Business in the Community Ireland

Today is International Day of People with Disabilities – opportunity to celebrate, reflect and act to support people with disabilities to live their lives to the maximum. 1 in 6 people living in Ireland has a disability. Being in employment is a significant enabler as it reduces likelihood of living in poverty, improves mental wellbeing, reduces discrimination and aids social cohesion. Yet only 40% of people with disabilities are in employment and the figures vary significantly depending on the type of disability. BITCI’s Elevate, The Inclusive Workplace Pledge urges signatories to measure and disclose the profile of their staff and be proactive in taking steps to be a more inclusive employer. BITCI provides plenty of assistance and guidance to signatories especially when EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive is now in effect which expects employers to disclose the percentage of their workforce that has a disability. Learn more about Elevate: https://lnkd.in/eR935wdH Also the BITCI EmployAbility service works with approximately 200 jobseekers with disabilities or health issues per annum. The EmployAbility team can support diverse hiring by providing access to a pool of genuine jobseekers. The team also provide in-work supports to benefit both the employer and the employee and support the onboarding and integration process. Learn more about EmployAbility: #IDPD #InclusiveEmployer #ResponsibleBusiness

Happy Friday. Great day to celebrate the graduation of our 2024 EPIC participants. Kindly hosted by ESB, this event acknowledges the accomplishments of each of these refugees and asylum seekers as they navigate the job market in Ireland and become integrated into Irish society. The EPIC employment programme provides training on CV preparation, mock interviews and one-to-one career counselling support.  The success and uniqueness of this programme is the collaboration with government, businesses and community. This partnership approach to tackling social issues is high impact and positively impacts individual jobseekers and their families, the business community and wider society. This year’s cohort of over 220 participants came from over 50 countries, with Ukraine, Nigeria, Russia, Brazil and India being the post popular. So far, 56% of them have secured employment and a further 33% are involved in training or volunteering. Every participant brings their own skillset and experience, so the roles acquired vary significantly from Engineer, Administrator, Security Officer, Finance Manager and Healthcare Assistant.  Huge thanks to Accenture, Bidvest Noonan, BT Ireland, Deloitte and ESB for their continued support of the EPIC programme. They offer support in different ways including running career talks workshops on different types of roles, participating in mentoring programmes, hiring from this talent pool and financial support to BITCI to run the programme.  These companies understand the value of creating an inclusive workplace. Congrats to all our 2024 EPIC graduates and best of luck as your individual careers blossom.   #InclusiveWorkplace #Integration #EPIC2024

Our All-Ireland Climate Action Programme for SMEs really had a positive impact on those involved. Watch Orlaith Bermingham Senior Sustainability Manager at SSE plc, Michael Mc Cafferty, Operations Director, and Ciaran McCorry, Regional Sales Manager at Smart Save Utilities, share their experiences of how the programme supported them. With the support of SSE, a key partner with us in the programme, Smart Save Utilities has taken meaningful steps toward sustainability, including reducing travel times and identifying impactful actions within their operations. The Programme equipped Smart Save Utilities with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their environmental impact, demonstrating how small changes can create significant outcomes. Overall, the programme demonstrated how powerful supply chain decarbonisation can be when we come together. Through collaboration, upskilling, and empowering Business in the Community Ireland member companies and their suppliers, real progress can be made in reducing carbon footprints.     Find out more about the outcomes of the All-Ireland Climate Action Pilot Programme for SMEs here >>> https://lnkd.in/eXwvcKsH      #SMEClimateAction #AllIrelandClimateSMEs #SustainableSupplyChains #Sustainability #SustainabileBusiness #SDGs #GlobalGoals #ClimateAction 

We're thrilled to celebrate the ongoing success of the BITCI Time to GROW programme! Time to GROW connects Transition Year (TY) students from Dublin DEIS schools with meaningful work experience opportunities to explore career paths, develop essential skills and insights for the working world.   Thanks to the support of our funders, IPUT Real Estate Dublin through basis.point, we helped 120+ students secure placements last year! A highlight of 2024 was collaborating with Davy on the InspireHER TY programme which empowers young women by opening the door to finance careers and the diverse opportunities within the industry. With our strong school links, we helped enrol 30 students from 8 DEIS schools – a rich and rewarding experience for the students and the participating companies. As Orla Graham, Chief People Officer at Davy, shared: "It was a pleasure working with the girls. Wishing them every success, and perhaps some of them might join Davy in the future. Big thanks to Paula and everyone in BITCI." We’re always looking for new company partners. Find out more about Time to GROW and how you can help make a difference: https://lnkd.in/e2tBPqD4 #WorkExperience #EducationMatters #InclusiveEducation #BITCIEducation #InspireHER #TimeToGROW 

Watch Grainne Ross, General Manager of The Dylan Hotel in Dublin and Colette Shirley, Director of Sustainability, Corporate & Commercial at Bank of Ireland Corporate and Commercial share their experiences of BITCI’s All-Ireland Climate Action Programme for SMEs. With the support of Bank of Ireland, a key partner with us in the programme, the Dylan Hotel has strengthened supplier engagement and taken meaningful steps toward sustainability. This initiative has better equipped the Dylan Hotel to address critical questions about its carbon footprint and helped with a significant challenge for businesses—understanding Scope 3 emissions and identifying suppliers. Overall, the programme showed how powerful supply chain decarbonisation can be when we come together. Through collaboration, upskilling, and empowering BITCI member companies and their suppliers, real progress can be made in reducing carbon footprints.      Find out more about the outcomes of the All-Ireland Climate Action Pilot Programme for SMEs here >>> https://lnkd.in/eXwvcKsH       #SMEClimateAction #AllIrelandClimateSMEs #SustainableSupplyChains #Sustainability #SustainabileBusiness #SDGs #GlobalGoals #ClimateAction 

