Centrica first energy company to back national workplace volunteering expansion effort

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Centrica has become the first company in the energy sector to back a new national initiative aiming to double the number of employee volunteering hours completed in the UK.

As a signatory of the 100 Million Hour Movement, a campaign spearheaded by volunteering charity, Royal Voluntary Service, Centrica has pledged to grow participation in employee volunteering across the organisation.

The 100 Million Hour Movement, which launched in April 2026, seeks to unlock 100 million hours of employee volunteering by the end of 2028 – double what’s delivered today - for the benefit of communities and workplaces.  The campaign responds to mounting evidence of strain on both communities and workplaces, including a 3 million volunteer shortfall¹ and rising levels of job dissatisfaction and declining employee morale².

Centrica joins organisations including The Berkeley Foundation, Mitie, Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation, Browne Jacobson and Coventry Building Society who have pledged to support three primary actions to boost employee’s participation in volunteering.

These are to:

• Lead from the front, with visible involvement and support for volunteering from senior leaders

• Open volunteering up to more colleagues

• Make it easy for employees to get involved

At Centrica, every employee is given two paid volunteering days each year to support causes they care about, as part of Centrica’s local community programme - The Big Difference.  Colleagues take part in a wide range of activities - from energy support pop-ups delivered with partners like the British Gas Energy Trust, to inspiring the next generation to be greener through the Get Set for Positive Energy schools programme delivered in partnership with Team GB and supporting families through a partnership with The Multibank. 

Since 2019, Centrica employees have delivered more than 42,000 volunteering days, with the company on track to meet its ambition to donate 100,000 days by 2030.

As well as helping Centrica create a positive impact in communities, volunteering helps the company’s colleagues build new skills, strengthen connections, and feel a deeper sense of pride in the role they play in supporting customers and communities. 

Chris O’Shea, CEO, Centrica said: “It’s so important that companies are an active player in the communities they serve. At Centrica we encourage our colleagues to volunteer by giving paid time off to volunteer in our communities. I’m so proud of how much good work our amazing colleagues do.”

Mike Shaw, British Gas Customer Deliver Manager and volunteer with Well Child said: “What I enjoy most about volunteering is seeing the difference it makes first-hand. Being able to use the skills I've developed in my day job to help people in a community we know well is incredibly rewarding.”

“When you see the results for yourself and hear from the people you're helping, it really hits home. The team comes away with a real sense of pride and achievement, and it's something we are still talking about weeks later.”

Carole Urey, chief revenue officer, Royal Voluntary Service said: “We’re delighted to have secured support from Centrica on this important campaign. It’s been encouraging to see so many organisations get behind the 100 Million Hour Movement and sign our pledge. By working together we can affect real change, for our communities and for millions of workers, powered by employee volunteering. Having such a strong group of signatories makes all the difference, and we hope their commitment will inspire others to take action in the months ahead.”

Tim Campbell MBE, Entrepreneur and star of The Apprentice, who is backing the campaign said: “Imagine the impact of 100 million volunteering hours!  Doubling employee volunteering isn’t just ‘nice to have’, it’s a practical way to strengthen workplaces, support wellbeing, and help communities thrive. Every organisation can be a force for good, and there’s never been a more important moment to lead from the front.”

Employee volunteering is a powerful tool to support communities, strengthen workplace culture and give employees a greater sense of purpose.  However, while 62% of businesses now offer volunteering days to staff³, many struggle to turn intention into action and an estimated 140 million employee volunteering hours go unused each year⁴.

Recognising this, Royal Voluntary Service has developed GoVo for Business – a digital platform designed to make it easier than ever for organisations to scale their volunteering efforts and track impact. As the UK’s only charity-backed employee volunteering platform, GoVo for Business enables organisations to connect with thousands of flexible volunteering opportunities – 500 in every UK postcode -  with causes of all sizes, empowering employees to volunteer in ways that suit them.

Organisations, large and small, across every sector, are being encouraged to join the movement and pledge to expand their volunteering efforts. For more information or to pledge visit:  www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/100millionhours/