How one Yorkshire business created a culture of giving back

Ever wonder what makes a great place to work? It's a question that lots of businesses are trying to answer, especially now that many people work from home. Keeping everyone feeling like part of a team can be tricky. But what if the answer wasn't free snacks or beanbags in the office, but something that helped both the staff and the wider community? A recent study has found that giving back through volunteering is one of the best ways to boost wellbeing in the workplace. And one Yorkshire company, High Speed Training, is proving just how powerful this idea can be, creating a massive impact through its dedication to employee engagement and community support.

Doing good is good for business

It sounds simple, doesn't it? Helping others makes people feel good. But now there’s proper research to back it up. A huge study by Oxford University, which looked at 46,000 employees, discovered that volunteering is a brilliant way to genuinely improve employee wellbeing. In fact, it's often much more effective than other wellness programmes companies might try.

Putting this idea into action is High Speed Training, an online training provider based in Ilkley, Yorkshire. This isn't just a small gesture for the business; it's a core part of their culture. The company gives every member of staff five fully paid days each year specifically for volunteering. And it’s clear the team has embraced it. In 2025, the staff clocked up an incredible 1,060 hours of volunteering time with various charities and not-for-profit groups. That’s a huge amount of time dedicated to making a difference. This commitment not only improves the wellbeing of their staff but also strengthens the company's connection to the community, showing how a modern business can thrive by focusing on more than just the bottom line.

Making a real impact, one hour at a time

So, what does over a thousand hours of volunteering actually look like? For the staff at High Speed Training, it’s about getting involved in projects they genuinely care about. The company, which is a registered BCorp, has set up several charity partnerships to give its team plenty of opportunities. But people are also free to find and organise their own activities if they have a cause that's close to their heart.

One of the company’s key charity partnerships is with Chapter One, a charity with a brilliant mission. Chapter One helps children who find reading a bit of a struggle by pairing them with online reading mentors for one-on-one sessions. Several members of the High Speed Training staff use their volunteering time to become mentors, helping young people build not just their literacy skills but also their confidence. Imagine being a child who's finding school tough, and then having a dedicated adult who shows up every week just to help them read and feel good about it. That's the kind of impact this programme has.

Emma Bell, the CEO of Chapter One, shared just how important this support is:

"We're thrilled that Chapter One has been part of High Speed Training's journey to 1,000 volunteering hours. By committing to supporting our young readers, their volunteers have built meaningful relationships with children aged 5-8 who are facing disadvantage, showing up week after week to read, encourage and inspire. This matters enormously - when children receive sustained, personalised reading support at this crucial age, they develop not just literacy skills but confidence and a love of reading that sets them up for success in school and beyond."

Building a culture that cares

Creating a successful volunteering programme isn't just about offering days off; it's about embedding it into the company values. At High Speed Training, this initiative is a reflection of their core belief in "leaving things better than we found them." The programme's success is a testament to the passion of the staff and the company’s dedication to making a positive impact.

Amy Mortimer, the Head of Social Impact at High Speed Training, explained how the programme has become so successful:

"We are delighted to have reached this milestone of 1000 hours volunteered in 2025. It’s a testament to our company value of leaving things better than we found them and the compassion of our colleagues here at High Speed Training. Over the last three years we have rapidly grown our company volunteering programme, increasing the number of hours donated by a factor of 10. We achieved this by developing strategic partnerships with charities, providing clear signposting and encouragement for colleagues and genuinely celebrating our impact in the community with the wider business. With staff working across the country, and indeed the world, volunteering helps to create memorable moments that enable everyone to engage with each other, their community, and our company values."

That growth is amazing – increasing donated hours by a factor of ten in just three years shows real commitment. It highlights how giving staff clear opportunities and celebrating their contributions can create momentum. For a business with staff all over the country, these shared experiences of helping the community also serve to bring everyone closer together, boosting employee engagement in a meaningful way.

A different kind of company in the education sector

This focus on community and staff wellbeing is part of what makes High Speed Training stand out. Founded in 2008, the company is a leading provider of online training, offering over 170 courses that help people and businesses with everything from health and safety to personal development. All their courses are recognised for Continuing Professional Development and have CPD certification, meaning they are of a high standard.

The company is also a registered BCorp. In simple terms, a BCorp is a business that is legally required to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. It’s a certification for companies that want to be a force for good. Furthermore, since 2023, the business has been an employee-owned trust, giving staff a real say in how things are run.

This approach is clearly working. The company is officially endorsed by Skills for Care, a mark of quality in the social care sector. And the awards speak for themselves. In 2025, High Speed Training was named the 6th Best Company to Work For in the Yorkshire and Humberside region and 3rd in the Best Companies in the education sector. It seems that when a business invests in its people and its community, everyone wins. The company's success is a brilliant example for any business in Yorkshire and beyond looking to make a positive impact.