Kanchi and Telefonica have announced a unique global franchise collaboration which will see Kanchi’s Ability Awards rolled out across five countries around the world over the next five years.

As founder of Kanchi and the Ability Awards, which began in 2005 with the support of Telefónica O2 Ireland, Caroline Casey will co-chair an International Advisory group with Luis Abril, Secretary General, Telefónica SA. Through this unique vehicle, Telefónica and Kanchi will lead a world-first global business movement for 100% inclusion of people with disabilities by promoting the disability business case on a global scale while establishing best practice for the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities within business.

The first of the five international Telefónica Ability Awards took place in Madrid earlier this week at the Telefónica Spanish Ability Awards, in the presence of HM The Queen of Spain. Over 450 applications were received – underlining the huge interest from the business community around the opportunity that the disability demographic presents. Equally importantly, it demonstrates that the Ability Awards programme is a methodology that works for business. Although the other countries have not yet been selected, initial discussions have identified opportunities within Europe and Latin America in particular.

Commenting on the announcement, social entrepreneur and founder of disability organisation Kanchi, Caroline Casey, said “I can’t express how proud and excited I am that our global ambitions are becoming a reality. This groundbreaking partnership with Telefónica is testament to the company’s vision and the value business is beginning to place on the disability community. It also proves that innovation and entrepreneurship is alive and kicking in Ireland and still has the ability to set standards internationally.”

The first of its kind in the world, the O2 Ability Awards was first established in 2005 and since then over 100 organisations have been recognised for embracing diversity in terms of employing people with disabilities or targeting them as customers. O2 Ireland has supported the initiative from the very beginning. The development of the franchise collaboration model is a natural and progressive graduation of the relationship with Telefónica.

In the words of the chairman of Telefónica, César Alierta, the Ability Awards are unique because they “put people with disabilities at the centre of the value chain. The initiative goes beyond philanthropy, and empowers innovation through the creation of new sustainable business models that are able to meet their needs. Above all, the Awards demonstrate that, when you incorporate people with disabilities into the productive structure of any institution, you create value for everyone. We all end up winners.”

Kanchi positively promotes the ability and value of every person with a disability and challenges traditional stereotypes through innovative initiatives aimed at a wide range of stakeholders. Kanchi works with leaders in business, government and the media to accelerate change.

The Ability Awards is the first charity to have attracted grant investment by Enterprise Ireland and proves that Ireland still has considerable capacity to lead on innovation globally.

-ends-

For further information contact:

Kanchi
Kerryann Conway

Conway Communications

Tel: 086-8215246,  086-8215246

Telefónica O2 Ireland

Diarmuid O’Neill

Head of Public Relations

Telefónica O2 Ireland

Tel: 086 8542255,  086 8542255
or

Nuala Buttner

Q4 Public Relations

Tel: 085 1744725,  085 1744725

ENDS

About Kanchi (pronounced can-she)

Kanchi’s story began when its founder, Caroline Casey, a visually impaired social entrepreneur, trekked 1000km across India on an elephant called Kanchi. The aim of the journey was to positively change the way people think about disability, to motivate people to see the value and potential of difference. Kanchi, named after Caroline’s elephant, believes that disability is society’s elephant in the room – the thing we don’t want to talk about due to misunderstanding and fear of getting it wrong. Kanchi works to change that. It works to change the way we see and understand disability so that the 650 million people in the world with a disability are seen for their ability and value in society. Visit the website: www.kanchi.org. Ian Elliott is Kanchi’s Programme Director for the international roll out of the Ability Awards.

