BITCI News

Webinar Recording of Responsible Business in a time of Crisis

BITCI News - Apr 01, 2020

On this webinar recording you will: 1. Hear immediate insights on the business response to the crisis 2. Demonstrate the links between sustainable business and the response to COVID-19 3.  Receive tips and advice on engaging with your communities and charities. Read our key summary and top tips from this webinar. Join in our campaign and use  the hashtag  #BusinessResponseIRL anytime you see a great example of


irish business response

Top tips from “Responsible business in a time of crisis” webinar

BITCI News - Apr 01, 2020

During our latest webinar Responsible business in a time of crisis experts from our Membership Services team provided a series of key insights for businesses. Here are some of their top tips: Leveraging our Network for impact, Bernadette Phelan, Head of Advisory Services: Bernadette spoke about the power of the network and how we can work


Unprecedented times call on an exceptional business response

BITCI News - Leadership - Mar 24, 2020

AUTHOR: Tomás Sercovich, CEO, Business in the Community Ireland

The COVID-19 outbreak brings unprecedented challenges. A recent global survey shows the importance that business will play in this crisis, from being a trusted source of information,  to supporting staff, contractors, consumers and local communities, to being perceived as a key partner of Governments to team up and “play its part” in the solutions that will be needed.


Applications Open for Sustainable Business Impact Awards 2020

BITCI News - Mar 18, 2020

Chambers Ireland opened the Sustainable Business Impact Awards, the renamed Corporate Social Responsibility Awards, which celebrates the achievements of the business community in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The Awards recognise the meaningful and high quality-work from companies through different Awards categories, including Environment, Community Partnership (divided into Charity, Volunteering and Community Programme), Workplace, Marketplace, CSR


New Women@Work programme launched

In the run up to International Women’s Day, we are delighted to launch our new employment programme for women. Women@Work is for those who wish to return to the workforce or enter it for the first time by connecting with businesses. As part of our Inclusive Employer Blueprint, we run a number of innovative programmes


5 Easy steps towards a Zero Waste Office

BITCI News - Environment - Mar 02, 2020

The topic of Zero Waste has been around for quite a while but lately it’s become particularly important, driven by the threat of the climate crisis and the amount of plastic in our oceans. Reducing waste has risen to the forefront of our environmental consciousness, but Zero Waste isn’t just about that. it goes beyond


No room for hate speech in GE2020

BITCI News - Jan 27, 2020

Today (27.01.20) a community groups and civil society organisations have joined forces to call for respectful and informed campaigning from all candidates in the run up to the General Election 2020. The following letter was issued to newspapers today: Dear Sir/ Madam, Everyone benefits when the language of equality, inclusion and opportunity dominates the political


The untapped talent pool-how businesses are supporting social inclusion

Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) celebrated the latest participants to engage with their diversity and inclusion programmes at a special event hosted by Workday in Dublin. BITCI are the leading advisers on sustainability and CSR in the country and work with some of Ireland’s largest companies. Earlier this year, BITCI launched the ‘Inclusive Employer’


What is at stake in Madrid?

BITCI News - Dec 02, 2019

AUTHOR: Tomás Sercovich, CEO, Business in the Community Ireland

As world leaders, civil society and businesses head to COP25, it is critical to reflect on the background for these negotiations and what we can expect from Madrid in trying to agree on a credible roadmap for net zero. We still remember the words of David Attenborough at COP24: “If we don’t take action, the


Ensuring Good Future Jobs

BITCI News - Nov 28, 2019

The Worker of the future, in addition to the transition to a low carbon economy and creating inclusive societies, is one of the key focus areas of our Leaders’ Group on Sustainability. We recently contributed an opinion piece to the publication Ensuring Good Jobs for the Future developed by TASC and Carnagie UK. Our CSR


Tesco Ireland on going for the Business Working Responsibly mark

BITCI News - Nov 26, 2019

Pictured Kari Daniels, CEO Tesco Ireland and Ronan Murphy Chairman of BITCI Tesco Ireland recently achieved the Business Working Responsibly mark. We chatted to Lorraine Shiels Head of CSR and Internal Communications at Tesco about going for the Mark, the preparation required and the business benefits. Why did Tesco go for the Business Working Responsibly


Business leaders broaden carbon emissions cuts

BITCI News - Nov 13, 2019

    Business leaders today broadened significantly their pledge to reduce carbon emissions by including for the first time commitments on business travel as well as constraints on waste generation and water consumption. The low carbon pledge made by 54 businesses in Ireland will now incorporate some indirect or *Scope 3 carbon emission sources under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.


Tesco Aib Business working responsibly mark

Over 250 senior business leaders gather for BITCI’s Annual Sustainability Forum

BITCI News - Nov 13, 2019

The Mark is operated by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) and third-party audited by the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI). BITCI Ireland announced that two new companies achieved the Mark and 14 recertified in 2019 Over 250 business leaders attended the annual Business in the Community CEO Breakfast Forum at The Mansion House,


Circular Economy developments from the Irish Government

BITCI News - Environment - Nov 04, 2019

On October 18th, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform released a circular with guidelines intended to promote the use of environmental and social considerations in public procurement. It did so recognising “the public service must demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development and use its influence to persuade others of the changes required to reduce


Carbon management tips on how your business can transition to a low carbon economy

BITCI News - Nov 04, 2019

  By reducing your organisation’s carbon emissions you are playing your part in delivering not only a positive impact on the environment, but taking the first step to creating a more resilient business that is prepared for the climate challenges & opportunities that lie ahead. Sign-up to the Low Carbon Pledge and join businesses all over Ireland in


The Mark of a Great Company

BITCI News - Strategy - Nov 03, 2019

The 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer recently revealed that 75% of Irish people expect CEOs to take the lead on social change issues. Business in the Community Ireland has developed the Business Working Responsibly mark, the leading independently audited standard for CSR and Sustainability in Ireland.


