Paid Volunteering Days: Investing in Purpose, People, and Community

At Integrated Skills Ltd (ISL), we believe that creating a culture of purpose and social responsibility is fundamental to building a successful, employee-owned business. One of the ways we bring this to life is through our support for paid volunteering days—a practice increasingly recognised by management thinkers and business leaders as a hallmark of a values-driven, engaged workplace.

The Business Case for Volunteering

Across management theory & practice, paid volunteering is seen not as a perk, but as a strategic investment. Michael Porter’s concept of Creating Shared Value argues that companies can generate economic benefit while addressing societal challenges—volunteering sits squarely within this framework. Likewise, Peter Drucker championed the idea that organisations must contribute to society and foster a sense of meaning among employees.

Simon Sinek’s Start With Why philosophy reinforces this idea. When employees understand and connect with their company’s mission, morale, engagement, and loyalty improve. Paid volunteering opportunities are a tangible way to connect people to that “why.”

The benefits are well documented by thought leaders and research alike:

• Improves employee engagement and satisfaction
• Strengthens employer brand and corporate reputation
• Develops leadership, collaboration, and soft skills
• Reinforces alignment with organisational values and purpose
• Builds meaningful relationships with local communities

Melton team gardening near Leicester

Why SMEs Should Lead the Way

While many large corporates—such as Aviva, Lloyds Banking Group, and BT—formally support paid volunteering under their CSR and ESG strategies, the practice is less widespread among UK SMEs. Research from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) highlights that smaller firms often face resource constraints that limit participation in employer-supported volunteering (ESV). Even in larger organisations, uptake can be modest; the London Benchmarking Group reports that only around 14% of eligible employees actually use their allocated volunteering time.

There is clearly untapped potential for SMEs to lead in this space. Paid volunteering days offer a cost-effective way to boost morale, foster team cohesion, and build an authentic employer brand—especially important in talent-driven sectors where Millennials and Gen Z employees prioritise social impact.

ISL’s Experience as an Employee-Owned Business

When ISL transitioned to a hybrid Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), one of the first outcomes of the employee forum was a collective request to introduce paid volunteering days. With board approval and strong internal support, teams in our Leeds and Melton Mowbray offices initiated local volunteering activities in 2023—and again, independently, in 2025, both teams engaged in meaningful group volunteering, coincidentally on the same day.

We don’t view these initiatives as a cost. We see them as a long-term investment in our people, our culture, and our brand. Volunteering strengthens bonds across our teams and communities, reinforces our values, and supports our vision as a purpose-led, employee-owned organisation.
At ISL, volunteering isn’t just encouraged—it’s part of who we are.

Our MD Alan collecting for FareShare