Employer Supported Volunteering

Employer Supported Volunteering

Employer-Supported Volunteering, also known as ESV and employee volunteering, often forms part of an organisation's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy. In ESV schemes, employers encourage their employees to get involved in their local communities by volunteering their time, their skills or both.

Volunteering in the local community is an essential part of life for many people and many businesses are involved in the community for philanthropic reasons.

Despite the growing pressure on resources which many small and medium-sized businesses face, an employer supported volunteering programme can bring considerable benefits.

Companies with employer supported volunteering programmes find that:
   •    Employees are proud to work for them
   •    Potential employees want to join them
   •    Customers feel good about buying from them
   •    Partners want to work with them
   •    Investors want to invest in them
   •    Local strategic partners welcome them to their area.

ESV can also benefit the employees (and ultimately the businesses) involved. It can lead to:
   •    Improved leadership skills
   •    A better understanding of how to respond to challenges
   •    A more inclusive and cohesive team
   •    New perspectives

Employer supported volunteering is continuing its rapid rise up the business agenda. Through a volunteering programme a business can make a real difference to communities in which it operates.

Whether as a company you support existing volunteering, or develop your own programme, employer supported volunteering can bring benefits to the company, the employee and the community. It is a win-win situation.