About the O2 Ability Awards

The O2 Ability Awards, created and managed by Kanchi, are the first business awards in Ireland for Best Practice of the inclusion of people with disabilities, both as employees and as customers. Examining all aspects of employment and customer service, the O2 Ability Awards recognise progressive attitudes in organisations that see disability and diversity as a corporate asset and key to success. The O2 Ability Awards Programme celebrates organisations and business leaders that think and act differently about people with disabilities; seeing an employee’s strengths and abilities over any disability and recognising the economic potential of making their products and services available to all customers. Visit the website: www.theabilityawards.com

About Telefónica

Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalisation. Its activities are centred mainly on fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both. The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts to 280 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth on strategy. Telefónica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4,563,996,485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. Visit the website: www.telefonica.com

On Monday, 8th November, Dermot Desmond and the leaders of 15 of the country’s leading organisations met to establish the Kanchi Network.

Pictured: Back row L to R: Liam Kavanagh, Frank Cronin, John Atherton, Tom Costello, Ger Cronin, John Kennedy, Cathriona Hallahan, Donal Balfe and Jonathon Smith
Front Row L to R:Dermot Desmond, Danuta Gray, Caroline Casey and Gar Holohan

The Kanchi Network will be THE business membership network committed to creating an inclusive business culture in Ireland through the disability business case.

The Kanchi Network, designed and created by Kanchi in association with the business community will provide all Irish organizations, regardless of size, industry sector or expertise with everything they require to become an “Ability Company”.

Like all Kanchi’s initiatives, the Kanchi Network is unique and innovative. There is no such business Network like this in Ireland and the timing could not be more relevant.

According to Casey, the 15 founding business leaders are involved not only because they recognise the role business influence plays in creating an inclusive Ireland but they have identified a business opportunity around this hidden demographic, which goes beyond rhetoric. “Ironically this recession has allowed the opportunity around the disability business case to be really understood. To compete in an economic crisis businesses are required to differentiate themselves in the minds of a sceptical and mistrusting consumer base. Engaging with the disability demographic as customers, talent and members of their communities is seen as this opportunity, as Green was several years ago.”

To illustrate this Caroline states that 70% of the entries to the 2010 O2 Ability Awards were first time applications from new organisations. “There are over 400,000 people with disabilities in Ireland which accounts for approximately 11% of the total population of Ireland (Census, 2006). The leaders meeting today recognise that people with disabilities are valuable customers, employees and members of the community and by recognising their contribution to our economy, will most definitely help its recovery” Casey stated.

Chairing the meeting today Dermot Desmond said “We must strive to create a culture that values diversity and actively promotes the interests of people with disabilities”. It was 10 years ago when Desmond introduced 14 business leaders to Caroline to discuss business and disability and from that meeting Kanchi was born and the principles that have underpinned the success of the Ability Awards and this new initiative – the Kanchi Network, were established.
It is the track record of Kanchi and the O2 Ability Awards that brings these new 14 business leaders together today so they can build on the success to date and create a critical mass of inclusive businesses that will in turn positively transform Irish society to recognize the value of everyone. 

When launched next year the Kanchi Network will be open to all organisations of all sizes, industry sectors and at all stages of disability policy development. Through networking, knowledge, tools, consulting, training and recognition provided by Kanchi and its partnerships with disability and business experts the Kanchi Network provides a unique forum that is practical, relevant and dynamic. 

The commitment and visible influence of Ireland’s most eminent business executives today is a powerful message that maybe finally disability’s time has come. Each of  the Founder members are demonstrating their leadership both personally and on behalf of their respective organisations which are contributing either financially or in kind to establishing the Kanchi Network.

Detailed below are the Founder Members of The Kanchi Network. Also there on the day was John Kennedy, CEO of Diageo Ireland, represeting the Arthur Guinness Fund, who are supporting the Kanchi Network and the Kanchi Standard.

