{"id":623900,"date":"2022-02-10T16:29:57","date_gmt":"2022-02-10T15:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/?p=623900"},"modified":"2022-02-10T16:29:58","modified_gmt":"2022-02-10T15:29:58","slug":"fa1-partner-pledge-good-for-the-world-good-for-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pulse.microsoft.com\/en-ie\/transform-en-ie\/na\/fa1-partner-pledge-good-for-the-world-good-for-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Partner Pledge: Good for the world, good for business\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

A topic very close to my heart is our Microsoft <\/span>Partner Pledge<\/span><\/a> . It is a statement of intent, which our partners commit to join us in using technology as a force for good. By signing they become an ambassador for digital skills and advocates for responsible and ethical AI. They commit to building a diverse and inclusive tech sector, and to being environmentally sustainable.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We strongly believe that when we make progress on these four areas, it’s not just a great impact for society but it is also good for their business.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While some partners commit to all four pillars of the Partner Pledge, individual firms naturally over-index in some areas. For Codec, they stand out for diversity and sustainability.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meet the partner<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Codec delivers transformative solutions to businesses across the full Microsoft stack. Set up in 1985, it now employs about 250 people across Ireland, Germany, Malta, Poland and the UK.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have an accelerated value creation (AVC) model, which is a defined process that enables us to de-risk project delivery and decrease timelines,\u201d explains Fiona Daly, chief financial officer at Codec.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Understand the commitments<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Supporting women\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fiona Daly<\/span> had been volunteering with the Irish not-for-profit Ruhama, which supports women trafficked into Ireland via the sex trade. She suggested to Codec’s senior leadership team in 2020 that the company could support the organisation with its bridge to work scheme.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since then, it has run workshops and training courses, donated laptops and engaged in fundraising. It has also provided mentoring to women supported by Ruhama and taken on two as interns, with one now a full-time employee.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Daly is quick to point out that Microsoft has sought to support this work wherever possible, investigating if it can also offer internships and connecting her with Microsoft colleagues in the US who can offer help and relevant resources.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Codec is also working on achieving the Diversity Mark and seeking to build a diverse, gender-balanced workforce through proactive intervention in terms of recruitment, retention and mentoring to support women moving into more senior roles.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re at the point where over 30% of our workforce are women and we\u2019re trying to get to parity by 2030, which aligns with the International Women\u2019s Day goals,\u201d says Daly, adding the company is also putting a menopause policy in place.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Focusing on sustainability<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Codec has multiple initiatives relating to biodiversity and sustainability, including:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n