Company News
May 21, 2025
GORM Launches the Unified Business Programme - Ireland’s First Intercultural Business Programme
GORM, an Irish-based intercultural consultancy and award-winning social enterprise, launches its Unified Business Programme on the World Day for Cultural Diversity. The initiative marks a major step in advancing cultural diversity and intercultural competence in Irish organisations, not only aligning with national strategic efforts for migrant inclusion such as the National Action Plan Against Racism, but also positioning cultural diversity as a driver of innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth.
With PTSB and EY already signed up to pilot the programme at the forefront, GORM seeks to empower businesses to become agents of unity:
“At GORM, our mission is to unify across cultural and social differences,” said Dr. Mamobo Ogoro, CEO and founder of GORM. “Businesses are not only economic engines; they are key pillars in building stronger, more inclusive communities. By embedding intercultural competence into their everyday practices, this programme equips organisations with the tools to recognise, value, and actively include the wide range of cultural perspectives within their teams. In doing so, we move from simply being diverse to truly harnessing the power of that diversity, to drive innovation, foster trust, and create cultures where everyone can belong.”
Empowering People, Strengthening Diverse Teams
The programme supports organisations to build inclusive, high-performing teams by equipping people with the skills to work effectively across cultures. Designed by social and cultural psychologists, the programme meets companies at every stage of their intercultural journey and offers tiered membership options from foundational awareness training to strategic transformation.
Intercultural competence is the ability to engage confidently across cultural differences. It strengthens organisational leadership, builds trust, and promotes cohesion in diverse work environments.
Benefits include tailored intercultural assessments, expert-led training, access to best-practice DEI and intercultural insights, and participation in exclusive masterclasses. Members also gain support from GORM’s network of cross-cultural specialists and access to flexible digital learning tools.
Why Now? A Distinctly Irish Moment for Inclusion
“With 420,465 non‑Irish citizens in the labour force in April 2022—reflecting a 21% increase since 2016 - migrant participation is reshaping Ireland’s workplaces and driving demand for inclusive leadership.” Central Statistics Office “According to the 2022 Census, 20% of Ireland’s residents were born outside the State - a significant demographic shift in recent years.” Central Statistics Office / The European Migration Network
With one in eight people in Ireland now from ethnically diverse backgrounds, intercultural competence has never been more essential.
Businesses are deeply connected to the communities around them. Intercultural competence helps teams engage across differences with empathy, innovation, and strategic action.
The Unified Business Programme positions companies as agents of unity and inclusion, embedding purpose into daily processes, building culturally responsive teams, and creating workplaces where diverse identities feel recognised and valued.
Pioneering Irish Businesses Step Up
EY and PTSB are early champions of the programme, demonstrating a commitment to inclusion as a strategic business priority. Their leadership offers a model for companies seeking to make a sustainable impact on workplace culture and community integration.
Melissa Bosch, DEI lead in EY said: "As Ireland evolves into a more culturally diverse society and navigates a full employment market, the need for awareness, sensitivity, and intercultural competence has never been more critical. At EY Ireland, we are really proud to have over 100 different nationalities represented amongst our 5,200+ people on the island of Ireland. We know that diverse teams and an inclusive culture can lead to more innovation, better decision making and ultimately drive enhanced business outcomes for our clients and for society.”
Ger Mitchell (Chief Customer & People Officer) said;
"At PTSB, we are committed to creating an open, inclusive, and trust-based workplace. With over 70 nationalities and growing, we know how important and valuable it is to not only embrace cultural differences, but to truly embed intercultural competence to benefit our colleagues, our customers, and the communities we work in. We’re delighted to support GORM and the Unified Business Programme to empower businesses to succeed and grow."
GORM invites other organisations to join this growing network of culturally conscious companies committed to building workplaces where everyone belongs.
About GORM
GORM is a multi-award-winning social enterprise dedicated to unifying across differences through intercultural education and media. Through its core pillars, elevating voices, enabling communities, and equipping leaders, GORM’s work directly supports Sustainable Development Goals by (4) Quality Education, (10) Reducing Inequality, and (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
For more information on the Unified Business Programme see here.
Contact info@gormmedia.com or join our waiting list here
GORM is an multi-award winning social enterprise on a mission to unify across differences and advance belonging for marginalised communities through intercultural media and education. Guided by evidence based methods such asBelonging Design Principles and Intercultural Competence Frameworks, GORM delivers its services to Elevate the voices of diverse communities through media, Enable Communities to tell their stories through community programme, and Equip leaders through evidence based intercultural consultancy. GORM aids in the sustainable goals of (10) reducing inequality and (16) Peace, justice and strong institutions.
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