Volunteering England has launched a campaign urging small and medium sized businesses to give more help to charities.
Just 14% of small businesses currently taking advantage of employer supported volunteering (ESV) schemes and Volunteering England believes the figures, taken from the 2007 National Survey of Volunteering and Charitable Giving, indicate that many more small businesses could benefit from getting involved ion volunteering schemes.
It aims to encourage and help smaller companies - which account for 59% of private sector employment - to join the ranks of bigger firms that participate in ESV. The schemes offer staff extra support to allow them to use work-related skills to get involved in projects in the local community, both in and out of work time.
Justin Davis-Smith, chief executive of Volunteering England, said: "Our research has shown that having an employer supported volunteering programme is good for business.
"In spite of the pressure on resources which small and medium sized businesses face, an employer supported volunteering programme can bring considerable benefits. Often companies with ESV programmes find that employees are proud to work for them and potential employees want to join them.
"It often makes a difference with customers too, who feel good about buying from them and can lead to added investment."
Mr Davis-Smith continued: "Many smaller businesses are unsure of how to go about setting up a scheme and have signalled that they would like more information. Hence VE is launching this campaign to raise awareness of the fact that it will now be easier to set up a scheme with the new tools and information on our dedicated web pages."
One example of a successful volunteering partnership between a charity and a small businesses is the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation's (PCRF) 'Give a few bob' campaign.
Robert Prevezer, chairman of marketing company The Communications Agency (TCA), offered the services of his 45 staff free of charge, when one of his friends was diagnosed with the disease.
The campaign subsequently developed by TCA appeared to bring the late comedian Bob Monkhouse (who died from the prostate cancer in 2003) 'back to life'.
Cathy McBain, head of employer supported volunteering at VE said TCA chose to 'bring back' Bob Monkhouse to front the campaign because he was a well-known celebrity whose struggle with the disease would help raise awareness.
It launched in June 2007 and generated media activity worth more than £3 million. In addition to raising the profile of PCRF, the campaign helped to more than double donations.
Speaking about his company's involvement Mr Prevezer said: "I think in every way this has been the most rewarding experience for me personally and for the profile of the company."
The VE campaign is supported by The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), the Federation of Small Businesses, the Forum for Private Business and a range of other industry bodies.
David Frost, director general, BCC, added: "We back employer-supported volunteering and recognise the benefit it can bring business.
"It can help raise profiles, reach new markets, recruit the best employees and influence Government. Volunteering England has provided an excellent web portal to help SMEs achieve these tangible business benefits through employer supported volunteering."
For more information visit www.volunteering.org.uk/smes
