Objective 2: Responsibility towards...the Place we live and work
To engage every business to impact positively within its community.
Engaging with communities can provide companies with an insight into the hearts and minds of their employees, their customers and their stakeholders and so getting involved and making a positive impact on local communities is not only a fundamental part of being a responsible business, but part of a modern business approach to reducing risk.
Whilst the downturn has impacted on everyone, it has perhaps had a particularly severe impact on communities which were already disadvantaged, economically and socially. The need to engage businesses in addressing the issues facing their local communities is therefore greater than ever.
In Northern Ireland, the preponderance of small firms and their integration throughout local communities warrants special mention in this section. Business has a unique role to play in supporting small firms, helping young people develop and realise their aspirations and regenerating deprived areas to help build capacity, skills and optimism in the future.
Business in the Community has therefore identified three key components to promoting community regeneration through responsible business behaviour:
- Raising the aspirations and achievements of young people in schools
- Regenerating deprived communities
- Supporting the growth and development of small firms
Proposed Outcomes | Target | Example Activities |
| Young people’s career aspirations are enhanced and better informed | To work towards providing 20,000 quality work experiences – 50% for those from disadvantaged areas | Develop the Charter Work Inspiration programme to include a web-based placement management system to support young people schools and businesses |
| Better awareness and understanding of social issues amongst businesses | 100 companies involved in providing professional and business brokerage Mentoring support in disadvantaged areas | Identify and introduce new creative initiatives and programmes for private, voluntary and community sector interaction in areas of deprivation |
| Contribute to the growth of the NI economy | 150 organisations mentored and 600 introduced to the business benefits of CR | Development of the ESB Connections programme in partnership with other organisations |
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