a number of scholarships to third level students

Monetary grant of up to €12,000, placement opportunity and Intel mentor offered to students as part of Intel scholarship program As thousands of students across the country this week receive CAO offers and look forward to the next chapter in their education journey, Intel is announcing details of their continued support of a number of  Women in Technology scholarships

Smurfit Kappa celebrates a decade of excellence in sustainability achievements

Smurfit Kappa has been building a sustainable future for a long time but ten years ago the packaging giant started formally measuring its sustainability impact.

IBM launches 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report

IBM has recently released their annual Corporate Responsibility Report covering 2016. Their reports – like their citizenship initiatives – are not simply lists of cash contributions to causes that complement their industry. IBM’s approach to corporate citizenship is, and always has been, far more complex, more engaged and more vested in sustainable outcomes than can be covered by

business working responsibly mark

CSR Certification based on ISO26000 assesses and certifies sustainable business practices

The Business Working Responsibly mark is a CSR certification which is based on ISO 26000. The Mark, audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), will assess and certify your responsible and sustainable business practices. It will provide your organisation with an assessment of how well positioned it is to address risks and opportunities
CSR Careers

Corporate Social Responsibility Adviser

We are currently seeking a CSR Adviser to join our high performing and diverse Membership Services Team to contribute to, develop and implement Business in the Community Ireland’s Development Strategy, particularly in relation to working with major companies on embedding responsible and sustainable business practices across the organisation.

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

Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) recently announced that services company OCS, 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 Ireland with

BITCI welcomes the EU Directive on Non-Financial Reporting

On July 30th 2017, new rules came into legislation requiring Irish companies to publish information on their policies in relation to Environmental Matters; Social & Employee matters; Respect for Human Rights; Bribery and Corruption; and Diversity in the Board of Directors.

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

Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) today announced that leading retailer Lidl Ireland 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.
Non financial reporting

EU Directive on Non-Financial Reporting signed into Irish law

Business in the Community Ireland has been informed by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation that the EU Directive on Non-Financial Reporting was signed into Irish law on July 30, 2017.

Ricoh Ireland’s newest Production Print employee

Being a responsible and sustainable business is at the heart of everything we do at Ricoh. With a presence in more than 180 countries, we constantly strive to positively benefit the communities in which we operate. In Ireland, one way in which we achieve that is through Business in the Community Ireland’s work placement programme.

Employees, your reputation army

At the Q2 Network Meeting in May, our Head of Marketing Moira Horgan, shared insights on why it is crucial to communicate to your employees about your sustainability efforts. Moira also provided tips on how to do so successfully:
sustainable procurement

ISO 20400 – the New Standard on Sustainable Procurement

ISO has published a voluntary standard on Sustainable Procurement – ISO 20400. This document provides good guidance for any organisation intent on integrating and embedding the principles of sustainability into their procurement processes and operations.

HEINEKEN Ireland announces urban greening community initiative

HEINEKEN Ireland has recently announced an initiative to bring communities together to create urban growing spaces that have a positive impact – socially, environmentally and economically.

Supporting the local community Bank Blitzes Backyard to help older people

On 14 and 15 July, Age Action and Bank of Ireland took part in the Great Bank of Ireland Backyard Blitz, which saw hundreds of bank volunteers swapping their calculators for watering cans and their spreadsheets for spades to give their older neighbours a ‘dig out’ in the garden. The gardening bonanza matched up bank

Corporate Responsibility in Action A&L Goodbody sponsors Writer in Residence at East Wall school

In June 2016, A&L Goodbody created a new three year partnership with Business to Arts to support and fund (€30,000 over the period) a new initiative called the Writer in Residence programme under the Docklands Arts Fund.
CoderDojo

Symantec and CoderDojo Coolest Projects

Symantec were delighted to be part of this year’s CoderDojo Coolest Projects event in Dublin in June. CoderDojo are a non-profit organisation who teach coding to kids aged 7 – 17. During the event hundreds of kids from “Dojo’s” around the world came to showcase one of the projects they have been working on, and

Go Green – How SMEs can save money

Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) looking to enhance their environmentally responsible practices was the audience for a recent seminar hosted by Business in the Community Ireland and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and supported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The seminar gave practical insights into how SMEs could reduce their environmental footprint by conserving water,

KBC Building Better Communities

As the Bank of You, KBC’s Sustainability programme aims to make a positive impact on the lives of our employees, our customers, our communities and society at large. At KBC we recognise and respect the importance of our role in society and through our sustainability programme we share our vision for better, brighter communities, support