Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays a pivotal role at Ultimate Finance, an asset-based lender that provides funding to businesses across the UK and operates from six offices over the country. Striving to make a positive impact in the community and beyond, Ultimate Finance has embraced corporate volunteering at a local level to every office as an integral part of their CSR strategy. Partnering with The Turing Trust, a charity dedicated to providing IT resources to developing countries, Ultimate Finance has demonstrated its commitment to both local and global causes. Here’s a closer look at the meaningful contributions they’ve made.
Ultimate Finance’s involvement with The Turing Trust began with a desire to foster team bonding and community engagement in line with the company’s approach to Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) challenges. Finding suitable opportunities for their team to provide volunteering time in Edinburgh was challenging, as many organisations required financial contributions rather than hands-on work, which wouldn’t have delivered the same impact for employees. However, through persistent searching and leveraging networks like Volunteer Edinburgh, Ultimate Finance connected with The Turing Trust.
The opportunity arose when John Farquharson, Head of Finance at Ultimate Finance, had a conversation with an old school friend, Steve Cook, who worked for The Turing Trust at their daughters’ sports day. This connection led to Ultimate Finance dedicating their annual Edinburgh “Give a Day” to The Turing Trust.
“We were drawn to the mission and the tangible impact we could make. One of the best memories for many volunteers was the camaraderie we built while sorting cables in the warehouse. Even though the task was repetitive, we bonded over shared stories and music playing in the background. This seemingly mundane activity turned into a fun team-building experience where we learned new things about colleagues we had worked with for years, whilst also being aware that our time and effort was directly helping The Turing Trust to make a difference for so many.”
Before the volunteering day, some employees had mixed expectations, anticipating both hard work and a break from their regular routines. The event brought together individuals from different departments—finance, legal, IT, marketing and strategy—who rarely get a chance to interact for longer periods of time during a regular work day. The reality exceeded these expectations – so much so that they have already come again a second time. Volunteering at The Turing Trust provided a rewarding experience where employees could see the direct results of their efforts, such as sorting and packaging IT equipment. The hands-on work fostered a sense of accomplishment and highlighted the real-world impact of their contributions. By supporting The Turing Trust, Ultimate Finance volunteers contributed to enhancing educational opportunities in Malawi, effectively marrying local efforts with global benefits.
These successes underscore the value of our volunteer days. Join the growing number of employees who recommend our volunteer days for their unique mix of team bonding, personal satisfaction, and community impact—be part of our culture of making a difference! Find out more and apply to volunteer.
