BITCI News

Press Release: New research uncovers barriers for Irish business on decarbonisation journey

BITCI News - Environment - Oct 13, 2020

  Data access, complex value chains, guidance and leadership buy-in cited as challenges Customer relationships, reputation and stakeholder engagement still seen as primary benefits   Tuesday 13th October: New research on the readiness of businesses in Ireland to fully reduce their carbon emissions shows that including Scope 3 emissions in a company’s footprint assessment is proving a


In Conversation with Riona Gilroy, College Proteins

Our In Conversation Series is back this October with Riona Gilroy, Business Development Manager at College Proteins. College Group is Ireland’s largest rendering company, they lead the way in innovative rendering practices with a team of over a hundred dynamic and highly skilled professionals. Please describe your role and responsibilities and how many years you have


business working responsibly mark

The latest version of the Business Working Responsibly mark certification

BITCI News - Leadership - Sep 29, 2020

We are excited to announce that we will soon be launching a new version of the Business Working Responsibly mark standard. This new version of the Mark will see significant process improvements for companies certifying and recertifying during the coming year. What is the Business Working Responsibly mark? The Business Working Responsibly mark is the top standard for CSR and


HEINEKEN Ireland publishes milestone Sustainability progress report

HEINEKEN Ireland has released its sustainability progress report. The report details significant reductions in the brewer’s carbon emissions, water usage and waste production in the decade since it began reporting under HEINEKEN’s Global Sustainability Strategy, Brewing a Better World. During that time, the Cork city-based brewer has cut its carbon emissions by more than half


559 individuals take on Eir Challenge in support of Special Olympics Young Athlete Programme

BITCI News - Community - Sep 23, 2020

Eir and Special Olympics Ireland (SOI) have worked together since 1985, making this the longest sustained corporate charity partnership in Ireland. Employee engagement is the major reason that the relationship is as strong now as it was 35 years ago. Seven years ago eir employees created a fundraising event for their charity partner, the purpose


Shaping the future of work

Shaping the Future of Work

New publication by the Leaders Group on Sustainability Worker of the Future sub-group As we emerge from the Covid-19 lockdown, business decisions are being made about new ways of working that could have lasting impact and, perhaps, unintended consequences. While many conversations are taking place, along with advice on the re-opening of the Irish economy,


Vhi and Irish Youth Foundation Join Forces to Launch Vhi Health & Wellbeing Fund

BITCI News - Community - Sep 17, 2020

Seven-time All-Ireland winner and social activist Philly McMahon joined Vhi recently for the launch of a new Fund established in partnership with the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF) dedicated to supporting young people’s health and wellbeing. The Vhi Health and Wellbeing Fund is looking to fund projects that are seeking to strengthen resilience in young people


SSE Airtricity partners with An Post to launch The Generation Green Home Upgrade Programme

BITCI News - Environment - Sep 17, 2020

Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport, Eamon Ryan TD has welcomed a new partnership between SSE Airtricity and An Post which will see 30,000 homes avail of energy efficient retrofits in the coming years. The Generation Green Home Energy Upgrade forms a key part of An Post’s Green Hub which provides a simple


Calor select Samaritans Ireland as first charity partner

BITCI News - Community - Sep 17, 2020

Calor Ireland is proud to announce that Samaritans Ireland will be the company’s first charity partner.  The Samaritans was chosen by Calor staff, following an extensive process which considered a number of leading charities. Through the new partnership with Calor, Samaritans can answer over 4,000 additional calls for help. The support could save people’s lives


Leading retailers and FoodCloud launch first national food appeal to support communities affected by Covid-19

BITCI News - Community - Sep 09, 2020

Four of Ireland’s leading retailers – Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and EUROSPAR – have come together to support a new food initiative by FoodCloud called ‘Food For Ireland’, to help meet the unprecedented demand on FoodCloud’s services from charities and communities across Ireland affected by Covid-19. FoodCloud has experienced a doubling in demand for its food


Perspectives on Transitioning to the “Next Normal”

