Business in the Community Ireland

Philip has been a part of BITCI’s Employability North service since 2024, and his journey is one of determination, hard work, and the power of inclusion. Philip, who has Down Syndrome, has always dreamed of building his independence through meaningful work. Thanks to the support of his incredible Job Coach, Frances, he was able to prepare his CV, practise for interviews, and boost his confidence—leading him to a fantastic opportunity at Deerpark/Howth Cookery School. But starting a new job comes with challenges for anyone. With Frances' guidance, Philip was given the support he needed to succeed, from breaking down tasks into manageable steps to helping his colleagues understand how they could best support him. The results? A thriving workplace and a confident, independent Philip who now opens Deerpark Cookery School each day. "I feel happy here, and I like my job. Everyone is nice to me," says Philip. Philip’s story shows how important the right support can be in helping people with disabilities build fulfilling careers. We couldn’t be prouder of Philip and his progress! 👏 Find out more about the EmployAbility Programme here: https://lnkd.in/dbGP-HwE #InclusiveWorkplace #EmployAbility #JobCoaching #WorkplaceSupport #BITCIEmployment #JobSeekers 

We’re delighted to have supported Collen Construction in selecting their new charity partner — the incredible LauraLynn, Ireland's Children's Hospice. When businesses take an inclusive, employee-driven approach to giving back, the impact can be even greater. Collen truly embraced this, inviting their people to have a say in choosing the charity that matters most to them. The result? A powerful partnership with LauraLynn, an organisation providing vital care and support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families. As Collen’s CEO Kara Stuart said, " Collen established a strategic CSR framework that adopts an inclusive approach, allowing employees to choose charities meaningful to them in the regions in which they work. Our staff selected the LauraLynn Foundation as their charity partner in Ireland. We are proud to support LauraLynn and their vital services for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Business in the Community Ireland provided valuable guidance in forming this partnership”. Kara Stuart, Evan H., Dawn Dwyer, and Jacqueline Wildish from Collen’s CSR Committee recently visited LauraLynn and presented a €15,000 donation to initiate the partnership, and plan to provide further support to the charity over the course of the year. We’re proud to help businesses like Collen forge partnerships that truly matter — this is a powerful example of how businesses can drive real change and make a lasting, positive impact. Find out more on how we can assist you in your social investment strategy:  https://lnkd.in/eGBxMTw7 #CommunityImpact #SocialResponsibility #EmployeeEngagement #InclusiveBusiness #CharityPartnership #GivingBack #CorporatePartnerships #Sustainability 

A key milestone in marking our 25th anniversary is we’ve just launched our Strategy for Impact 2025-2028 – a bold vision to drive sustainability and social inclusion in business. In a world facing climate crises, social divides, and shifting policies, BITCI is stepping up with a strategy that ensures businesses not only adapt but lead the way in building a net zero, nature-positive, and inclusive society. What’s at the heart of this strategy? ✅ Create compelling pathways for any business to thrive in a net zero economy and an inclusive society. ✅ Deliver a suite of offerings for SMEs addressing sustainability and social inclusion in value chains. ✅ Deliver sustainability and social inclusion initiatives that are recognised as best-in-class by our stakeholders and partners. ✅ Launch a flagship innovation, founded in Just Transition principles that integrates environment and social impact. ✅ Position collective action as a critical driver for positive societal and environmental impact. Championing and supporting business to continue their sustainability journey is more important than ever. Despite political uncertainty, the need for long-term action remains critical. BITCI will continue to set the agenda, innovate, and unite business for impact. We are proud of what BITCI has achieved in its first 25 years, and we’re excited to lead and collaborate with others to achieve all aspects of our new strategic plan. Find out more about BITCI’s Strategy for Impact 2025-2028 here: https://lnkd.in/e_mprTt9  #Sustainability #SocialInclusion #BITCI25 #CollectiveAction #JustTransition #SustainableBusiness #Innovate #Collaborate #Transform