• Ger Cronin, Divisional Vice President of International Operations, Abbott Vascular Clonmel
• Gar Holohan, Chair of Aura Holohan Leisure Group
• Jim Dowdall, Group CEO, Aviva Group Ireland
• Aidan Brady, CCO, Citi
• Donal Balfe, Vice President, Covidien
• Pat Cullen, Managing Partner, Deloitte
• Lionel Alexander, VP and Global General Manager of HP Manufacturing Hewlett Packard Manufacturing Ltd.
• Tom Costello, Managing Director, John Sisk & Son Ltd
• Jonathon Smith, Head of Marks and Spencer Ireland
• John Atherton, Managing Director, McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland
• Cathriona Hallahan, Managing Director of the EMEA Operations Center, Microsoft Ireland
• Danuta Gray, CEO, Telefonica O2 Ireland

Kanchi’s Media Partners and the Kanchi Network Media Founders are:

• Frank Cronin, CEO of Newstalk and
• Liam Kavanagh, CEO of The Irish Times

Photograph: Chris Bellew/Fennells

The Kanchi Ability Network will be the first business network in Ireland aimed at supporting business leaders to deliver value through the inclusion of people with disabilities in their organisations. The Network will enable Kanchi to reach many more organizations around the country and will be open to all companies, of all sizes and at all stages of their disability policy development. It will turn thinking into action, becoming a resource forum and essential tool to all organisations aiming to become champions of ability, valuing the talent and ability of people with disabilities. We will be launching this in the later quarter of 2010 and it has been supported by a grant from the Arthur Guinness Foundation and 12 Founder Company members.

If you are interested in the Kanchi Ability Network, please e-mail nicola@kanchi.org

But aside from George’s grumblings, the excitement and tension at the WMB was palatable. Kanchi’s and Ireland’s first social franchise, “the Ability Awards” was nominated for the Accenture WMB Big Idea Award. Nobody was more surprised than Caroline when she was asked to the stage to accept the Award from Marian Corcoran, Head of Management Consulting in Accenture. Winning this Award is such a wonderful recognition of all the hard work, dedication and passion put into creating and rolling-out the Ability Awards programme by everyone who has worked with Caroline and Kanchi over the last 10 years.

Everyone thanks their sponsors but this win is their’s also. It was over a cup of coffee between Danuta Gray (CEO of O2) and Caroline that really got the ball rolling in Ireland and led to the launch of the first O2 Ability Awards 5 years ago. With the support of Denis O’Brien, PricewaterhouseCoopers, FÁS, Newstalk, the Irish Times and RTÉ, Kanchi ran the 4th cycle of the O2 Ability Awards this year and they were a huge success.

Moreover, we were thrilled to witness the launch of the Telefonica Ability Awards in Spain this year. Against all odds, including the grounding of all flights because of volcanic ash from Iceland (who puts that in their project plan?!), Caroline and Ian trekked across Europe to help launch the Telefonica Ability Awards – what a proud and memorable day. Telefonica really do share and believe in Kanchi’s vision. (Yes, there was a man involved in making it happen!)

Finally, there would be no Ability Awards if not for those organisations that think and act differently in relation to people with disabilities. They really are the change makers and we would like to dedicate this Award to all the Ability Companies in Ireland and in Spain who have participated in the Ability Awards. Congratulations and well done!

Good luck to all the organisations who decide to follow their lead and take the first step on their journey to becoming an “Ability Company” – we look forward to meeting you along the way!

Kanchi is a not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to change thinking on disability by working with leaders in business, government and the media to accelerate change. Kanchi positively promotes the ability and value of every person with a disability and challenges traditional stereotypes through innovative initiatives aimed at a wide range of stakeholders. Kanchi’s best-known project is the O2 Ability Awards.

The Project Manager is tasked with managing all aspects and stages of the O2 Ability Awards 2011 in Ireland. This includes marketing all key stages of the programme, recruiting organisations to participate in the Awards, managing the short-listing and assessment of selected organisations, organising two judging events and the prestigious Awards gala ceremony. In addition, the Project Manger is responsible for liaising with all key stakeholders, including key sponsors, endorsers and judges and with TV, Radio and Newspaper Media Partners. The Project Manager will report to the Managing Director in Kanchi.

Candidates must have a minimum of three year’s relevant experience of managing large-scale projects, a third level degree and a project management qualification. Candidates also need to be experienced in influencing and working with senior management in the corporate and/or government sectors. Kanchi is looking for a results-oriented, proactive individual with a proven track record in meeting project targets.

