Sheffield Business Together, the City’s responsible business network, is celebrating the power of collaboration as it marks another successful year of tackling social challenges across the city.
Sheffield Business Together (SBT) is a responsible business network co-funded and delivered by Sheffield Chamber of Commerce (SCCI) and Business in the Community (BITC), with additional support from its sponsor the Sheffield Property Association (SPA).
Working in partnership with anchor institutions and key businesses in the region, SBT are creating a citywide network of thousands of businesses, voluntary and public sector organisation. It aims to connect, collaborate and harness resources to tackle the big challenges facing Sheffield’s communities.
Through their membership subscription, every member of Sheffield Chamber contributes to this one-of-a-kind programme, which has seen, in six years, over £1 Million worth of social value delivered to the city.
In the 2024/2025 academic year alone, the programme has delivered 78 projects (up 31% from this time last year), involved 363 business volunteers (almost double the figures from last year), and seen 130 hours volunteered to the in-kind value of over £210,000 to the Sheffield City Region.
In relation to specific social action support in the city, 32 projects were backed by 86 different employers with 91 volunteering hours and over £82,000 worth of materials donated.
Louisa Harrison-Walker, SCCI Chief Executive and Chair of the SBT, said: “I’m incredibly proud to witness the growing impact and reach of Sheffield Business Together 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 also supported the expansion of See It Be It, a distinctive cross-sector collaboration aimed at tackling the opportunity gap that many young people encounter. It has achieved this by facilitating sustained engagement between employers and schools.
Research shows for or more employer encounters mean you are 86% less likely to become a NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training).
The aim was to create an enterprise pathway that extends from primary school through post-16 education, while also enhancing career opportunities in 25 secondary schools within Sheffield’s most underserved communities.
Its flagship event last year attracted over 250 employers and, since then, an impressive 160 additional employers have committed their support and contributed to the initiative’s expansion.
BITC, with funding from Aviva, is now rolling out See it Be it in other places nationwide.
Charlie Hedges, Social Value Manager at Sheffield Chamber, said: “It’s incredibly inspiring to watch Sheffield Business Together 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.”
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.
“We now have over 600 employers in the network who are generously giving back to our amazing city,” Charlie added.
“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, and any resources you can contribute.”
Whether your focus is supporting the voluntary sector, working with schools and colleges in deprived communities or supporting more collaborative projects to tackle social issues, there are a range of opportunities to get involved in.
Read SBT’s Annual Report and get involved here: https://www.scci.org.uk/partnerships/sheffield-business-together/
L-R: Tim Bottrill (Director of Sheffield Property Association), Louisa Harrison-Walker (Chief Executive of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce), Charlie Hedges (Project Coordinator for Sheffield Business Together), Helen Johnson (Partner at CMS, Board member of Sheffield Property Association) and Rebecca Knight (Managing Director of Ovo Spaces, Director of Sheffield Property Association).