Open Doors initiative marks first year and shares progress report

BITCI News - Oct 21, 2019

The Open Doors Initiative recently celebrated its first anniversary by recognising the substantial impact the initiative has made in addressing employment barriers for key marginalised groups since its founding in September 2018 . Business in the Community Ireland is delighted to have supported the establishment of this important initiative, working alongside BITCI member companies Diageo, Accenture, AIB and


Business networks in 24 countries pledge immediate action to halt the deterioration of Nature and the loss of biodiversity

BITCI News - Oct 15, 2019

Lisbon, 15 October 2019 – Today, during the annual Council Meeting of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), 24 CEO-led business organizations, and Global Network partners of WBCSD, representing about 2,000 companies, have launched the Lisbon Declaration, a joint initiative to support business action and commitment at scale towards addressing the challenges biodiversity faces today. A strong business voice


The Biodiversity Handbook for Business

BITCI News - Environment - Oct 11, 2019

Through our engagement with our member companies we found that many, no matter the sector they operate in, struggled to understand their role when it came to biodiversity and the impact they had. We saw this as an opportunity to shed a light on the role that business could play, by providing a framework to


BITCI to receive funding to support women returning to the workforce

BITCI News - Oct 08, 2019

We are delighted to announce that our Employment Team has been successful in securing funding from the Department of Justice and Equality and the European Social Fund (ESF) Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 for a new innovative employment programme “Women@Work” to support women returning to the workforce. This programme is part of


1000 job seekers and 20 companies expected to attend Migrant Expo and Job Fair as part of the Inclusive Employer Blueprint

BITCI News - Oct 03, 2019

3rd October 2019:  New Communities Partnership’s (NCP) Migrant Access Programme and Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) are hosting the Migrant Expo and Job Fair from the 3rd of October at the Technological University Dublin, Aungier St. Dublin 2. This fair aims to help migrants find good quality employment and help employers access talented people


In Conversation with Ian Anderson Group Chief Operating Officer Momentum Support

Ian Anderson joined Momentum Support in 2010 when Ireland’s economic situation and the Sustainability agenda were in a very different space. Over his almost ten years of service with the company, Ian has seen Momentum Support grow from strength to strength. The company supports public and private sector businesses of all sizes throughout Ireland and


Are the SDGs driving meaningful change?

2015 is a year we will all remember as the year of sustainability. In December of that year, 195 countries committed to the bold ambition of the COP21 Paris Agreement on limiting climate change and earlier in September, over 150 world leaders adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There were times of optimism about


What are the main barriers to the Circular Economy?

BITCI News - Sep 09, 2019

Our first article on the circular economy defined the term and discussed the context in Ireland. It’s a timely topic. A recently published Ibec study shows that while overall only 51% of their member businesses surveyed understand the term “Circular Economy”, a much higher percentage (71%) of companies employing more than 100 employees and 78% of companies


Our CEO Tomás Sercovich to speak at Caring in Business conference

BITCI News - Sep 09, 2019

  ‘Caring In Business – Where Technology Meets Humanity’ is a niche platform highlighting the positive impact tech leadership can have on the world around us – in the workplace, in the community and on the environment. This one day conference on Thursday 26th September at Conrad Hotel, Dublin brings together leaders in the tech sector


9 tips to make your sustainability collaboration a success

BITCI News - Leadership - Sep 09, 2019

Our Head of Advisory services Bernadette Phelan was recently featured in the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Panorama, a platform providing insights and looking at sustainability from a different perspective.


In Conversation with Barbara-Anne Richardson Sustainability and Communications Manager at HEINEKEN Ireland

This month we are thrilled to introduce you to Barbara-Anne Richardson, the Sustainability and Communications Manager at HEINEKEN Ireland. Read about Barbara-Anne’s career, how she stays inspired whilst also learning the fascinating sustainability journey of HEINEKEN Ireland.


What is the Circular Economy? BITCI explains

You might have heard the term “Circular Economy” and wondered what it means. It’s a fairly recent term meant to encompass a number of initiatives, philosophies, and movements (Cradle to Cradle, biomimicry, blue economy, regenerative design and others) that have been ongoing from the 1970s [1] . It’s based on the idea that the Earth has


In Conversation with Penny Bryant, Director of Communications & CSR at Fidelity Investments

In our In Conversation Series we get to know the sustainability and corporate responsibility leaders from some of Ireland’s top businesses. This month please meet Penny Bryant, Director of Communications and CSR at Fidelity Investments. Please describe your role and responsibilities and how many years you have been in the company I oversee Communications and


Low Carbon Pledge recognised in the All of Government Action Plan as key engagement tool for collective action

BITCI News - Leadership - Jun 17, 2019

Business in the Community Ireland welcomes the adoption of the All of Government Action Plan on Climate Disruption as a decisive and coherent set of policies that will prepare Ireland to become a significant player at European and international level on adapting to climate change. In particular we welcome the approach to systemic change proposed by the Action Plan, placing a focus on