Supporting Irish SMEs to be More Responsible and Sustainable
Business in the Community Ireland’s launches Responsible Business for SMEs
Irish SMEs are now able to access a new service that gives them practical support and guidance with their responsible and sustainable business practices through the launch of a new service for SMEs by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI).
Ireland’s only network for responsible business has launched, Responsible Business for SMEs, a new service that supports Irish SMEs with their responsible and sustainable business practices. SMEs across Ireland can now avail of BITCI’s new Responsible Business for SMEs service which includes a website with free resources and business case studies, and a specialist one-to-one sustainability reporting service. The report service, available from €1500 and dependent on business size, provides a practical understanding of how ‘to do’ sustainability and supports SMEs to realise the full business benefits of their responsible and sustainable practices. The benefits of improving and reporting on sustainable practices for Irish SMEs include; inspiring employees, motivating communities, restoring the environment and enhancing brand reputation – all while boosting their competiveness. Among the first SMEs to sign up to the service include; Carambola Kidz, DHR Communications, Earth’s Edge, Fuzion, KDD and Tico Mail Works.
For the past 15 years BITCI has primarily been working with large organisations to manage measure and communicate their corporate responsibility practices. As part of BITCI’s vision to have all businesses in Ireland responsible and sustainable, they are now working with small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMEs). There are currently an estimated 230,000 SMEs in Ireland, representing over 99% of businesses in the enterprise economy. BITCI are active in the National CSR Stakeholder Forum established by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation which brings together both large and small businesses to create awareness and drive the business case for sustainability in Ireland. Today’s launch supports this vision of sustainable and responsible business practices for large and small enterprises and the economic agenda of national government.
Commenting on the importance of the service and the benefits for SMEs, Tina Roche, CEO, Business in the Community Ireland said:
“Given the fundamental importance of small businesses to the economy, it is vital that we safeguard their future. One of the best ways of doing this is by encouraging small businesses to embrace sustainability as a core mission, just as large companies are increasingly doing. BITCI’s new Responsible Business for SMEs service offers one-to-one support with sustainability reporting. Through improving and reporting on sustainable business practices SMEs can gain competitive advantage, strengthened company culture and enhance their brands.”
BITCI’s new Responsible Business for SMEs website www.rbsmes.ie further provides access to free resources and tools to help SMEs on their sustainability journey and best practice case studies demonstrating the benefits of responsible business practices are also available.
Editors Notes
Background to Business in the Community Ireland
Business in the Community Ireland is the country’s only network for responsible and sustainable business. We help companies measure, manage and report on their corporate responsibility. In addition, we run the Business Working Responsibly Mark, Ireland’s only certification for responsible and sustainable business practices and audited by the NSAI. We further facilitate responsible business practices in the workplace and the community with our three innovative social inclusion programmes. They leverage the power of business to address barriers to education and employment.
