Corporate responsibility

Corporate Responsibility (CR) is an inherent part of our business. As a firm we are committed to playing a leading role in achieving a sustainable future. This means that we are accountable for our actions and promote responsible business practices in the marketplace. We support the growth and development of our people and communities and we always seek to minimise our impact on the environment. We aim to embed Corporate Responsibility in all of our business processes and create a distinctive business in a responsible way. We're on a journey to make every decision and every day count towards a sustainable future.

In 2017, our commitment to working sustainably within our community was recognised by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), and we were awarded the 'Business Working Responsibly Mark'.

The Mark assesses best-in-class Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability and looks at areas such as ethics, employee engagement, innovation, environmental practices, supply chain management and engagement with the local community.

Corporate responsibility in PwC Ireland

Through our Corporate Responsibility Programme we leverage the talent, enthusiasm and generosity of our people across Ireland. It gives our people the opportunity to make a significant and lasting contribution to our community.

We encourage everyone to get involved. With PwC Ireland, you can step up, get involved and make a difference!

Community

Every activity PwC undertakes has an impact on the communities in which we operate. We always aim to make a positive difference to the communities in which we work and live and we empower all of our people to do the same.

Locally, we are involved with a number of charities and community groups and our people lend their time and skills to help these organisations.

People Giving Scheme

We have developed a scheme which allows our people to make tax-free donations to a selected number of charities which are voted by our people. These contributions work in the form of monthly payroll deductions. To date, over €600,000 has been raised by our People Giving Scheme for 27 different charities. Each year we ask our people to choose the three charities they would like to be the beneficiaries of the donations.

Localise

"The young people have really benefited from the project and also experienced the joy of learning alongside the volunteers from PwC. It is through working together with local business that communities can really grow and develop and this project has again showed us the power of collaboration and the importance of community services in action". — Derek Cleary, Director of Services, Localise

Together with Localise, a Youth and Community Development organisation, we have undertaken a development project with the 6^th class of St Laurence O'Toole's GNS and CBS, Seville Place, Dublin 1. A project team of PwC volunteers engage with local students to design and implement a Community Matters initiative that has a positive impact on their local community in the North Wall area. PwC volunteers work with the children to develop their project design and implementation skills and show them how to set out clear goals to achieve a successful project. The volunteers ensure the children learn more about the cause they are supporting and how a simple gesture can have such a positive impact on people's day-to-day lives. Some of the recent projects we have worked on with Localise include:

'Walk and Talk' fundraising event to raise money for local, mental health service The Oasis Centre
A table quiz for our staff in aid of local Autism Education Service, 'As I Am'
'Fun of the Fair' carnival-style fundraiser in aid of CanTeen, a charity offering support to teenagers with cancer
'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' fundraiser in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust, which saw our people undertake a virtual row of the Liffey in our Spencer Dock HQ

Junior Achievement

The Firm supports our people who take time out of their working day over a period of six to 12 weeks to deliver Junior Achievement educational programmes. Junior Achievement encourages young people to remain in education and teaches them the skills they need to succeed in a changing world.

Our volunteers teach students between the ages of five to 15 years valuable business skills that will stand students in good stead as they progress through education and beyond.

Santa letters

Each year students of varying levels of disadvantage from a variety of Dublin schools are encouraged to write letters to santa which are delivered to PwC. All of our volunteers are allocated a santa letter and a child to buy a gift for. These presents are in turn delivered to the children's school. This is an initiative which is very close to our hearts in PwC.

Camara

"We are delighted that PwC is our single biggest donor and is fully committed to the reuse of computers to improve education. Camara students receive a key skill for the 21^st century: digital literacy, as well as a hugely improved education. We need more organisations and individuals to take PwC's lead and insist that used computers are reused for education". — John Fitzsimons, CEO, Camara Education

Camara is a social enterprise dedicated to improving education in disadvantaged communities around the world through the use of technology. We are Camara's biggest donor to date having already donated 4,000 used computers to the charity. The computers have been refurbished and have resulted in improved education for over 50,000 children in disadvantaged communities in Africa, the Caribbean and Ireland.

Proud to be part of a network of Ireland's largest companies dedicated to CSR and sustainability.

Marketplace

The Leaders' Group on Sustainability

We are a founding member of The Leaders' Group on Sustainability, a business coalition dedicated to addressing sustainability priorities and future environmental opportunities for Ireland.

We are one of 26 leading companies, representing a workforce of over 90,000 people in Ireland, working collaboratively with Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) to address social, environmental and economic priorities in the marketplace.

One of the first actions announced by the Group is the Low Carbon Pledge – the first dedicated public commitment generated by Irish business to lead on the transition to a low-carbon economy and reduce Scopes 1 and 2 carbon-emission intensity by 50% by 2030.

We're also working together to remove barriers to social inclusion in Ireland by examining how Irish businesses can improve their processes and cultures to train, attract and retain marginalised and vulnerable people.

Workplace

In a competitive market, people are integral to an organisation's success. Building a positive workplace culture is key to PwC's high performance, innovation and agility in the marketplace. We aim for PwC to be a great place to work where everyone feels supported to achieve their ambitions.

We carry out a range of initiatives designed to create a better environment for our people. In addition to career counselling, coaching and mentoring, we have an established firm code of conduct and confidential grievance and ethical guidance procedures.

Boost

Boost is our employee well-being programme which enables our people to meet their personal goals. We run a range of initiatives centred on mind, body and life which cover everything from financial wellness to emotional resilience. Boost empowers PwC staff to take control of their health and happiness in a positive way.

Employee Assistance Programme

Our Employee Assistance Programme provides a free and confidential service for our staff and their families. This includes access to a free 24-7 telephone helpline, answered by highly qualified and experienced counsellors who listen in confidence to our people and help them get the support they need. Our counsellors are experienced in both personal and work related issues and offer support for a wide variety of problems including stress, anxiety, relationship issues and more.

Fitness centre

Our 24-hour Spencer Dock Fitness Centre includes state-of-the-art equipment, changing areas, lockers and showers. The centre hosts a range of fitness classes are held including circuit training, body sculpt classes, pilates and yoga.