Supporting Future Talent Through Corporate Volunteer Days

Corporate volunteer days are one of the most meaningful benefits an organisation can offer its people. They give employees the time and permission to step outside their day‑to‑day responsibilities and contribute to something bigger than themselves.

When used well, volunteer days strengthen communities, build confidence, develop new skills, and remind us that our expertise, no matter how ordinary it may feel to us, can be transformative for someone else. Yet despite their value, only about *30% of employees with access to volunteer days actually use them. That's a missed opportunity for individuals, businesses, and the communities they serve.

At BWB, we are very fortunate. Not only do we have an annual team volunteer day, but each of us also receives an individual volunteer day to use as we choose, and our Managing Director, Hozan Edwards, encourages us to do so.

As I discovered this February, a single day can have a lasting impact, and I genuinely loved mine. At the beginning of the month, I volunteered at a CV-writing workshop at Highdown School & Sixth Form Centre in Reading, organised by the Education Business Partnership.

Why I Chose to Volunteer with Education Business Partnership

Education Business Partnership (EBP) is a Newbury-based charity supporting young people across Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Hampshire. It provides career guidance, training and work experience opportunities, partnering with businesses to deliver around 2,200 volunteer hours each year. Its mission is simple but powerful: to help students understand the world of work by connecting them with people who can share real experiences.

When I learned about their CV-writing workshop at Highdown School & Sixth Form Centre, it felt like the right fit. As someone naturally drawn to teaching and mentoring, I saw it as an opportunity to test the waters and practise public speaking in a structured, supportive setting.

"As someone interested in teaching and mentoring, I found this a great opportunity to get a feel for it and to practise public speaking. Facing three groups of around 80 Year 10 students throughout the day was a bit intimidating at first. Still, it quickly felt rewarding as they engaged with the session, took the time to listen to advice and asked questions."

Helping Students Prepare for Their Futures

The workshop, led by EBP's Education Project Manager, Victoria Hanford, was designed to help Year 10 students start thinking about their CVs well before they need them. For many, it was the first time they had paused to reflect on their achievements, skills and experiences, both inside and outside the classroom.

Victoria spoke about the value of sharing business experience with young people: "When young people connect with business volunteers, they gain more than advice; they gain real-world perspective, inspiration, and the confidence to imagine their future. At the same time, volunteers bring their experience to life, rediscover purpose in their work, and help shape the next generation of talent. It's not just an exchange of knowledge; it's a partnership that strengthens both education and industry."

We discussed the basics: contact details, structure and clarity, but we also explored the less obvious elements that make a CV stand out, such as hobbies, unique skills and experiences, including fluency in multiple languages. This is especially important in a job market where entry-level opportunities are shrinking and employers increasingly favour experience over potential.

Having written many job-specific CVs and even been on the receiving end of some, I was happy to share my experiences and those of my friends to help students navigate the current job market. Whether it was reminding them to include the basics, such as their contact details, or encouraging them to reflect on their skills and achievements earned outside school, I hope it was as useful for them as it was for me.

I found the students were engaged, curious and eager to learn how to present themselves confidently. Their questions ranged from practical, such as "Should I include my hobbies?" to thoughtful, such as "What if I don't have any work experience yet?" It was a reminder that young people want guidance; they just need an environment where they can access it.

Why This Work Matters More Than Ever

Youth unemployment among NEETs (young people aged 16–24 not in education, employment or training) is at its *highest level since 2021, according to UK Parliament research. At the same time, entry-level roles are declining, and competition for early-career opportunities is intensifying. Supporting students now, before they enter the job market, is essential to help them enter the workforce.

Workshops like this help young people:

• Understand what employers look for

• Build confidence in their abilities

• Recognise the value of their experiences

• Start planning their next steps early

These are small interventions with long-term impact. Today's Year 10 students are tomorrow's workforce, and the more support they receive now, the better prepared they will be to contribute meaningfully in the future.

The Value of Corporate Volunteering

The Royal Voluntary Service reports that *around 60% of businesses currently offer corporate volunteering opportunities. This is a positive figure; however, offering them and realising their potential makes the difference, as only around 26% of employees with access to volunteer days use them. This shows that employees need to feel encouraged and empowered by their employers to take advantage of these opportunities.

Volunteering benefits everyone involved:

• For communities: access to skills, knowledge and lived experience

• For employees: confidence, fulfilment, new perspectives and skill development

• For businesses: improved morale, retention, engagement and ESG impact

My day with EBP reminded me how energising it is to step into a different environment and apply my skills in a new way. It was rewarding, meaningful, and surprisingly fun. I am very grateful that utilising volunteer days at BWB is encouraged not only for our personal and professional growth but also for the business in the long term.

Access to Volunteer Days

Following BWB's example, we need more organisations, from SMEs to large enterprises, to support the future workforce by enabling their employees to volunteer, whilst at the same time we need more employees to take advantage of the opportunities available to them. Sharing our knowledge and experiences strengthens our communities, and investing in young people means investing in the future we all depend on.

I plan to use my volunteer days with BWB every year, whether through the EBP, another registered charity, or directly. I found real value in stepping outside my daily tasks and comfort zone, and I felt a renewed burst of energy upon returning to our headquarters. It helped me take a step towards overcoming my fear of public speaking, and I hope what I shared had a positive impact on some of the students.

In Conclusion

If you are an employer, it is essential to explore strategies to expand and promote corporate volunteering within your organisation. Creating a culture of volunteerism not only enhances the company's image but also strengthens team cohesion and employee satisfaction. On the other hand, employees should take the opportunity to reflect on how they can use their volunteer days to create a lasting impact. This could take the form of mentorship programmes for young people, skills workshops, or support for other causes that resonate deeply with their values and passions. Such involvement is incredibly rewarding, providing meaningful experiences for the students served and enriching the companies and individuals who participate in these initiatives.

*Royal Voluntary Service, Employee volunteering: the untapped £32.5bn opportunity for the UK economy, 02/06/2025 - https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/news/volunteering/employee-volunteering-the-untapped-325bn-opportunity-for-the-uk-economy/

*UK Parliament, House of Commons Library, Research Briefing, NEET: Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training, 05/06/2026 - https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06705/