Accenture
Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company and a founding member of VSO’s Business Partnerships (VBP) scheme. VBP was established in 1999 to meet the growing demand for business and management professionals in developing countries.
In 2006, Accenture became our Secure Livelihoods Goal Champion and through their financial and strategic support, we have developed a new approach to enterprise development that will deliver a brighter future for some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.
Our relationship with Accenture is built on a mutual desire to combine the distinct capabilities of each organisation to enhance the performance of both.
The VSO Accenture partnership
As part of the partnership, we have placed over 115 Accenture employees from around the world with partner organisations in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. These volunteers have worked in a variety of roles, sharing their business skills and building capacity in a number of developing communities.
In turn, Accenture supports VSO by offering staff that are eligible the opportunity to volunteer with us, and provides financial su
pport for our international programme work.
Benefits of the partnership
The benefits of our partnership with Accenture have been substantial - both to the developing communities who gain access to crucial business skills and to Accenture and its global staff.
Here’s what some of Accenture’s internal sponsors said about our VBP:
“Building Skills to Succeed is central to Accenture’s Corporate Citizenship programmes. Through the VSO Business Partnership scheme our people are offered an opportunity to share their skills where they are most needed whilst also developing their own capabilities”.
— Camilla Drejer, UKI Corporate Citizenship lead
“It is particularly gratifying to see how the VSO participants return invigorated from their assignments… and hopefully inspire more colleagues to get involved.”
— Andrea Naumann, VSO HR coordinator, ASG
Success stories
“I undertook the VSO placement to share my knowledge and skills with those who have not had my educational opportunities, but I was amazed by how much I gained, too.”
— Steffi Friedrich, Accenture Germany
"Doing VSO is one of the most enriching and memorable experiences I will ever have. I had the opportunity to really stretch myself professionally, culturally and personally and just got so much in return not least of all strong, lasting friendships half way across the world. In some ways, from now on, I will always be a little bit Rwandan."
— Alefiya Rajkotwala, Accenture UK
Find out more from Accenture about how they are working with VSO.
If you work at Accenture and are looking for more details on how to volunteer with us visit the Accenture intranet at vso.accenture.com or contact Bethan Peach, volunteer support adviser, on 020 8780 7356 or email her at bethan.peach@vso.org.uk
