ESG & social impact
Organisations are under growing pressure to demonstrate how they operate with purpose and evidence the impact they have on society. Responsible business practices -underpinned by robust data and accountability - are now fundamental to ESG reporting and public sector procurement. It’s no longer just a nice thing to do, but necessary for the future success of your business.
Volunteering can help make it happen.
ESG & social impact
Organisations are under growing pressure to demonstrate how they operate with purpose and evidence the impact they have on society. Responsible business practices -underpinned by robust data and accountability - are now fundamental to ESG reporting and public sector procurement. It’s no longer just a nice thing to do, but necessary for the future success of your business.
Volunteering can help make it happen.
Volunteering can deliver
Corporate volunteering is a powerful tool to help you achieve your ESG and social value goals. This guide explores how and outlines the measurable value for your brand, your people and your communities.
What is ESG & social value?
ESG - Environmental, Social, and Governance - refers to the standards used to assess a business’s impact on the environment and society, as well as its transparency and accountability. It spans everything from reducing emissions and advancing equity to building community relations and supporting employees’ wellbeing.
Social Value represents the broader contribution an organisation makes to society beyond its financial performance, measured through the initiatives and actions that enhance social and environmental wellbeing.
Today’s CSR landscape is increasingly shaped by frameworks such as the Government’s Social Value Model and the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) and ESG standards, all of which prioritise demonstrable, local impact.
Volunteering stands out as one of the most hands-on and measurable ways to meet these expectations
Why does ESG & social value matter?
ESG and Social Value matter because they drive compliance, improve access to public contracts and investment, enhance reputation and support long-term sustainable growth.
Investors increasingly consider ESG factors, and even if you’re not seeking investment, adopting an ESG framework can reduce risks, lower costs, enhance reputation, and attract new customers.
In the UK, the responsible business landscape is shaped by both mandatory regulations for large firms and an expanding set of voluntary standards and reporting frameworks.
Under the UK Government’s Social Value Model (PPN 06/20), Social Value is now a key part of public procurement, ensuring suppliers deliver positive social, economic and environmental impact through every contract.
Could your volunteering deliver greater outcomes?
What are the three components of ESG?
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Environmental
This aspect focuses on how businesses can reduce their impact on the planet across operations, products, and supply chains while adopting more sustainable practices.
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Social
This pillar is all about people. It’s how businesses shape society and workplace culture - by championing fairness, inclusion, and equal opportunity. From employees to supply chains and local communities.
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Governance
This area covers how a business is run -from decision-making and reporting to day-to-day operations. It also reflects the company’s ethics and how openly it communicates with stakeholders about what it does.
Volunteering can play a role across all three components - improving governance through ethical leadership and accountability, strengthening communities and workforce wellbeing and protecting the planet through eco-volunteering and conservation initiatives.
how volunteering supports esg and responsible business
Volunteering is tangible way to live your values and a measurable means to demonstrate impact in areas like employee wellbeing, community investment, and social impact.
87% of business say employee volunteering is important to delivering their company purpose and ESG goals
95% of people supported by our volunteers’ report feeling happier, and 88% feel more connected to their community.
These outcomes demonstrate the tangible benefits a corporate volunteering programme could deliver.
Royal Voluntary Service client survey, 2025
Volunteering & community service programmes
Corporate volunteering is one of the most direct and visible ways a business can put its values into action.
By engaging staff in volunteering, whether through one-off team days, individual skills-based opportunities, or longer-term partnerships, companies can:
- Show a clear commitment to social value
- Build community relationships and strengthen local ties
- Engage and motivate their workforce
- Demonstrate real and measurable impact
There are strong business benefits too. Research also suggests that employees who volunteer are more likely to stay longer with their employer. In fact, 30% of businesses told us corporate volunteering improved staff loyalty.
Corporate philanthropy & giving
Volunteering, when paired with financial support, can significantly amplify the impact for charitable organisations. Many effective purpose strategies combine hands-on involvement with financial contributions through approaches such as donation matching, employee-led fundraising, skills-based volunteering and grant making to charity partners.
Combining financial support with hands-on volunteering boosts employee engagement and demonstrates a genuine, long-term commitment to the causes your business cares about.
How volunteering supports your strategy
Embedding volunteering into your organisation helps demonstrate real-world impact both within your organisation and beyond.
- Builds employee engagement and loyalty
- Improve staff morale and wellbeing
- Boosts productivity through skills development
- Strengthens brand reputation and trust
- Offers evidence of impact for ESG and social value reporting
- Shows proactive investment in communities.
Social value & social impact initiatives
Volunteering delivers measurable social impact. From tackling loneliness and improving community health to increasing digital inclusion or mentoring young people, these outcomes contribute directly to your social value goals.
However, it’s robust data that transforms volunteering from a feel-good initiative into credible, measurable impact that stands up in ESG reporting and procurement bids.
Clear reporting on volunteering hours, activities and outcomes helps you:
- Demonstrate impact to stakeholders
- Strengthen ESG disclosures
- Improve your performance in public sector bids
- Showcase tangible change in annual or sustainability reports
The Impact Stack makes reporting and data capture easy
Community engagement
Consumers are four times more likely to purchase from companies they believe have a strong purpose, according to the 2020 Zeno Strength of Purpose study.
Corporate volunteering humanises your brand and builds trust. It shows your organisation is invested in people, not just profit.
Collaborative volunteering programmes also:
- Foster local pride and loyalty
- Help staff understand community needs
- Create positive word-of-mouth among customers and stakeholders
Let's get started
From programme refreshes to deep-dive diagnostics and strategic support, Royal Voluntary Service’s Impact Stack helps businesses embed volunteering into their culture and unlock measurable results.
Book your free discovery call and take the first step towards making volunteering a business critical system.