Business in the Community Ireland

Could your town or village do with a little help lighting up Christmas this year? Our member company Tesco Ireland has launched a new €100,000 Lighting Up Christmas Community Fund, offering funding to help communities across Ireland bring their Christmas plans to life. From putting up Christmas lights and decorations to organising local switch-on celebrations, many volunteers and community groups make a huge effort to make these occasions happen, and that work deserves support. Through the new fund, community groups and not-for-profit organisations can apply for up to €5,000 to support local Christmas lighting projects and related celebrations. It's a lovely example of how businesses can support community life, helping bring people together and giving towns and villages something to look forward to. Applications are open until Sunday, 1 November 2026, and communities across Ireland can apply, whether or not they have a Tesco store nearby. If you're involved in a local community group, or know someone who is, it's well worth taking a look. Find out more and apply: https://lnkd.in/dnzFQ__X #CommunityImpact #ResponsibleBusiness #Christmas2026 #LocalCommunities

Your vote could help a local community project secure funding! Voting is now open for the Lidl Ireland Green Fund, with €100,000 available to support community projects across Ireland working on everything from climate action and biodiversity to reducing waste, health and wellbeing. Developed in partnership with Business in the Community Ireland, the initiative attracted hundreds of applications from schools, charities and community groups across the country. Two projects in each county have now been shortlisted, with BITCI also supporting the judging process. And now it's over to you to help decide which local projects receive funding! Here's how to vote using Lidl Plus: ▪️ Complete the Green Fund survey in the app, select your county and choose your preferred project. ▪️Spend €30 or more in Lidl and scan your Lidl Plus card at the till to earn a completed stamp card. ▪️Submit your stamp card in the app and accept the competition terms and conditions. Voting is open from 15 to 22 October. There are some great ideas coming from communities across Ireland, and this funding could help local groups put those ideas into action. Learn more about the Green Fund and see what's shortlisted in your county: https://lnkd.in/dW7TyGfM #LidlGreenFund #CommunityImpact #Sustainability #ResponsibleBusiness

Bringing business voices to the forefront of EU water policy discussions. Today, we welcomed Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, for a roundtable with members of the Business in the Community Ireland network. It was an opportunity for businesses working across the food and drink, construction, utilities, technology and pharmaceuticals sectors to share their experiences, challenges and ideas directly with the Commissioner as the EU progresses with its Water Resilience Strategy. There was plenty to discuss. Ireland is facing growing pressure on water quality, supply and infrastructure, while businesses are also looking at how they can be more efficient in their water use, reduce their consumption and strengthen their own resilience. Our members shared examples of what's already happening across their sectors, including the investment in new technologies and approaches to water efficiency and reuse. The discussion also explored where EU policy, funding and greater collaboration could help businesses achieve more. Through Accelerate, the Business Pact for Climate and Nature, we see how closely connected water security, climate action and nature restoration are. Bringing those perspectives together, and ensuring business experience is reflected in policy discussions, is an important part of making progress. Thanks to Commissioner Roswall and our members Britvic Ireland, Diageo Ireland, Equinix, Cairn, John Paul Construction, Arup, PM Group, Uisce Éireann Irish Water and Servier Ireland for taking the time to contribute to such an open and constructive discussion. We look forward to building on the conversation. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dR68H6dV #WaterResilience #Sustainability #ResponsibleBusiness #EUWaterPolicy

For charities and non-profits, a cyber-attack isn't just about data being compromised or systems not working. It can lead to an interruption in the essential services we provide, make it harder to communicate with the people who rely on our services and support and affect the trust an organisation has worked so hard to build. And for the people and communities that depend on those services, the consequences can be massive.  The real cost of a cyber attack goes well beyond IT. This is where organisational resilience comes into play. It's about being prepared for potential disruption, knowing how to respond if something does go wrong and so you can continue supporting the people that rely on you. Cyber security is an important part of that. It's not simply an IT expense, but part of protecting an organisation's ability to continue to do its vital work. As part of Cyber Security Awareness Month, we're working in tandem with Radium Technologies on a three-part video series exploring the cyber security challenges that face charities and non-profits. In our second video, we look at the wider consequences of a cyber attack and why building cyber resilience matters for organisations of all sizes. Watch the video below. #CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth #CyberSecurity #OrganisationalResilience

