Pilotlight has set out a bold new direction for the next five years, with ambitious goals to deepen our impact and grow our reach. This strategic refresh follows the appointment of our new Chair, Alison Forrestal, earlier this year.
Since our founding in 1996, we’ve held fast to the belief that great causes deserve great talent. That founding mantra continues to guide us as we connect people from the worlds of business and charity to learn from each other and do more for their world.
While the world grows more apart, Pilotlight has spent three decades refining a model that brings people together—across sectors, perspectives and lived experiences.
Our approach to skills-based volunteering is not just philanthropic; it’s a carefully curated form of learning. We call it 'learning by doing good'.
Charities have long benefited from skilled volunteers. Today, seven in ten charities are actively seeking professional expertise to help them grow. At the same time, business participants in our programmes report stronger interpersonal skills—what we call power skills—that are increasingly valued in the workplace. These include empathy, collaboration, critical thinking and communication.
This is why we believe our model is ready to scale. Rather than being a cost, skills-based volunteering is an investment for business, generating returns of up to £3.60 for every £1 spent.
Our Goals for 2030
By 2030, we aim to double the number of empowering partnerships we run—strengthening the resilience and impact of charities, while creating value for businesses through leadership development and employee engagement. Our annual targets are:
- 280 charity projects
- 2,500 skilled volunteers
- 15 strategic business partnership
To support this growth, we are recruiting four new trustees to join our outstanding Board of Directors.
The call of great causes—and the call for great talent—remains as strong as ever