Salary: €50k pa

For a detailed job specification, please go to the Kanchi website www.kanchi.org

If you are interested in applying for the role, please submit a covering letter and CV to careers@kanchi.org by 5pm Friday, 24th of September 2010.

Unfortunately due to the high number of applications, Kanchi can only contact candidates who are short-listed for an interview.

Kanchi is an equal opportunities employer.

Kanchi welcomes applications from people with disabilities.

Abbott Vascular and Cavan County Council were announced as overall O2 Ability Award winners, in the categories for Private sector and Non-Private sector respectively. The overall winner for a Best Small Company went to Kernan’s Eurospar, Donegal.

The Awards, now in their fourth year and created by disability organisation Kanchi, recognise organisations and business leaders that think and act differently about people with disabilities; seeing an employee’s strengths and abilities over any disability and recognising the economic potential of making their products and services available to all customers. Thirty-eight organisations were shortlisted as Ability Companies for this year’s Awards; who together employ 49,750 people in organisations spanning eight different sectors across 14 counties.

The 2010 category award winners included McDonald’s Drive-Thru, Ennis in the Customer Service category, EMC for Leadership and Waterways Ireland in the Environmental Accessibility category. Citi was named the Recruitment & Selection category winner with Dublin City Public Libraries & Archive winning in the Learning, Development & Progression category. Medtronic was named the winner of the Retention and Wellbeing O2 Ability Award.

Caroline Casey, Kanchi founder and creator of the O2 Ability Awards said: “When people are recognised for what they can offer or contribute they are valued and respected and in the current economic climate, recognising ability in business is more important than ever. One of the advantages of being an Ability Company is standing out from the competition, attracting new customers and being able to enhance employee and customer loyalty. Our Ability Companies are examples of excellence that other businesses can learn from.

We can and must continue to focus on achieving for all people with a disability an exciting future at work, packed with potential and facilitating the full development of their abilities. Organisations must see the importance of showing leadership and recognising ability and talent over disability. The purpose of the O2 Ability Awards is to provide an environment for continuous improvement and showcase excellence by organisations that champion change in the area of disability at work and in wider society.”

Danuta Gray, CEO, Telefónica O2 Ireland, said, “It is inspiring to see the wide spread of companies that are winning O2 Ability Awards. These are the organisations and business leaders that truly think and act differently, raising awareness, promoting leadership and encouraging best practice. It was also with great pride that we recently saw the launch of the first Ability Awards outside of Ireland in Spain, in partnership with our parent company Telefónica. Given the phenomenal success of the Awards here, it is now only right and proper that they are being sought after further afield, where I have no doubt they will be equally as successful.”

Presenting the award for the Private Sector, Mary Robinson said, “I am delighted to be associated with the O2 Ability Awards, an innovative programme engaging in an imaginative way with organisations and leaders throughout Ireland to promote the individual abilities of people who overcome significant challenges in their daily lives. It is particularly heartening that so many public and private enterprises continuously strive to recognise the abilities of people with disabilities and showcase the economic potential of developing accessible products and services for all.”

Senator Feargal Quinn was awarded the ‘Kanchi’ award in special recognition of his leadership in encouraging positive change and promoting business culture that seeks, respects, values and harnesses difference for the benefit of both business and society. Having won an O2 Ability Award 2005, Feargal Quinn has worked with and lent his support to several disability organisations, leading and influencing a vision that values difference.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, said, “These awards recognise how workers with disabilities can enrich the labour force and seek their full measure of success in today’s jobs market. I want to acknowledge the commitment shown by the Kanchi team in making the strong business case for the employment of workers with disabilities.

The leadership the Kanchi team shows is important in raising the profile of social enterprise and the contribution those with disabilities can make to the economic recovery project and the growth that we will soon experience again. These awards are widely recognised as demonstrative of high standards in the employment of workers with disabilities and employers across the private and public sectors value what they have come to signify. I congratulate the award-winners and I wish them continued success.”

