Additional Ways to Engage

Practical support for Ireland’s small and medium-sized businesses

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the Irish economy. According to the Central Statistics Office, SMEs account for 99.8% of all enterprises in Ireland and employ almost two-thirds (66.9%) of people working in the business economy, making them essential to Ireland’s economic resilience and sustainable future.

Business in the Community Ireland is committed to supporting SMEs with practical, collaborative and accessible sustainability support that reflects the realities of running a growing business.

Evolve: Future Ready SMEs

Our Evolve: Future Ready SMEs programme helps businesses build the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to respond to evolving sustainability expectations.

Developed with leading member companies, the programme supports SMEs to:

• Build sustainability capability
• Understand climate, nature and social impacts
• Prepare for emerging reporting requirements, including VSME
• Develop practical action plans
• Collaborate with larger organisations across supply chains
• Strengthen long-term business resilience

To date, the programme has supported dozens of SMEs through accredited Carbon Literacy training, expert guidance and practical sustainability planning.

Business Working Responsibly Mark

As our membership model evolves, we are expanding opportunities for SMEs to become certified with the Business Working Responsibly Mark, Ireland’s leading sustainability standard.

The Mark provides a recognised framework for continuous improvement across environmental, social, governance and economic performance, helping organisations demonstrate leadership and embed responsible business practices.

Supporting programmes that create lasting change

Business in the Community Ireland works with organisations that want to support and strengthen our flagship programmes, campaigns and events.

Sponsorship provides an opportunity to contribute to initiatives that are helping businesses build capability, accelerate sustainability action and create more inclusive workplaces and communities.

Opportunities may include support for:

• Flagship programmes
• National conferences and events
• Research and publications
• Leadership forums
• Education and employment initiatives
• Collective action campaigns

Through sponsorship, organisations help scale programmes that deliver measurable impact while demonstrating their own commitment to responsible business.