Building and scaling a thriving business today requires more than just a smart strategy and strong sales. Customers, staff and communities increasingly expect businesses to show real social purpose. That is why more and more SMEs and national businesses are partnering with charities and seeing big wins as a result.
Working with a charity like Step by Step is not just good for society, it makes great business sense - here is how.
Trust is a business asset. Partnering with a credible, values-led charity like Step by Step can strengthen your brand story and build authenticity. When your customers see your business actively supporting young people facing homelessness, it reflects integrity and compassion, values that drive loyalty.
Local partnerships, in particular, can help position your business as a visible, trusted member of the community. This enhances your public image and deepens relationships with your customers and stakeholders.
In competitive sectors, a visible partnership with a charity can give you an edge. Social impact can be the differentiator that sets your business apart. Whether you are out to tender, pitching to new clients or launching a new product, your partnership with a charity can demonstrate desirable values missing from your competitors and mindfully doing business with a community and charity minded company like yours can even enhance your prospects’ own corporate social responsibility (CSR) profile.
With Step by Step’s vibrant Be the Hero campaign, there are ready-made tools to help you tell that story confidently.
People want to work for companies that care. Employees feel more engaged when their work contributes to something bigger. By offering volunteering days, fundraising opportunities or purpose-led team-building through your charity partner, you can improve staff morale, increase retention and enhance your employer brand.
In today’s competitive recruitment landscape, people-centered benefits give employers a distinct edge in attracting top talent. Candidates are increasingly drawn to companies with a strong and clearly defined Employer Value Proposition (EVP). Millennials and Gen Z (now the dominant age groups entering the workforce) seek purpose, impact and alignment with personal values. Deloitte’s 2024 Global Gen Z and Millennial survey found that nearly 4 out of 10 Gen Z’s and Millennials have rejected jobs or assignments because they didn’t align with their values.
Big charity names may be more recognisable, but local charities often provide clearer, more measurable impact. Partnering with Step by Step means directly supporting young people in your region, seeing the difference your business makes and building regional networks and goodwill. It is about making change you can see, in the communities you serve.
With the right partner, your CSR activity can enhance your marketing. At Step by Step, we work with partners on co-branded campaigns, social media content, joint press and PR activity and impact storytelling. These tools are not just feel-good extras, they help your business grow with purpose and visibility.
There are also practical financial benefits. Companies that donate to charity may be eligible for Corporation Tax relief on those donations. Depending on the type of support, you might also claim relief on sponsorship payments, benefit from Gift Aid for limited companies or avoid VAT on certain charitable services.
We always advise checking the latest government guidance or speaking with your accountant, but these advantages can help stretch your CSR budget further.
Not all charity partnerships deliver the same return. Look for organisations that offer shared values and clear communication. You want alignment on purpose and a partner who listens to your goals.
You also need measurable outcomes and real stories. Being able to show your stakeholders the difference made helps build credibility. Flexibility and long-term thinking are equally important. Step by Step offers different levels of engagement to suit your needs, from one-off sponsorship to strategic partnerships.
At Step by Step, we believe everyone has the power to Be the Hero. Businesses like yours can be part of a movement to end youth homelessness and grow in the process.
We offer meaningful partnerships tailored to your business, co-created campaigns with clear social impact, PR and media opportunities that celebrate your role and volunteering options for you and your team.
Partnering with Step by Step helps your business grow with purpose. Together, we can create a future where every young person has a safe place to live and the support they need to thrive.
Step by Step’s Supported Lodgings has become the first service of its kind to achieve Ofsted accreditation. We are now the largest Supported Lodgings provider in the UK, as well as being considered the authority in the field.
