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Corporate & employee volunteering: programmes that empower businesses and communities

Corporate volunteering, or employee volunteering, refers to structured programmes where businesses support their staff to give time, skills or energy to good causes. Whether through team volunteering days, pro bono expertise, or longer-term partnerships with charities, these initiatives unlock measurable value for people, organisations and communities.

When implemented well, corporate volunteering delivers on multiple fronts. Employees gain purpose and transferable skills. Charities gain capacity and expertise. And businesses build culture, attract talent, and make measurable progress on ESG and CSR commitments.

Over 140 million employee volunteering hours go unused every year. Unlocking even a fraction of that time can deliver enormous social value, while strengthening your business

What is corporate & employee volunteering? 

Employee volunteering can play a key role in demonstrating social value, contributing to public procurement goals such as those outlined in the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS 2023). With a well-structured programme, businesses can meet ESG standards, upskill staff, and deliver community impact — all aligned to national strategies.

  • A woman and man at a work meeting raising their hands

    What does Corporate Volunteering mean?

    Corporate volunteering is any structured programme in which an employer enables or encourages its people to contribute their time or skills to good causes. This can include volunteering during working hours, company-organised team days, or opportunities tailored to employees’ interests and expertise.

  • A group of volunteers working together wearing hiviz vests

    Can employees volunteer during work hours?

    Many companies now offer paid time off for volunteering as part of their employee benefits or CSR strategy. Known as employer-supported volunteering, this allows staff to contribute to causes they care about while on the clock. Policies vary, so it’s worth checking what’s offered at your organisation.

Benefits of corporate & employee volunteering 

A group of business employees supporting their local community

For businesses 

Corporate volunteering enhances brand reputation, supports community relationships, and helps deliver on ESG and CSR goals. Fully used, employee volunteering hours could add £32.5 billion in annual productivity gains to the UK economy.

Read more about the benefits for businesses
A volunteer supporting with young man with downs syndrome on a laptop

For employees 

Volunteering supports professional development and personal fulfilment. Our research shows that nearly half (46%) of businesses agree it’s an effective wellness benefit, and 44% say it has improved wellbeing across their organisation. Employees build confidence, expand networks, and often gain fresh motivation in their day-to-day roles.

A group of volunteers volunteering in a community garden

For the community 

Charities and grassroots organisations benefit from an influx of skilled support, capacity and energy. Business volunteers help deliver more services, reach more people, and build long-term community resilience.

Types of corporate volunteering opportunities 

  • A group of volunteers taking a selfie
    Corporate volunteering days & events

    Team volunteering days are a popular format, often delivered as one-off or recurring events, enabling employees to collaborate on meaningful activity. These can be in-person or virtual, providing flexibility for hybrid workplaces.

  • A employee volunteering by helping with a street clean
    Location-based volunteering

    Businesses can connect their employees with opportunities across all of the UK, including key hubs like London, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. Local placements often deepen community ties and maximise relevance for employees.

  • A man doing a volunteer shift while at work
    Pro Bono and skills-based volunteering

    Skills-based volunteering enables employees to offer expertise in areas like legal advice, digital skills, finance, or marketing. Pro bono volunteering is a specific form where professional services are provided at no cost, often in contexts where they would normally be charged. Both models deliver high-impact support while helping employees grow professionally.

How to set up a corporate volunteering programme 

Over 140 million employee volunteering hours went unused last year. So how do you build a corporate volunteering programme that truly engages your people and delivers results?

Find out about our Marketplace support
A woman sitting in a meeting at work and smiling

Planning & framework 

Start with a clear purpose: Do you want to boost employee engagement, support strategic causes, or align with ESG goals?

Key steps in programme planning:

  • Set KPIs: e.g. participation rates, hours contributed, outcomes achieved
  • Secure senior leadership buy-in to embed volunteering across teams
  • Offer a range of opportunity types to suit different working patterns
  • Develop policies on paid leave, registration and employee support.
A group of employees at a meeting

Platform & software support

Digital tools play a critical role in scaling and managing volunteering efficiently. Here are some of the most common types of support tools and platforms:

Employee volunteering platforms

Purpose-built tools like the platform, Benevity, Deed or YourCause offer end-to-end management, including opportunity listings, sign-ups, reminders, impact tracking and reporting. These are best for larger organisations or those seeking scale and real insight.

CSR & ESG software

Broader platforms like Submittable and Salesforce often include volunteering as one part of wider social impact management. Ideal for companies integrating volunteering with grants, donations and sustainability targets.

HR and internal comms tools

Tools like Workday, SAP, or Microsoft Teams can support internal promotion, time tracking and engagement campaigns, though they may need additional setup.

When choosing a solution, think about:

  • Size and distribution of your workforce
  • Hybrid/flexible access requirements
  • Data and reporting needs
  • Integration with CSR/ESG strategies.
A group of colleagues getting ready to volunteer

Building internal engagement 

Even the best-designed programme won’t succeed without employee buy-in. From our research, we know many employees are eager to volunteer but struggle to find opportunities that match their skills, availability and interests.

  • Identify internal champions to advocate across teams
  • Promote volunteering through existing communication channels
  • Recognise contributions with spotlight features or digital badges
  • Provide easy-entry options like micro-volunteering
  • Create a feedback loop to evolve the programme based on employee input

Done well, this helps volunteering become a natural part of company life, not just a one-off initiative.

Volunteering Marketplace 

Connect your business to the charities and causes who need you with our Volunteering Marketplace, where purpose-driven businesses meet ready-to-go opportunities.

Explore the Marketplace

Frequently asked questions 

Do you have to pay for corporate volunteering?

Most volunteering is free, but some activities may involve costs to the employer (e.g., materials or team day logistics). Businesses may also invest in technology or consultancy to scale and improve outcomes

Can you put volunteering as employment?

Volunteering isn’t employment, but it’s a highly valuable experience. It demonstrates initiative, social responsibility, and transferable skills. Many people use volunteering to explore new sectors, build confidence, or transition into new roles. Employers increasingly recognise its professional relevance.

Where are volunteers most needed in the UK?

Research shows the UK is experiencing a growing shortage of volunteers, making it harder for charities to meet rising demand. Demand is high, particularly in sectors like health and social care, community outreach, youth mentoring, and digital inclusion. Rural areas often face gaps in support due to limited infrastructure, while urban centres may see high demand from underserved populations. 

Why is corporate volunteering important?

It creates shared value for employees, employers and communities. Done well, it strengthens team cohesion, builds public trust and delivers measurable social impact  on local issues – all while aligning with business goals.

Read more about the benefits of corporate volunteering

Get started with Royal Voluntary Service 

Royal Voluntary Service partners with businesses to design, scale and deliver meaningful corporate volunteering programmes. Whether you’re building a new initiative or enhancing an existing one, we offer tools and expertise to help you succeed.

We do this through:

  • Volunteering platform:

    A digital solution for flexible role matching, volunteer engagement and impact tracking.

  • Diagnostic tool

    Strategic assessment and tailored recommendations to increase participation and social good.

  • Impact reporting

    Clear, KPI-aligned reporting to demonstrate outcomes and meet CSR/ESG goals.

  • Programme design:

    Bespoke volunteering strategies built around your business and values.

  • Team volunteering experiences

    Curated group activities with trusted charity partners.

  • Digital badges

    Milestone rewards to gamify and encourage employee engagement.

Ready to explore the possibilities?

Contact our Volunteering Marketplace team to find out how we can help you with your employee volunteering programme.