MICROSOFT LAST night won the top award at the eighth annual Chambers Ireland Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards in Dublin. The technology group was recognised for the “sustained excellence” of its social responsibility programmes.
The CSR awards are designed to acknowledge commercial organisations’ efforts to have a positive impact on society through their operations. They are run by Chambers Ireland in partnership with Business in the Community Ireland, a network of more than 60 companies that give priority to corporate social responsibility.
The awards are sponsored by finance company Arvato.
Chambers Ireland chief executive Ian Talbot said last night that Ireland had an opportunity to “step out” as a leader in the field and to increase its credibility as a “first-class place in which to do business”.
As well as Microsoft, winners included pharmaceutical firm Abbott Ireland, which won the Best International CSR Programme and the Marketplace award.
Ulster Bank was recognised as Responsible Employer in the large indigenous company category in respect of its efforts to build a more “engaged” workforce.
In the multinational section of the same award, KPMG won for its Project Bright initiative, which encourages staff to become social entrepreneurs.
The Good Neighbour award was taken by Glanbia in the large indigenous section and by Aviva in the multinational category. Other winners included Marks Spencer, Intel Ireland and Bord na Móna.
