If your business is a great employer, is going ‘green’ or is an integral part of the community in which it operates, now’s the time to enter the 2015 Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland. Applications can be made online at www.bitcni.org.uk/awards. close on Friday 20 March 2015with the gala awards ceremony taking place in Belfast Waterfront Hall on Thursday 4 June.

The awards are run by Business in the Community and sponsored for the sixth year by Electric Ireland. They are open to firms here of all sizes and from all sectors. There are eight categories up for grabs in 2015:

· NI Responsible Company of the Year, sponsored by Allstate NI
· Resource Efficiency Champion, sponsored by WRAP
· Business & Biodiversity, sponsored by AES
· Employer of Choice, sponsored by Arthur Cox
· Employability Champion, sponsored by The Citywide Employers’ Forum
· Community Impact Champion, sponsored by firmus energy
· Education Partner, sponsored by Allen & Overy
· Marketplace Leadership

Chair of Business in the Community NI, Roy Adair, said: “These are exciting times for business. Despite a number of challenging years during recession and although we still have to face the worst of the public sector cuts, the power of business to be a force for good must never be underestimated. It is heartening to see businesses here holding fast to their determination, not just to do the good business but to go the extra mile and do the right thing by their people, the planet and in the places where they operate.

“With over 260 businesses now in membership with Business in the Community, we invite others to join us to make an even bigger impact in 2015.

“Our Awards celebrate companies who realise just how important their actions are to our society and I’d encourage all businesses to put themselves forward for recognition and to inspire other companies by sharing their stories.”

Niall Dineen, Head of Commercial at long-term Awards sponsor, Electric Ireland commented: “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Business in the Community in sponsoring these awards. For us, it’s extremely important to lead by example, being a responsible corporate citizen ourselves but also inspiring and encouraging businesses to keep on doing the right thing. We’ve seen through our work with Business in the Community in Northern Ireland that even small actions can reap huge rewards.

“These awards are the perfect vehicle for businesses to learn from one another and find ways to strengthen the economy together. I wish every company entering much success and I look forward to meeting the winners at the Gala Dinner in June at Belfast Waterfront Hall.”

Companies seeking recognition for their responsible business at a national level may be interested in the UK Responsible Business Awards, also run by Business in the Community. Find out more at www.bitc.org.uk/awards. Closing date is 13 February 2015.

To find out more, visit www.bitcni.org.uk/awards or call (028) 9046 0606.

Launching the 2015 Responsible Business Awards in Northern Ireland are (Front row) Lyndsey Mallon, Arthur Cox; Niall Dineen, Electric Ireland; Kieran Harding, Business in the Community; Rose Kelly, Allstate NI and Deirdre Timoney, Citywide Employers’ Forum. (Back row) Ian Garner, WRAP; Ciaran McCallion, Allen & Overy; Angeline Sloane, firmus Energy and Carla Tully, AES. Applicants can apply online now at www.bitcni.org.uk and must submit their entries by Friday 20 March. Winners will receive their awards at a gala event on Thursday 4 June