Hear all about Jasoor’s EPIC Journey!     Watch as Jasoor Muradi shares his inspiring story of overcoming the challenges faced by a job search in a new country, with the help and support of our EPIC programme. The EPIC programme empowers jobseekers by enhancing their skills, expanding their knowledge, and helping them stand out in the job market, unlocking potential and paving the way to meaningful employment.    Focused on career development and integration, EPIC supports unemployed asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants in Ireland with online training, individual career guidance, and partnerships with businesses to improve their job prospects.     We’re delighted this year’s participants will be having their graduation on 29th November, kindly hosted by ESB, celebrating impactful partnerships and inspiring success stories like Jasoor’s.     Find out more about EPIC here > https://lnkd.in/eNzwdA-N   #InclusiveWork #SocialInclusion #EPIC #BITCIEmployment #JobSeekers #EPICGrad24 #InclusiveEmployment 

We love sharing the incredible journeys of our members, and today we’re shining a light on those proudly certified with the Business Working Responsibly Mark! Hear from Annabel FitzGerald, ESG & Corporate Communications Manager at Energia Group, Jennifer Higgins, Customer Experience Manager at Cornmarket Group Financial Services Ltd., Sinead Smith, Head of Responsible Business at A&L Goodbody LLP, and Aine Murray, Head of Marketing, Communications, Corporate Responsibility and Bid Support at Veolia Ireland & Northern Ireland. They discuss the transformative impact of the Mark on their sustainability efforts, governance practices, and the reputational benefits of certification.  Business in the Community Ireland is delighted to see many companies using The Mark to go above and beyond compliance, placing all aspects of #EESG at the core of their business. Organisations with The Mark represent Ireland’s most mature, ambitious, and innovative leaders, committed to driving the transformation needed to tackle the sustainability challenge.  The Mark is independently audited by National Standards Authority of Ireland and awarded to companies that demonstrate a best-in-class commitment to sustainability.       Read more on the Mark here >> https://lnkd.in/ekFv_C5N #ResponsibleBusiness #SustainableBusiness #BWRmark 

Business in the Community Ireland is delighted to share the outcomes of its All-Ireland Climate Action Pilot Programme, aimed at supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in reducing carbon emissions. In collaboration with Business in the Community Northern Ireland, Bank of Ireland Group plc, Musgrave, SSE Airtricity, and 22 SMEs, this initiative delivered accredited carbon literacy training and tailored support to help participants develop effective climate action plans. The programme was delivered through a series of group workshops and one-to-one mentoring sessions, using a 'learning by doing' approach to deepen understanding of both the challenges and the opportunities available. Key findings and outcomes: ▪ Improved Carbon Literacy and Climate Knowledge: By programme end, 93% of participants rated their climate knowledge as good or very good, up from 72%.  ▪ Development of Climate Action Plans: Over half of the participating SMEs are now developing climate action plans, marking progress in actionable carbon reduction goals.  ▪ Supplier Engagement as a Key to Progress: Engaging with larger suppliers proved vital; companies that engage suppliers are 6.6 times more likely to establish climate transition plans, essential for meeting Net Zero targets.  ▪ Sector-Specific, Tailored Support Benefits: Tailored, sectoral approaches to supplier engagement were particularly effective, especially for the 40% of SMEs in the food and drink sector.  ▪ Positive Outcomes in Decarbonisation and Supplier Engagement: The programme saw increased supplier engagement and steps towards carbon reduction, building capacity and readiness among SMEs for sustainable business practices.    This programme showed how powerful supply chain decarbonisation can be when we come together. Through collaboration, upskilling, and empowering BITCI member companies and their suppliers, real progress can be made in reducing carbon footprints. Find out more about the outcomes of the All-Ireland Climate Action Pilot Programme for SMEs here >>> https://lnkd.in/eXwvcKsH    #SMEClimateAction #AllIrelandClimateSMEs #SustainableSupplyChains #Sustainability #SustainabileBusiness #SDGs #GlobalGoals #ClimateAction

We are delighted to welcome Jones Engineering to our network of over 120 companies. Jones Engineering is a global leader in mechanical, electrical, and fire protection services, with over 130 years of experience. Specialising in sectors such as life sciences, data centres, healthcare, and renewable energy, the company offers turnkey solutions, including modular manufacturing and offsite fabrication. Known for its innovation and commitment to sustainability, Jones Engineering supports complex projects worldwide, from design through to ongoing maintenance, ensuring efficiency and quality across diverse industries.    It’s great to have so many engineering and construction companies within our network and we’re looking forward to working closely with Jones Engineering on their sustainability journey. #SustainableBusiness #Sustainability #ResponsibleBusiness 

Business in the Community Ireland is delighted to be a partner for the upcoming ESG Summit Autumn, taking place on 20th November 2024 in Croke Park. The theme focuses on ‘Moving beyond compliance to becoming a truly sustainable business’ – a theme that resonates strongly with BITCI given our work to engage and challenge member companies to strive for continuous improvement.  A stellar line up of international and national speakers and panellists spanning different sectoral interests are planned. On the day, BITCI’s innovative SME pilot programme, research into sustainable capabilities among CEOs and the impact of our Elevate, The Inclusive Workplace, Pledge will all be discussed.  We encourage our members and others to attend and can use the discount code ESG 2024 BITC to get 20% off the entry fee. Simply click ESG Summit Autumn - Events to redeem your voucher. Find out more / book your place >>> https://esgsummit.ie/ #ESGAutumnSummit #ESGIreland #Sustainability #ElevatePledge #AllIrelandClimateSMEs #SustainableBusiness