BITCI News - Aug 25, 2020

The journey to the ‘future of work’ has no end point as we are in a constant state of change.  However, there are points of inflection where the change either alters course or is greatly accelerated.  The BITCI Worker of the Future Sub-Group was established in response to the need to develop a view on the responsible business approach to


DCU Centre of Excellence for Diversity Race Equality Hub

BITCI News - Aug 05, 2020

BITCI is delighted to support a  Race Equality Hub –  an initiative of DCU Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion, in collaboration with the African Scholars Association of Ireland (AfSI). It provides employers in Ireland with a range of practical tools and best practice guidelines to tackle racism and foster more inclusive practices in the workplace. The Hub includes a Race Equality Whitepaper


Virtual Volunteering part 1 How virtual volunteering benefits both your employees and communities

BITCI News - Community - Jul 06, 2020

The Covid-19 emergency and subsequent lockdown has meant that many Irish businesses have had to completely transform their CSR & Community plans for 2020. Despite this disruption, there is a compelling solution to this challenge that can ensure company volunteers can continue having a positive social impact while also helping struggling charities and vulnerable people:


Virtual Volunteering part 2: Case Studies & Tips for your business

BITCI News - Community - Jul 06, 2020

What are the types of activities that a company might be able to support through Virtual Volunteering? The possibilities are almost endless. Here are just a few short case studies of how BITCI member companies have used Virtual Volunteering to maintain their previous CSR activities and Community commitments – and to develop new initiatives. Virtual


irish business response

How can sustainable business practices help Ireland bounce back from this crisis?

BITCI News - Jul 06, 2020

AUTHOR: Johnny Meehan Adviser at Business in the Community Ireland

Last year Ireland declared climate and biodiversity emergencies in response to an urgent crisis. Before COVID-19 the way we worked and lived was unsustainable. The old normal was an economy where GDP went up but so did: carbon emissions; social inequality; the destruction of Nature; plastic pollution; food waste; time wasted in the daily commute;


Case Study: Musgrave’s strategic approach to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions

BITCI News - Environment - Jul 02, 2020

As Ireland’s leading food retailer, wholesale and foodservice company, Musgrave is well placed to support positive change in businesses, local communities and the environment. Sustainability has long been front and centre of Musgrave’s operations, becoming one of the first companies globally to embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals back in 2015. It has become a


Case Study: Arup’s commitment to the wider sustainability agenda

BITCI News - Environment - Jul 02, 2020

For the past decade, Arup has been actively engaged with the wider sustainability agenda. In 2013, it published its first annual sustainability report and began working with clients on the 100 Resilient Cities initiative, helping to build more sustainable cities and communities. In 2015, Arup enhanced its commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and


Case study: An overview of RTÉ’s commitment to the highest level of energy reduction and sustainability

BITCI News - Environment - Jul 02, 2020

RTÉ is committed to the highest level of energy reduction and sustainability. As Ireland’s public service broadcaster, RTÉ is subject to the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2009 – 2020, which looks for the public sector to “lead by example through strong committed action”. RTÉ takes this leadership role by progressing the sustainability agenda on


How SSE Ireland is enhancing the sustainability and decarbonisation of its business operations

BITCI News - Environment - Jul 02, 2020

SSE Ireland has a strong heritage of renewable electricity production and a vision to be a leading energy company in a net-zero carbon world. Being both a producer and distributor of electricity has resulted in SSE developing deep capability in a diverse range of low carbon solutions, ranging from onshore and offshore wind farms to smart


Communications in a Time of Crisis

BITCI News - Communication - Jul 02, 2020

On May 14th  we held our webinar ‘Communications in a time of Crisis’. The first half of the webinar was hosted by our Head of Marketing Moira Horgan, while the second half was hosted by CSR Advisor Maureen O’ Donnell. We heard from the following speakers: Vivienne Flood, Head of Public Affairs, RTÉ Barry Kenny,


