Corporate Social Responsibility Awareness Campaign
CSR Seminar for SMEs to Take Place in April 2006
Chambers Ireland is to launch a campaign to increase corporate social responsibility (CSR), particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Swords Fingal Chamber is introducing a Corporate Social Responsibility Award in the Fingal Business Awards this year. The Award, sponsored by Fingal County Council, sets out to recognise and reward companies who are implementing community supportive, environmentally sensitive and economically sound CSR initiatives.
The Fingal Business Awards are now underway and entries must be in by 21st March. The Awards will be presented at a Gala Awards Presentation Evening, hosted by Marty Whelan in the Great Southern Hotel Dublin on Thursday, 27th April 2006.
CSR - companies’ voluntary integration of social and environmental concerns into their business operations - is one of the fastest growing areas of concern for Irish business, increasingly becoming a basic expectation of customers and other stakeholders.
It has been shown to result in a number of business benefits, including: customer attraction and retention; increased brand value and reputation; attraction and retention of staff; better corporate governance; increased revenues; and improved efficiency.
Chambers Ireland has been working in the area of CSR for several years and hosts the annual Irish awards for corporate social responsibility – now in their third year.
Its CSR for SMEs campaign will commence with a seminar for SMEs on how they can integrate successful CSR programmes into their business activities.
Supported by the Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, it takes place on the 6th of April in the Radisson SAS St Helen’s, Stillorgan Road, Dublin 4 and speakers include:
• Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Noel Ahern T.D.
• Anne Heraty, CEO, Cpl on implementing good CSR practice into the workplace. Cpl, is long been established as one of Ireland’s leading SMEs in the area of CSR having been awarded several accolades for being a progressive employer.
• Tom Daly, MD, TSA Consulting on the developing joint approaches and CSR strategies with the community. TSA is involved in the development of several joint initiatives including Ireland’s first Local Economic Development Company (Waterford LEDC) - a CSR joint venture between Waterford Crystal and the Ballybeg Community Development Project.
• Olivia Dobbs, Corporate Responsibility Manager, Vodafone Ireland on customising CSR projects to complement the core values of the company and to help build on brand image. Vodafone was commended at the Chambers Ireland CSR Awards 2005 for its work with the Irish Blood Transfusion Board.
• John Curran, Group Environmental Executive, Musgrave Group on how environment-based CSR projects can go beyond the legislative obligations, promote greener economic growth and make good business sense.
• Seán Murphy, Director of Policy, Chambers Ireland on the business case for CSR and the growing expectations of customers and other stakeholders’ in relation to responsible business and corporate citizenship
Fingal Dublin Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Buildings, North Street, Swords, County Dublin, Ireland. T +353 1 890 0977 I F +353 1 890
0990 I E info@fingaldublinchamber.ie
