Corporate Social Responsibility is the continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of their workforce and their families as well as of the local community and society at large. Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Chamber occupies a vital role in leading and developing business activity and growth in the Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Region.

Our promise “Advancing Business Together” reflects the Chamber’s member-centric approach in driving our members’ businesses forward and leading the successful growth of both the Chamber membership and our regional economy.

We understand that our commitment to our members is our most vital product and through the authentic relationships we create we are building better, stronger and more sustainable communities in the places where we work, live and play.

Responsibility and Accountability are issues we take very seriously here at Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Chamber. We seek to lead by example. Organisations who take such a lead in CSR tend to be leaders in everything they do.

Our promised positioning as ‘the leading business organisation for the promotion and development of economic and commercial activity in the Region’ is held in high regard and to this end we aim to be a leader in CSR and to lead by example for our 1200 member companies and our team.

Environment

Minimising environmental impact​

Dún Laoghaire – Rathdown Chamber of Commerce recognises that small steps can make a difference to the environment.

Below are examples of simple initiatives we undertake aimed at minimising our environmental impact.

  • We recycle paper, cardboard, glass, plastic, ink cartridges and food waste.
  • We reduce waste by having the default setting for printing to double-sided and issuing documents such as invoices via email where feasible.
  • We are mindful of our water usage and have introduced measures to reduce the water used
  • in our toilets and regularly check for leaks in our water supply.
  • We use energy efficient light bulbs across the majority of our premises.
  • We encourage our staff to use environmentally friendly transport to work options by providing the Cycle to Work

Workplace

Staff development & Training

We are cognisant of the importance of providing constructive feedback to our staff on their performance in order to support their development. Our annual Performance Reviews allow each team member the opportunity to reflect on his or her own performance, taking into account the feedback to work to continuously improve their contribution to the Chamber.

Each role has clear competencies associated with it and staff complete Personal Development Plans annually. Through this we identify any necessary training or up-skilling requirements which are formalised into an individual training plan for all staff.

Change Management​​

Our relatively small size facilitates open, frequent communication between staff.

We have a range of formal and informal channels to ensure robust two way communication throughout our organisation. These include white boards in our kitchen to share what’s going on in a particular week including birthday celebrations; fortnightly staff meetings; and an online suggestions box where staff can make suggestions or express concerns anonymously.

Marketplace

Customer Service

At DLR Chamber, we work as one team, collaborating with each other, our members and stakeholders to realise our vision of being the largest and leading Chamber in the country. Adding value for our members, both big and small, is our lifeblood so with each interaction we stake our reputation, both professionally and personally, by responding in a ‘can-do’ and supportive way.

We operate in a dynamic environment where we treat each other professionally and with respect so we are not afraid to ask for help, celebrate our successes, learn from mistakes and enjoy ourselves on the journey. In pursuance of the commitment to the above value statement our Customer Service Policy has been put in place to set out the standards of service which are expected from all employees of DLR Chamber.

We endeavour to give our members a voice by undertaking an annual survey of our members to get their views on our service offerings, events, training and other initiatives. Any feedback is reviewed and feeds into our business plans for the following year.

We also have members who act as Ambassadors for DLR Chamber – any member can approach these ambassadors confidentially to feed back any comments. The primary role of these individuals is to assist our members maximise their membership and make the best of the many networking opportunities that are on offer throughout the calendar year, as well as giving new Chamber members a “helping hand” to get started and build a strong network.

Supply Chain

In line with our overall mission we believe in supporting our local economy and therefore procure our goods and services where possible and practicable from local suppliers who are members of DLR Chamber.

Data protection

We are very cognisant of our responsibility to protect our members’ data. In addition, we exercise access controls for our CRM system