Better Places CIC partners with Siemens Energy Services

Better Places CIC has partnered with Siemens Energy Services in Newcastle to co-design a place-based community impact strategy that aligns employee passions and interests, local community need, and Siemens Energy’s wider corporate social responsibility programme, Energy4Good.

The aim – to create a practical and measurable approach to volunteering that delivers meaningful outcomes for the local community and the business.

A key part of the work involved engaging directly with Siemens employees through workshops and discussions. Better Places CIC explored the causes staff care about most, and how they felt best equipped to give their time and skills. This ensured the emerging strategy was grounded in genuine employee motivation and designed in a way that supports meaningful participation.

These insights were then aligned with a clear understanding of local community needs, challenges and opportunities, alongside the priorities of the Energy4Good programme. By bringing these elements together, Better Places CIC developed a coherent place-based approach that enables Siemens Energy Services to deliver a combined, 170 annual volunteering days, where they can have the greatest local impact.

Adam Hogarth, Head of the Newcastle GS Factory, said: “Working with Better Places CIC has put us in a strong position to deliver on our objectives for the year ahead. The insight they provided into the needs of communities on our doorstep was invaluable, but equally important was their work with our team to co-design a volunteering strategy that everyone feels excited and confident to bring to life.”

Jonny Pearce, Director of Partnerships and Marketing at Better Places CIC, said: “It’s been a real pleasure working with the Siemens team. Their commitment to a strategic approach to community impact really stands out. The Siemens Energy Services leadership is creating a model that delivers lasting value for communities and a more meaningful experience for employees. They’re true community allies”

This partnership demonstrates how co-design can turn volunteering into a focused, high-impact part of a wider business strategy.