Business leaders, HR professionals and community partners recently came together for the event Corporate Volunteering as a Driver of Economic Growth, hosted at Leicestershire Cares, to explore how businesses can support communities while strengthening their own organisations. The event formed part of the wider Leicestershire Innovation Festival, a county-wide celebration of new ideas, collaboration and business growth. Bringing together organisations from across sectors, the festival showcases how innovation can drive productivity, support skills development and strengthen the regional economy. Within this broader programme, the focus on corporate volunteering highlighted the growing recognition that innovation is not only about technology and processes, but also about people, partnerships and creating meaningful social impact.
The session brought together organisations from across the region to discuss how volunteering programmes are increasingly being recognised not only as a way to give back, but also as a strategic tool for business development, workforce skills and long-term economic resilience.
Throughout the event, attendees heard how structured corporate volunteering can deliver significant benefits for businesses. These include improved employee engagement, stronger team cohesion and opportunities for staff to develop valuable leadership, communication and mentoring skills outside of their usual roles.
Participants also explored the important role businesses can play in supporting young people and local communities. By partnering with schools and community organisations, companies can help develop future talent pipelines while giving employees the chance to share their expertise and inspire the next generation of workers.
Corporate volunteering is incredibly important as it offers benefits to everyone involved. It can help address pressures within education, charities, and the wider community, whether through financial support or additional capacity for projects. It also strengthens communities, enhances business reputation, and brings people together to create positive change.
Event attendee
One of the key themes of the discussion was that volunteering initiatives work best when they are embedded into business strategy rather than treated as one-off activities. Organisations that align volunteering with their skills, values and long-term goals are more likely to see meaningful outcomes for both their teams and the communities they support.
By the end of the session, there was a clear message: corporate volunteering is not simply about corporate social responsibility - it is a powerful driver of skills development, employee wellbeing and economic growth.
I came away with a number of takeaways. It was a really insightful session. For me, the key reflection is that there is huge potential for growth in this space. Raising awareness and encouraging more organisations to engage in corporate volunteering feels essential moving forward, and Leicestershire care are true examples of how this can be done properly.
Event attendee
Events like this continue to demonstrate the value of collaboration between businesses, community organisations and support networks such as the Business Gateway Growth Hub, helping organisations learn from each other and take practical steps towards more impactful engagement.
As businesses increasingly look for ways to create social value alongside commercial success, corporate volunteering is proving to be a key part of building stronger organisations and stronger communities.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a member of Leicestershire Cares and exploring how corporate volunteering can strengthen your company, please get in touch – info@leicestershirecares.co.uk