On the eve of the 25th national Volunteersí Week, National Grid has today pledged to double the number of its employees who volunteer to help community projects, charities and local good causes over the next 12 months.
Currently over ten per cent of the gas and electricity networks operatorís 10,000-strong UK workforce are actively involved in volunteering in work time. This amounted to 13,500 hours dedicated to volunteering in 2008/09.
Research* released by the UKís largest utility company reveals that over half of the UKís adults – thatís approximately 25 million people – have never done any voluntary work. But, National Grid says volunteering brings new skills into the workplace, boosts employee motivation and enhances companiesí reputations.
Urging more of his staff to take up the challenge of volunteering, National Grid Chief Executive, Steve Holliday, said: ìAt the moment, one in ten of Nationalís Gridís employees take part in volunteering projects organised by the company in work time and I would like to see this doubled over the next twelve months.
ìNot only is this the right thing for us to be doing, but we believe that everyone benefits from volunteering. The community benefits from being able to tap into the skills and enthusiasm of our workforce. Individuals learn so much from the experience and bring different skills back into the workplace. And National Grid benefits from having a motivated workforce who are proud to work for the company.î
The research also revealed that only 11% of people are currently actively involved in volunteering. Lack of time is the overwhelming reason why and why people who have volunteered in the past have stopped.
However, 49% of workers believe employers should actively encourage their staff to undertake, within reason, voluntary work during paid working hours. Currently, only one in eight UK employees say their company allows them time off to volunteer.
National Grid is sponsoring this yearís Volunteersí Week, which is co-ordinated by Volunteering England. Justin Davis Smith, Chief Executive of Volunteering England, said: ìWe very much welcome National Gridís dedication to promoting volunteering among its employees and their recognition of the enormous benefits of volunteering, not just for the communities in which it works, but for the employees themselves and the wider business benefit.î
To view an interview with National Gridís Chief Executive Steve Holliday about his motivations in making this landmark gesture
http://ifp.howto.tv/player/m4dc3a8aa42dbd972013c93c779e8c610469
National Grid CEO pledges to double number of employees who volunteer in next 12 months
On the eve of the 25th national Volunteersí Week, National Grid has today pledged to double the number of its employees who volunteer to help community projects, charities and local good causes over the next 12 months
