Archives: 2019

BITCI & Basis.point launch Mentoring Alumni

In February, Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) with the support of Basis.point funding launched a new Alumni network for former mentors and students. The annual event was held in the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin 2 with all previous mentors and mentees invited. The aims of establishing the Alumni are to provide a forum for

Cornmarket Group pioneering education inclusion in Ireland

Cornmarket Group Financial Services is one of Ireland’s leading insurance brokers. They provide a range of financial services uniquely focused for public sector employees. Cornmarket is also one of leading companies supporting educational disadvantage in Ireland. They have been involved with Business in the Community Ireland’s (BITCI) since 2006 – on a number of our

The Skills @ Work Programme: A Student’s Perspective

By Marie Coady, former Our Lady’s College Galway student. My family’s working history is mostly made up of labourers, which made getting career information for someone indoors-y and bookish like myself difficult. Luckily, the BITCI Skills @ Work (S@W) programme enlightened me to the career prospects that would be more enjoyable and involve significantly fewer stains and

Company Insight: Muirgheas Griffin of Smurfit Kappa News Press

Muirgheas Griffin, Managing Director of Smurfit Kappa News Press gives insight into the company’s involvement with the Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) Skills @ Work (S@W) and Management Excellence for Principals programmes. Q1. What was it about the BITCI education programmes that initially appealed to Smurfit Kappa News Press? “Smurfit Kappa News Press has always recognised the importance of

Zurich Employees Inspire Young Readers

This year, Zurich Ireland is celebrating the third year of their strong partnership with St. John of God NS, Wexford as part of Time to Read. Principal of St. John of God NS, Liam Turner has praised the influence of the enthusiastic Zurich volunteers have had on the children involved: “As a DEIS school having positive

Student Work Experience – What’s in it for the Company?

Work experience is an integral part of any student’s education. It provides them an opportunity to reflect on their own development and gives exposure to career options, the work place environment and networking. But what’s in it for the company? Anita Power, HR Manager, Dulux Paints shares her views on providing Student Work Experience.

Time to Count goes Nationwide

“Opened my eyes to the community around myself, allowed me to develop skills I would never get the chance to develop within an office.” – Volunteer Dr. Eleanor Walsh, Assistant Manager & Time to Count, Programme Coordinator, BITCI gives an important update on our Time to Count roll out. Were you interested in numbers and maths

Focusing students for the Future

Like all good ideas, the concept for the Skills @ Work programme is simple, a business is matched with a local school and employees provide insight about their roles and work life to the students while also developing their own skills. Communicorp Media has been doing just this with Our Lady of Mercy, Secondary School,

Photo Captions- November 2018

Children from Glasheen G.N.S. Cork, discover new books in the library as part of the Time to Read programme. Flying high! KPMG mentors treat students from C.B.S Westland Row, Dublin 2 to a trip to Tayto Park as part of the Student Mentoring programme. Children from Queen of Angels Primary School, Dublin 16 look pleased with their Time

Abbott encourages Teachers towards STEM opportunities

Abbott recently held 3 STEM ‘Seeing is Believing’ days for local teachers in Sligo/Mayo, Longford and Do negal. They welcomed science teachers and guidance counsellors to their diagnostic facilities in Finisklin Business Park, Sligo; Lisnamuck, Longford Town and their diabetes facility in Lurganboy, Donegal Town. The one-day visit to each location is part of our BITCI STEM

Volunteer Viewpoint

Bronagh Duffy, Irish Life, has been involved with O’ Fiaich College, Dundalk through the Skills @ Work programme since 2014. What you did : We held a number of workshops to cover subjects like CV and interview skills, mock interview sessions and goal setting. The mock interviews stood out for me – for being able to

Student Mentoring Celebration 2018: Group Photos

 

Generation Apprenticeship

Paul Cremmins, Director, Suir Engineering speaks about his recent contribution to our Management Excellence for Teachers Programme. Paul delivered a seminar highlighting the many apprenticeship opportunities’ in the construction industry, in particular in Suir Engineering. This seminar was delivered to Guidance Counsellors in the South East region. In addition to this seminar Paul also established links

Celebrating 10 years of Partnership

In April, BITCI celebrated the remarkable achievement of 8 companies: Allianz Partners, Elavon, Horse Racing Ireland, IBM, IFS, Investec and Office Depot reaching a milestone of 10 years in partnership with their local school. Building long lasting and transformative partnerships is key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals. Keep Reading to hear some reflections from those involved: “The 10

Photo Captions- May 2018

Rosmini CS, win the Build an App Day Competition at Oracle, Eastpoint Business Park, D3. This day was a joint venture between Oracle and BITCI. John Donnelly, Country Manager, Oracle, started off the day by welcoming Marino College, D3, St. Josephs C.B.S, D3, O’Connell’s SS, D1 and Rosmini CS, D9. All school groups attended an innovation fair which was

The Pendulum of Mentoring in Limerick

Dr. Eleanor Walsh, BITCI reflects on what inspires volunteers to take part in the Student Mentoring programme. This programme has expanded in Limerick, thanks to basis.point funding and companies supporting their local community in this meaningful way. Thanks X Factor! When we go to talk to students these days about having a mentor there is very little additional

Giving the Gift of Reading

We speak to Paul Boland, Davy who returns to his former Primary School, O’ Connell CBS, Dublin 1 to take part in Time to Read. What has been a highlight of taking part in Time to Read for you so far?  The energy and enthusiasm in which the children, school and parents engaged with the programme and

Student Mentoring Celebration 2018

On Thursday 12th of April we celebrated the latest graduates from our Student Mentoring Programme. 96 students and 96 mentors from 7 schools and 6 companies, celebrated their achievements at the Law Society, Blackhall Place, D7 with Minister for Education & Skills, Mr Richard Bruton,T.D. This programme, partners School Completion Programme schools, mainly DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) with a local

80 ESB Employees give their ‘Time to Read’

Business in the Community Ireland is proud to partner with ESB for their fifth year in Time to Read programme. Eighty of their staff are volunteering in seven primary schools around Ireland. ESB’s participation again this year was marked by an event St Mary’s NS, Fairview, Dublin 3. Four other Dublin schools, as well as a school

Photo Captions – February 2018

Kildare Village volunteers with the boys and girls from St. Brigid’s Primary School, Kildare during their workplace visit Children from Breaffy NS, Castlebar picking out some books to read with their volunteers from Mayo County Council at their programme launch The boys of St Patrick’s BNS, Ringsend learning about the work of their partner company Arup during their Time to Read workplace

Endless Adventures at the Local Library

“The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library.” ― Albert Einstein By getting involved with the Time to Read programme, businesses give children the opportunity to learn and grow through reading. To ensure this continues long after Time to Read finishes, a visit to the school’s local Library is included in

Employee Empowerment

Volunteering is one of the most rewarding ways in which you can make a difference to the lives of others. Donating time and expertise to support projects of real value can be the most effective donation of all and can lead to a more empowered workforce.To demonstrate the positive impact Time to Read can have

Company Spotlight: Elavon

Elavon has been involved with Time to Read at two separate sites, Arklow, Co. Wicklow and Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin since the pilot in 2011. We wanted to find what the impacts and benefits on their involvement over the last six years.  We spoke with Maria Carroll, European Portfolio Planner EPMO, Elavon on why the company continues to