When Sam, a Senior Manager in the Banking and Capital Markets Team at EY spotted an opportunity for a secondment with SBT in the EY Daily News, she knew it was something she couldn’t pass up, “When I saw it was a chance to work with impact entrepreneurs, it really caught my eye—this has been a passion of mine for a while now.”
Over the course of nine months, Sam worked closely with the leadership teams of several social enterprises supported by SBT, with a particular focus on AllChild. AllChild supports children and young people at a tipping point of need, helping them build the relationships and skills to progress socially, emotionally and academically. They do this by aligning public services and community activities at a local level. Their trusted in-school Link Workers design and deliver two-year Impact Programmes that connect children and families to the right school and community services, in the right way, at the right time and bring in specialist support where needed.
During her secondment, Sam worked closely with AllChild’s leadership team, conducting regular catch-ups to gain a deeper understanding of their key business priorities. She then leveraged SBT’s corporate partner network to align skilled volunteers with the organisation’s needs, ensuring targeted and effective support. In addition, Sam provided strategic recommendations to enhance collaboration, fostering deeper engagement between AllChild and the corporate volunteers supporting them.
Sam’s time with AllChild reflected the broader value of SBT’s pro bono model, as Joe Prendiville, Innovation Director at AllChild, noted: “We are thankful for all the pro bono support we receive from SBT. Their network of expertise has enabled us to leverage opportunities in areas we would otherwise not be able to. This has been particularly invaluable in a pivotal time for AllChild as we begin our new strategy cycle.”
As well as supporting the organisation, the experience also had a positive impact on Sam: “I learned a lot about the social sector and how it interlinks with the corporate world, especially Financial Services.”
At SBT, we carefully match professionals with social enterprises where their skills can drive the greatest impact. With Sam’s expertise in managing banking client services at EY, she was well-positioned to support AllChild’s needs. However, the secondment wasn’t just about what she could offer—it was also about what she could learn: “The experience helped me refine my client relationship skills, gain deeper insight into the charity sector, and connect with others who share a passion for supporting social enterprises and driving meaningful change.”
Reflecting on her time with SBT, Sam describes it as a “mutually rewarding experience” – beneficial for the charity, enriching for the individual who gets to apply their expertise in a meaningful way, and valuable for the corporate partners. Now, she is on a mission to spread the word and encourage more people across EY to get involved.
11th April 2025