For this month’s CSR Profile, we’re shining the spotlight on SMBC Group EMEA, told by Helen Whitehead, CSR Manager. Helen tells us how she got into volunteering and the experiences that have taught her about the benefits of volunteering to support your community. We also hear about SMBC’s CSR strategy and focus, and how the company offers its staff a whopping 6 days of volunteering leave per year.

Please provide a short outline of your current role and a brief description of any other relevant career experience:
While I’ve only been CSR Manager since March 2024, I’ve been working at the SMBC for 17 years! My previous role was in corporate governance where I monitored stakeholder engagement. It was through this, and my activities on the committee of our LGBTQ+ and Allies employee network, that I became passionate about the work we were doing to make a difference in our community, which led me to my current role.

Outside of work I regularly volunteer with various local community groups and as a school governor. I also co-led the successful campaign for bathing water designation where I live, which is a step towards achieving cleaner water for swimmers and other water users. This experience has given me an invaluable insight into the benefits of volunteering, both for community organisations you give your time to and for your own sense of purpose and wellbeing.

Why is CSR important to your organisation?
At SMBC we’re committed to creating an environment that enhances both economic and social prosperity. We aim to create social value by achieving a net positive impact upon our people and society, driving both economic and corporate growth. It’s about contributing to what we call “fulfilled growth” – a state where all individuals can enjoy sustained prosperity. Our CSR activities are a key part of fulfilling our social value creation ambitions. We share our skills to support initiatives aimed at reducing inequalities, improving social mobility and environmental sustainability. We also have a current focus on broadening access to careers in the financial services to under-represented groups.

Which topics, themes or initiatives is your organisation currently focused on?
A core pillar of our CSR strategy is to promote and facilitate colleague volunteering. We offer permanent employees a generous six days paid volunteering leave allowance which they can use in self or bank arranged activities. The volunteering opportunities provided by ELBA as part of our partnership have driven an increase in volunteering hours logged by colleagues.

As ELBA celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2024, what activities have you enjoyed collaborating on?
We have taken part in a diverse range of ELBA arranged activities from river litter picking on canoes, holding mock interviews with high school students, working with community partners on sustainability and digital programmes and helping out at a Just Turn Up Day focusing on inclusive sports days for children of all abilities.

What is the best part of your job?
I love to hear the stories from colleagues who have taken part in volunteering activities about how much they enjoyed it and how they felt they had made an impact! As one colleague said following the Just Turn Up Day sports event, “it was incredible to see young children enthusiastically participating in various sports, from track and field events to team-based games. Their energy and excitement were contagious, and as a volunteer, I felt privileged to play a part in supporting these initiatives that encourage health, confidence, and inclusion.”