Education in a Time of Crisis

BITCI News - Communication - Jun 25, 2020

On Thursday, May 28th we held the final webinar in The BITCI Webinar series, Education in a Time of Crisis. We heard from the following speakers: Dr. Aideen Cassidy, Principal, Beneavin De La Salle College, Dublin 11 David Coleman, Clinical Psychologist & Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Psychology, UCD Deirdre Kennedy, Corporate Citizenship / CSR Lead, IBM Ireland Cian O’Brien, Mayfield/The Glen Schools Completion Project, Cork Pia


Listen back to the Low Carbon Pledge webinar

BITCI News - Environment - Jun 15, 2020

On Friday, 5th June 2020 (World Environment Day), BITCI and PwC Ireland hosted the 2nd annual Low Carbon Pledge Report Launch. We launched the Low Carbon Pledge for business back in 2018. Over 50 leading companies in Ireland are now signed up to the Pledge and work collaboratively on solutions to address climate change. Last year, BITCI


EPIC programme goes virtual and helps participants during Covid19

BITCI News - Jun 11, 2020

Before the pandemic started, our EPIC training took place in our Training Centre in the Phibsborough Tower and most of our interactions with participants happened face-to-face. When the lockdown started, we decided to try to move the training and other services online, though we were not sure if we would be able to replicate the


Report shows Low Carbon Pledge companies cut greenhouse gases and calls for a green recovery from COVID-19

BITCI News - Jun 05, 2020

Dublin, Friday, 5th June: On World Environment Day, over 50 of the largest companies in Ireland, which have publicly committed to halve their direct carbon footprint between now and 2030, reported on their progress. They are signatories of Business in the Community Ireland’s Low Carbon Pledge. Business in the Community Ireland, the national network for


Supporting communities where AIB live and work

BITCI News - May 21, 2020

We have a long tradition of supporting our communities across the country, which is why we’ve committed to funding over €2.4 million to help accelerate Ireland’s effort to develop a vaccine through the launch of the new AIB COVID19 Research Laboratory Hub at Trinity College Dublin. In addition to this and as part of the AIB Together programme we have implemented further initiatives to support those


Employee Engagement in a Time of Crisis

BITCI News - May 13, 2020

On April 30th we hosted our third webinar as part of our ongoing series.The webinar, entitled ‘Employee Engagement in a Time of Crisis’, featured insights from Gillian McMahon, Head of Human Resources, BT Ireland and Amanda Johnson, Interim Director of People Success, RSA Ireland. Gillian discussed a survey BT Ireland conducted among employees to determine their engagement


irish business response

Community Engagement in a time of crisis webinar

BITCI News - May 05, 2020

On April 23rd we hosted the second webinar as part of our ongoing series. The webinar, entitled ‘Community Engagement in a Time of Crisis’, featured a  panel of guests from key NGOs who discussed some of our most pressing needs, including funding, food poverty, the digital divide and social isolation. We also spoke to two of our


BITCI and Google partner to offer free support to charities

BITCI News - May 05, 2020

Business in the Community Ireland have partnered with Google who are offering free support from volunteers in their Irish office to help you work online effectively. If you wish to sign up, Google volunteers will conduct a needs assessment with you to see what online services you require to move to working from home more


The role of sustainable business during Covid19

BITCI News - Leadership - May 05, 2020

On April 15th  BITCI CEO Tomás Sercovich introduced our new BITCI Webinar Series alongside our Senior CSR Adviser, Linda O’Sullivan. The ongoing webinar series explores, among other things, the links between sustainable business, CSR and the business response to Covid-19. As part of the first webinar, we discussed the global business response to the Covid-19


63 Companies in Ireland Contributed Almost €38 million and 341,856 hours to Charities and Community Groups in 2019

BITCI News - Apr 29, 2020

    In light of the outbreak of Covid-19, the Business Impact campaign for 2020 had been replaced with #BusinessResponseIRL to profile the amazing support that BITCI member companies are providing to their colleagues, customers, communities and suppliers in this time of crisis. However the impact made by BITCI member companies in 2019 is still something