Real opportunities start with meaningful connections. Business in the Community Ireland was proud to host its inaugural Employment Fair in Dublin, bringing together 17 employers and over 130 jobseekers for a day focused on connection, opportunity and inclusion.  The event supported jobseekers from refugee and migrant backgrounds as well as members of the Travellers community, people with disabilities and people experiencing health issues. These are participants of BITCI's employment programmes, including WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment, EPIC, Women@Work, EmployAbility and Traveller Employment Programmes.  Through meaningful conversations, networking opportunities and practical support clinics, jobseekers were able to connect directly with employers, gain valuable insights into recruitment processes and explore current and future career opportunities. A special thank you to the employers who participated and shared their expertise, many of whom are signatories of our Elevate: The Inclusive Workplace Pledge, demonstrating their commitment to building workplaces where everyone can thrive. We would also like to thank the ESF+, Department of Social Protection, Community Foundation Ireland and Rethink Ireland for their valued support in making this event possible. And thanks to Accenture, Aramex, Bidvest Noonan, Compass Group, Conaty Food and Catering Supplies, Cornmarket Group Financial Services Ltd., Dalata Hotel Group, Eason Ltd, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, Instantor, Intact, LinkedIn, Musgrave MarketPlace, Salesforce, John Sisk & Son Ltd, Tesco Ireland & Veolia. When barriers to employment are reduced, individuals, businesses and communities all benefit. We are excited to continue creating pathways to employment and fostering more inclusive workplaces across Ireland. Find out more about our Employment Programmes: https://lnkd.in/efacvNHg #EUinmyregion  #InclusiveEmployment #FutureofWork #SocialInclusion

How do we support more women to enter, stay and progress in Ireland’s construction sector? That was the focus of the first Constructing Equality Ireland Roundtable, which brought together employers, educators, community organisations and industry stakeholders with a shared ambition to create a more gender-balanced construction workforce. The format ensured all views, ideas and experiences were heard to inform how to achieve this shared ambition. While women represent over half of Ireland’s population, they make up just 10.9% of the construction workforce. Closing that gap is about much more than recruitment and effective HR policies. It requires a collective effort to challenge outdated perceptions, create more inclusive workplace cultures and ensure women can see clear pathways to long-term careers and leadership opportunities across the sector. Key themes from the discussion included: • Increasing awareness of construction careers among girls and young women from an early age including primary school.  • Strengthening education, training and early career pathways into the industry through more structured TY placements or internships or graduate programmes.   • Supporting the retention and progression of women already working in construction.  • Creating workplace cultures where women feel they belong and can thrive.  • Building stronger collaboration between industry, education providers, communities, careers services and government. Meaningful change will not come from a single initiative. It will come through sustained collaboration, practical actions and a shared commitment to creating opportunities, pathways and workplaces that work for everyone.  The insights gathered will help inform the development of a sector-wide Gender Equality Action Plan, to be published in 2027. This was the first Constructing Equality Ireland Roundtable, but it certainly won't be the last. Constructing Equality Ireland founding partners are AstraZeneca, Bord Gáis Energy, Designer Group, Dornan, John Paul Construction, John Sisk & Son Ltd, Jones Engineering, Kirby Group Engineering, Turner & Townsend and Walls, with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) and Women in Construction in Ireland (WICI) also represented on the Steering Group. #ConstructingEqualityIreland #GenderEquality #WomenInConstruction #ConstructionIndustry #Inclusion #FutureOfWork #BuiltEnvironment

For SMEs, sustainability needs to work in the real world. That came through strongly when we brought together the latest group of SMEs taking part in our Evolve: Future-Ready SMEs Programme with Bank of Ireland last week. The businesses in the room came from different sectors and different parts of the country, but many of the questions were familiar: Where do we start? What should we be measuring? What does sustainability reporting mean for an SME? And what practical actions can we take now? Together, we explored greenhouse gas emissions, introduced the VSME framework and looked at practical steps businesses can take to build sustainability into their plans. What made the day particularly useful were the honest conversations between the businesses themselves, sharing the challenges they’re facing, what they’re already doing and where they need more support. And this is only the start. Over the coming modules, the group will go deeper into VSME reporting and explore nature and social impacts, building towards a practical sustainability action plan for their business. This cohort is being delivered in partnership with Bank of Ireland, as part of this year’s Evolve: Future-Ready SMEs programme, delivered alongside our programme sponsors Bank of Ireland, ESB and SSE Airtricity. Thanks to everyone who took part and contributed so openly to the day. We’re looking forward to continuing the work through the upcoming online modules. Learn more about Evolve: Future-Ready SMEs: https://lnkd.in/dMDimJHe #Evolve #FutureReadySMEs #SMEs #Sustainability #ResponsibleBusiness 