Today we marked another successful year of our Student Mentoring Programme with a special graduation event at Griffith College Dublin. This year, the programme saw 23 partnerships with DEIS schools across Ireland, mentoring 194 students in 5th and 6th year. Through one-to-one guidance from corporate volunteers, students gained confidence, communication skills, and career insights—setting them up for success beyond the classroom. As Andrea Lazenby-Simpson, BITCI’s Head of Education, put it: “The continued involvement of mentors and mentees is a testament to the programme’s effectiveness. It’s incredible to see how businesses and students alike benefit from these connections.” With BITCI celebrating 25 years of championing social inclusion, it’s inspiring to see this programme growing stronger every year. A huge thank you to the companies, mentors, schools and students who make this possible! All the companies involved: KPMG Ireland, Horse Racing Ireland, ISS Facility Services Ireland, Siemens Healthineers, SSE plc, Bank of Ireland, Cornmarket Group Financial Services Ltd., Godolphin, Fáilte Ireland, Amgen, Maples Group, Gifts Direct, SuMi TRUST Dundalk, SuMi TRUST Global Asset Services, Northern Trust, Arup and Clearstream. And schools: CBS Westland Row, Curragh Community College, Drimnagh Castle SS, Fingal Community College, Glenart College, Cabinteely Community School, Stanhope Secondary School, St. Aidan's Community School, Kilkenny City VS, St Paul's Secondary School Greenhills, O'Fiaich College, Presentation Secondary School Warrenmount, St. Paul's CBS, Mount Carmel School, St Pauls SS Monasterevin, St Pauls SS Monasterevin, St. Joseph's CBS, St. Kilian’s Community School, Loreto College Crumlin, James's Street C.B.S. If your company wants to get involved in shaping young futures, we’d love to hear from you, find out how here: https://lnkd.in/ewXxV3hV #StudentMentoring #MentoringMatters #InclusiveEducation #SocialInclusion #BICTIEducation #BITCI25 

Our Summer Work Placement Programme serves as a powerful platform for students from Dublin North-East Inner City to give them insights into the working life, raise their career aspirations, offer access to diverse career paths and widen the students’ professional connections. Watch how the placement with Kennedy Wilson really supported Gabriele Adomviciut from Larkin Community Colleage.     Looking forward to summer 2025 placements. Learn more about the programme here: Summer Work Placement Programme – bitci Thanks to IPUT Real Estate Dublin and basis.point for funding the Summer Work Placement Programme. This collaboration is making a huge difference. #WorkPlacement #CareerOpportunities

What happens when corporate volunteers, local schools, and a shared passion for education combine? As part of Business in the Community Ireland’s Time to Count programme, pupils from Presentation Primary School visited Bank of Ireland’s Limerick branch — and they even had a VIP guest join them: John Moran Mayor of Limerick! Through Time to Count, company volunteers work with 3rd class students in DEIS schools to boost their confidence with numbers, strengthen their maths skills, and nurture their problem-solving abilities. And it’s not just about maths — it’s about building relationships, self-belief, and curiosity.   This visit was the perfect culmination of incredible first year of partnership between Bank of Ireland Limerick and Presentation Primary School, although Bank of Ireland volunteers deliver many of BITCI’s education programmes across the country. As Andrea Lazenby-Simpson Simpson, BITCI’s Head of Education, said: "As BITCI celebrates its 25th anniversary, partnerships like this remain vital to addressing educational disadvantage and achieving greater equity of opportunities." Thanks also to Tusla - Child and Family Agency, Department of Education — Ireland and An Post for funding this important programme. Find out more about Time to Count here: https://lnkd.in/eXtFAumA #TimeToCount #EducationMatters #CommunityImpact #SocialInclusion #EducationalEquity #FutureOfWork #Sustainability #EmployeeVolunteering