Entrant organisations to the O2 Ability Awards underwent a four month in-depth assessment that examines all aspects of employment and customer service, conducted by disability management consultants and Kanchi’s assessment partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers. The Ability Companies were judged by experts in the fields of business and corporate affairs, disability management, equality management and by people with disabilities themselves, before the final winners were selected.

The first of its kind in the world, the O2 Ability Awards was first established in 2005 and since then over 100 organisations have been recognised for embracing diversity in terms of employing people with disabilities or targeting them as customers. Overall winners in the past include Aura Sport & Leisure, Mayo County Council and McDonald’s franchise at Shannon. The success of the O2 Ability Awards in Ireland is evidenced by the recent announcement in April 2010 that for the first time, the Awards will take place outside Ireland in Spain, supported by O2’s parent company Telefónica.

The O2 Ability Award for Overall Winner in the Private Sector was presented by Mary Robinson. The Non-Private sector award and Best Small Company award were presented by CEO, Telefónica O2 Ireland Danuta Gray and businessman Denis O’Brien. The six category awards were presented by former TV3 Presenter Lorraine Keane, one of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs and Dragon’s Den star Sean Gallagher, broadcaster, Claire Byrne, Irish soccer legend Packie Bonner, Senator David Norris, TV Presenter Grainne Seoige, former Miss World Rosanna Davison, TV Presenter Jenny Buckley, TV3 Apprentice winner Steve Rayner with fellow contestant Breffny Morgan, Niall O’Farrell owner of Black Tie and magician Keith Barry.

Caroline Casey and Ryan Tubridy

The pair will co-host the awards that see’s 38 organisations shortlisted for an O2 Ability Award, which recognises their efforts to champion change in the area of disability at work and in wider society.

Celebrating their 4th year, the O2 Ability Awards received entries from over 100 organisations that together employ 49,750 people, spanning eight different sectors across 14 counties.

Mary Robinson will be in attendance to present an award – three overall winners (one from the private sector, non-private sector and best small company), six category winners and the ‘Kanchi’ special recognition award will be presented.  Overall winners in the past include Aura Sport & Leisure, Mayo County Council and McDonald’s franchise at Shannon.

The Awards event will feature in a special documentary on the O2 Ability Awards broadcasting on RTÉ One on Thursday 13th May at 10.45pm.
 
The first of its kind in the world, the O2 Ability Awards was first established in 2005 and since then over 100 organisations have been recognised for embracing diversity in terms of employing people with disabilities or targeting them as customers. The success of the O2 Ability Awards in Ireland coupled with the ongoing support of Telefónica saw the Ability Awards launch in Spain in April 2010, a move that highlights Ireland is leading the way in changing the working landscape for people with disabilities.

Other guest presenters at the awards show include Chair of the O2 Ability Awards Denis O’Brien, Harry Crosbie, former TV3 Presenter Lorraine Keane, one of Ireland’s leading entrepreneurs and Dragon’s Den star Sean Gallagher, broadcaster, Claire Byrne, former Miss World Rosanna Davison, TV Presenter Jenny Buckley, TV3 Apprentice winner Steve Rayner, magician Keith Barry and former international Irish soccer player Packie Bonner.

And if you missed it last night ….you can catch it again on the RTÉ Player

Visually Impaired Social Entrepreneur brings Ability Awards to Spain

(L to R) Ian Elliott, Programme Manager, Kanchi, Luis Abril, General Technical Secretary, Telefonica S.A., Cezar Alierta President, Telefonica S.A., Caroline Casey, Founder, Kanchi, H.E. Justin Harman Irish Ambassador to Spain

Visually impaired social entrepreneur and founder of disability organisation Kanchi, Caroline Casey, today joined Ireland’s Ambassador to Spain, Justin Harman and César Alierta, Chairman of Telefónica, to launch the Telefónica Ability Awards in Spain, the first country outside of Ireland licenced to run the awards programme based on the O2 Ability Awards model created and operational in Ireland since 2005. The expansion to Spain marks the first franchise of the Ability Awards internationally and is an historic achievement for Kanchi, highlighting the strength and innovation of Irish social entrepreneurship.