We’re Hiring! Business in the Community Ireland is looking for a Sustainability Performance and Standards Manager to lead the development and delivery of the Business Working Responsibly Mark, Ireland’s leading sustainability certification and management framework. This is a senior role for someone with strong sustainability expertise who can combine strategic leadership with practical experience of sustainability standards, reporting frameworks and working directly with businesses. 📍 Sustainability Performance and Standards Manager  ▪️Dublin | Hybrid  ▪️Full-time, 35 hours per week  ▪️€59,000–€63,000 depending on experience The successful candidate will lead the Mark team, ensure a high-quality experience for companies going through certification and recertification, and help shape the future development and growth of the standard. Bitci We’re particularly interested in people with experience in: ▪️ Sustainability standards and reporting frameworks ▪️Working directly with businesses or in business advisory organisations ▪️Preparing organisations for, or auditing against, management system-based standards ▪️Leading teams and delivering high-quality programmes ▪️The wider Irish, EU and global sustainability landscape If you have deep sustainability expertise and are interested in helping businesses strengthen and demonstrate their responsible business practices, we’d love to hear from you. Read the full job description and role details:  https://lnkd.in/d63eipRF   To apply, send your CV and cover letter to careers@bitc.ie with Sustainability Performance and Standards Manager as the subject line. Applications close: Monday, 19 October 2026 #JobFairy #Hiring #SustainabilityJobs #DublinJobs 

Why would a cyber criminal target a charity or non-profit? It’s easy to think cyber attacks are primarily a concern for big businesses. But charities and non-profits can face very real risks too. They hold valuable information, rely heavily on digital systems to deliver their work and often have to manage competing priorities with limited resources. A cyber attack can therefore have consequences well beyond IT. At Business in the Community Ireland, we work with organisations to strengthen responsible business practice, and good governance and organisational resilience are an important part of that conversation. As a non-profit ourselves, it’s a challenge that’s relevant to our sector too. That’s why, for Cyber Security Awareness Month, we’ve teamed up with Radium Technologies for a short three-part series looking at some of the cyber security issues facing charities and non-profits. We’re starting with a simple question: why is the sector being targeted in the first place? Watch the first video below. Over the coming weeks, we’ll look at what a cyber incident can mean for an organisation and why cyber security should be considered part of good governance. #CyberSecurity #CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth #GoodGovernance #ResponsibleBusiness

A really useful day in Clogher this week as we officially kicked off our Cross-Border Careers programme with Business in the Community Northern Ireland. More than 40 people from business, education and government came together at Corick House Hotel & Spa to talk about something that matters on both sides of the border: how we help young people understand the opportunities available to them, while also helping employers build the future talent they need. The discussion was expertly facilitated by Mark Simpson, and there was plenty of honesty in the room about the challenges facing both young people and businesses in border communities. We also heard from Martin McVicar of Combilift, Sarah Abernethy of Encirc, Justin Kerr from the Department for the Economy, and @Sam Pearson from The Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, who brought different perspectives on skills, workplace readiness and local career pathways. There is a real opportunity here to strengthen links between schools and employers, improve access to local career opportunities and help more young people see a future for themselves in the communities they come from. We’re looking forward to building on the conversations from the day as the programme develops across the border counties. A big thank you Helen Bowman, Emma Morrison and Ruth Moore from Business in the Community Northern Ireland, and our own Mel Flynn, Alannah O'Dwyer, Fania Ellison, Miriam Magee and Kate Horton for all their hard work, and to everyone who contributed to the discussion. Find out more about Cross-Border Careers here: https://lnkd.in/d3DMfY-9 Cross-Border Careers is delivered in partnership with Business in the Community Northern Ireland and funded by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund. #CrossBorderCareers #FutureSkills #Education #Employment #ResponsibleBusiness