Since our inception in 2000, social inclusion has been core to the ethos of Business in the Community Ireland. Our commitment to create more inclusive communities is delivered in multiple ways. This includes working on a one-to-one basis with employers advising and supporting them to take a strategic approach to social impact, through inclusive employment and/or community engagement. Leading our collective action campaign Elevate – The Inclusive Workplace Pledge and working with diverse jobseekers and DEIS pupils to enhance their employment prospects. So much has been achieved to date but plenty more to do including the establishment of our Social Inclusion Advisory Council, whose inaugural meeting was held today. The group is drawn from a diverse set of stakeholders from community & voluntary, academic, government organisations. This Council will provide strategic guidance, share insights and enhance recognition of our work to ensure our programmes and initiatives are well-informed, inclusive, and sustainable. We are grateful to the members for their interest, commitment and engagement which will guarantee to improve effectiveness of our work as we roll out our new Strategic Plan. #SocialInclusion #DiversityAndInclusion #InclusiveWorkplace #StrategicLeadership #FutureOfWork #ElevatePledge

We’re thrilled to invite our Business in the Community Ireland members to the Members’ Network Meeting on Thursday, March 20, kindly hosted by Deloitte in Dublin. This in-person event (with a light lunch included) is a key milestone in BITCI’s 25th Anniversary celebrations — and you won’t want to miss what’s in store: ◾ Hear the latest market insights and member perspectives on the big sustainability issues for Irish business.  ◾ Learn how BITCI’s 2025–2028 strategy can support your ambitions and drive real change.  ◾ Share your thoughts on the evolving sustainability landscape and connect with like-minded peers.  ◾ See how BITCI is collaborating with government and key stakeholders to make an impact. Our excellent speaker line-up: ⭐ Dr. Matt Kennedy, Head of Client Transformation, IDA Ireland  ⭐ Oisín Coghlan, Chief Executive, Friends of the Earth Ireland  ⭐ Dr. Lucy Michael, Founder & Director, Lucy Michael Research, Training and Consultancy Event details:  🗓️ Date: Thursday, 20th March 2025  📍 Venue: Deloitte, Three Park Place, Hatch St Upper, Dublin 2  ⏰ Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm (registration & networking from 10am) This is a member only event. You can check out all our upcoming events here: https://bitc.ie/events/ #BITCI25 #Sustainability #Networking #Leadership #SocialImpact #SustainableBusiness #ResponsibleBusiness #IrishBusiness #BusinessLeadership 

We are excited to invite candidates to apply to join us at BITCI as Head of Advisory Services.      Full job description available here: https://lnkd.in/ePaGfNfR To apply for this role please send your CV and cover letter via email to careers@bitc.ie by Friday 28th March 2025.   Please mark the Subject Line with the relevant role, Head of Advisory Services. Interviews will be held at our office in Dublin 7 during the week commencing Monday the 7th of April 2025    #JobFairy #JobSeekers #JobOpportunity #Hiring #Careers #WeAreHiring #Sustainability 

Meet Gail Fitzgerald, Women@Work Programme Manager at BITCI As we approach International Women’s Day tomorrow, we’re proud to highlight the work Gail does through BITCI’s Women@Work programme. Over the past five years, this programme has supported over 220 women to move into meaningful employment or training — helping them thrive in careers shaped by their own aspirations. Gail’s passion lies in helping women rejuvenate their professional identity after a career break, connecting them with a strong network of women in business — a key driver in their return to the workplace with confidence and ambition. Gail’s insights and experience in encouraging women to take action by linking with key services and supports enables them to address life challenges with a solution focused approach. In her recent article, Gail reflects on the challenges women face in re-entering the workforce and why real action — like creating employment-led pathways and tackling the root causes of inequality — is essential. Beyond work, Gail has a love for the arts and reading — she’s even helped curate a collection of D&I literature for the BITCI bookcase. She also enjoys city breaks and exploring the beautiful lakes and nature walks of Fore in the midlands with her family. Read Gail’s powerful article on why we should move from empowering women to actually hiring them: https://lnkd.in/etn5ycKd #InclusiveWork #WomenAtWork #IWD2025 #SocialInclusion #BITCIEmployment #MeetTheTeam #JobSeekers #AccelerateAction #InclusiveWorkplaces