Businesses unite to boost Sheffield communities

A Sheffield-based business collaboration is strengthening communities across the city by mobilising employers to tackle social challenges at scale.

Sheffield Business Together (SBT) has marked another successful year, having driven more than £200,000 in social value across the Sheffield City Region through volunteering, in-kind support and collaborative projects.

Co-funded and delivered by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce (SCCI) and Business in the Community (BITC), with sponsorship from the Sheffield Property Association (SPA), SBT brings together businesses, voluntary organisations and public sector partners to address some of the city’s most pressing social issues.

Over the 2024/25 academic year, the programme delivered 78 projects, a 31 per cent increase on the previous year, involving 363 business volunteers and generating more than £210,000 in in-kind value. 

Social action initiatives alone saw 32 projects supported by 86 employers, alongside significant donations of materials and volunteer time.

Louisa Harrison-Walker, chief executive of the SCCI and chair of the SBT, said: “I’m incredibly proud to witness the growing impact and reach of SBT year after year. 

“The programme continues to demonstrate that by working collaboratively, we can achieve a greater impact and create a more enduring legacy than by acting alone.

“It’s wonderful to see Sheffield Chamber members, who help to directly fund SBT, alongside the wider business community, embracing the opportunity to deliver social value in a more coordinated and structured way. 

“As a Chamber, we are truly grateful to our members and to everyone who contributes to making the programme a success.”

This year, SBT has also supported Roots and Bloom, a not-for-profit organisation driven by assisting individuals living with dementia, expanded the Built Environment for Good (BFG) consortium to support initiatives to reduce the effects of air pollution in playgrounds, and assisted Norton Nurseries – where environmental sustainability, education, and social inclusion are brought to life.

Since launching six years ago, SBT has helped deliver more than £1 million in social value for the city, funded through Sheffield Chamber membership subscriptions.

A central strand of this work has been the growth of See It Be It, a cross-sector initiative focused on tackling the opportunity gap facing young people across Sheffield. 

The programme encourages sustained engagement between employers and schools, with research showing that multiple employer encounters significantly reduce the likelihood of young people becoming not in education, employment or training.

More than 250 employers have engaged through See It Be It’s flagship event, with the initiative now being rolled out nationally following funding from Aviva, reinforcing SBT’s belief in collaboration as a driver of long-term social change.

Over the past 12 months, SBT has also supported a range of community-led initiatives, including backing dementia-focused charity Roots and Bloom, expanding the Built Environment for Good consortium to address air pollution in playgrounds, and working with Norton Nurseries to promote environmental sustainability, education and social inclusion.

Charlie Hedges, social value manager at Sheffield Chamber, said: “It’s incredibly inspiring to watch SBT keep growing and make a real impact.

“Expanding our support this year to promote See It Be It and launch The Opening Doors Inclusive Recruitment Campaign, an output of the BITC Pride of Place Board has been equally rewarding.

“Together, we can make a difference to young people in this city which can set them up for a lifetime.

“Plus, to see this support now roll out to other places is incredible – we are so proud it all started in our very own Sheffield.”

Charlie added: “We now have over 600 employers in the network who are generously giving back to our amazing city.

“If you want to help create a fairer, greener Sheffield, we encourage you to get involved and advocate for us within your networks and supply chain. 

“Every business, no matter the size, can make a real difference by supporting one of our campaigns. 

“Getting involved is simple, we just ask for your time, skills, or any resources you can contribute.”

Read SBT’s Annual Report and find out more about how to get involved here.

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