For Employee Engagement Manager Mark Simmons, a life changing event made him want to give back with Capita. He talks about why he loves his role and how he couldn’t be prouder of what he and his team have achieved.
Capita has always supported me to make a difference in my local community. When I joined, I worked on internal communications – and then I was offered my dream job five years ago as an Employee Engagement Manager, and more recently creating volunteering opportunities for Capita employees as part of that role. Today, I couldn’t be prouder of the work we do to make the world a better place.
Finding time for volunteering
This new role was a natural fit for me because I’ve been volunteering outside of work for 31 years. I volunteer to run a boxing club in Warrington, Cheshire, and have done since I was 17 years old.
When I joined Capita, my managers made space for my volunteering commitments. Every Wednesday, I work flexibly so that I can get to my boxing club. I support high-school kids who have been bullied, or suffer from anxiety, or come from disadvantaged backgrounds. At the club, we are one big family.
Supporting our local communities
As an Employee Engagement Manager, I get to work with amazing local charities like these, organising volunteering placements for Capita employees who want to make a difference. I’m delighted to say that we completed 7,833 hours of volunteering in 2022 – which was over four times more than in 2021.
But I believe that we can do even better, and the Responsible Business team and the Happy Hub team are now working to promote volunteering in Capita inductions and across management teams, newsletters and in many meetings that take place, here in the UK and globally.
Recovering with the help of colleagues
My phenomenal bunch of colleagues have supported me through a lot over the years. In 2013, I had a seizure at the gym, and I would have died if it weren’t for the lad I was training. He saved me when he realised that I was starting to swallow my tongue, which I had bitten through.
Capita supported me with medical cover, and this helped me make a full recovery over nine long months. I have never forgotten how I was looked after during that difficult period – and that is just one of the many reasons I love working here. Capita supported me through the worst time of my life, and I’m eternally grateful and driven to create a great place to work as a thank you for that support.
Starting your volunteer journey
I strive to be a helper for my colleagues, and to support them through the process of volunteering for local charities they love. I believe we have started a volunteering movement at Capita, and that our numbers are going to keep going up and up.
At Capita, every employee has the opportunity to volunteer and support the causes that they care about. So, if you want to join us, and volunteer to make our world a little better, I would love to hear from you.
#BeBrilliantBeYou
