Leaders in sustainability and social inclusion

For 25 years, Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) have worked to inspire, challenge, and facilitate business to bring about a sustainable, low carbon economy, and an inclusive society where everyone thrives.

BITCI is a non-profit organisation. We leverage our extensive business network and depth of knowledge to build capacity, ambition, and leadership. We work with over 300 of Ireland’s largest companies to raise ambition in their approach to responsible business. Working with us helps them to build capabilities, collaborate creatively, and aim for ambition and transformation instead of compliance.

Our programmes and partnerships are designed to bring about measurable improvements in environmental sustainability and social equity. We work with companies individually and through our collective action campaigns.

Collective action campaigns

Elevate: The Inclusive Workplace Pledge supports businesses to build more inclusive workplaces by proactively profiling their workforce and taking action on key areas of workplace inclusion. Our 60-plus signatories represent a combined workforce of over 160,000 employees. By signing up to the Pledge, companies make a collective public commitment to social inclusion.

Accelerate: The Business Pact for Climate and Nature assists businesses to develop Climate Transition Plans that align with net-zero goals (see page 21). Our work with SMEs supports decarbonisation efforts through the supply chain.

Responsible business advisory

Our expert advisers work with companies to advance their clarity and ambition across all areas of responsible business – whether they are just starting out or are already leading the way. Through consultation, workshops, accessible tools, and models, along with facilitated dialogues, we ensure that we co-create and build capacity.

Our areas of expertise include:

• climate and nature;
• community engagement and social investment;
• workplace diversity and inclusion;
• governance and reporting; and
• ethical supply chains.

The business working responsibly mark

The mark is Ireland’s leading certification standard for responsible business. Third-party verified by the National Standards Authority of Ireland, it is the standard for sustainability that fosters a culture of continuous improvement, ongoing accountability, and leadership.

Education programmes

We connect businesses with DEIS primary and secondary schools across Ireland to deliver programmes that improve literacy and numeracy, provide career insights and mentoring, and raise pupils’ career expectations. Corporate employees participate through meaningful, skills-based volunteering.

Employment programmes

We support people from diverse backgrounds to access training and employment. A combination of personalised career counselling, CV, and interview preparation, as well as practical supports and advice is provided. By partnering with businesses, we create inclusive pathways into the workforce and connect companies with diverse talent.

BITCI brings together business, government, and communities to make a real difference in sustainability and social inclusion. BITCI: partnerships that help people and the planet.

W: www.bitc.ie