The Telefónica Ability Awards, like the O2 Ability Awards, will recognise organisations throughout Spain for best practice in the inclusion of people with disabilities as employees, customers and members of the community. The auditing and benchmark templates created in Ireland will be used to assess organisations that enter the programme in Spain. Kanchi is currently in negotiations with several pan-European organisations to establish the Ability Awards programme in countries throughout Europe and beyond. The application process in Spain opens today with the first Awards taking place in November 2010.

Since 2005, over 130 businesses and organisations in Ireland including Superquinn, McDonald’s Restaurants of Ireland, Bank of Ireland, Kerry County Council, Aura Sport & Leisure, AIB Group, Eircom and Microsoft have been selected as O2 Ability Award organisations. Managed by disability organisation Kanchi, the O2 Ability Awards are the first business awards in Ireland for best practice of the inclusion of people with disabilities, both as employees and as customers. This year’s O2 Ability Awards will take place in Dublin on 12 May.

Kanchi founder, Caroline Casey said: “I am very proud that a small social enterprise like Kanchi from Ireland is leading the way on disability in Europe by bringing the Ability Awards to Spain. With Telefónica’s support and commitment, Spanish organisations will now have the opportunity to showcase best practice in employing people with disabilities and targeting people with disabilities as customers. The ongoing support of Danuta Gray and O2 over the past five years has opened the door for this fantastic awards programme to be rolled out throughout Europe”.

Ireland’s Ambassador to Spain, Justin Harman said: “I am delighted to be associated with the launch of the Telefónica Ability Awards, a ground-breaking Irish initiative now being implemented in Spain. In celebrating best practice and progressive attitudes to the inclusion of people with disabilities, the Ability Awards have been challenging individual organisations and indeed society as whole to see beyond any disability and to value individuals and employees on the basis of the unique strengths they bring. I would like to congratulate Caroline Casey and Kanchi on their work in developing the model for the Awards and to pay tribute to O2 for supporting the Programme in Ireland since 2005 and to Telefónica for becoming involved here in Spain.”

Speaking at the launch of the awards programme in Madrid, Chairman of Telefónica, César Alierta said: “The Telefónica Ability Awards demonstrate a firm commitment from Telefónica for the inclusion of disability in the world of business as it aims to give recognition to these companies and institutions that integrate people with disabilities, whether as employees, suppliers or clients”.

Danuta Gray, CEO, Telefónica O2 Ireland said: “It is with great pride that we watch Caroline and Kanchi launch the first Ability Awards outside of Ireland in Spain. The Awards, which we are very proud to have supported since 2005, have come a long way since then and given the success they have enjoyed in Ireland, it is right and proper that they are now being sought after further afield. Telefónica in Spain understands the enormous benefits that this unique initiative brings to their business, from an employee and customer perspective and ultimately from a business perspective”.

Fingal County Council became the first of the Ability Companies 2010 to feature live on Newstalk on Wednesday 24th of March. David O’Connor, County Manager at Fingal County Council, spoke of the “rigorous process” and praised the “very cleverly conceived” O2 Ability Awards. Mr O’Connor also revealed how the Ability Awards programme has provided “a coherent aim” for his organisation.

Cecilia Ronan from Citi was in the hot seat on Wednesday 7th of March. Ms Ronan, HR Director at Citi, revealed how the O2 Ability Awards programme brought “a huge sense of pride” to Citi, showcasing the overwhelming engagement in employee-led programmes on disability awareness. Citi employees have amazed Management, leading the organisation’s successful campaign to become a 2010 O2 Ability Company.

Be sure to stay tuned to Newstalk 106-108fm where Ability Companies will feature at least every Wednesday morning until the Awards ceremony on the 12th of May.

Follow Kanchi on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/Kanchi_Ireland