Overview

IBM is a global cloud platform and cognitive solutions company, which has continually evolved over the past century to remain at the forefront of technological innovation. Our capabilities in data and analytics, cloud, mobile, social and security have helped the UK evolve to become one of the world’s most digitally advanced nations. This digital revolution empowers us and our clients to gather and analyse data in ways that have never been possible before—helping UK organisations unlock new insights and usher in a new era of cognitive business.

Corporate social responsibility

IBM has a long standing history of supporting and empowering local communities through its corporate responsibility strategy and a variety of focused programmes. We use our technology and business skills innovatively to make a difference and improve quality of life for communities. We focus on regions of the UK that are in close proximity to an IBM office and those that are disadvantaged through strategic, long term programmes that use IBM employee’s time, skills and expertise.

We concentrate on providing support to the education and not for profit sectors. Below are key priorities – although this is not an exhaustive list.

• Transforming education for 21st century jobs:
  • Providing young people with relevant knowledge and skills needed to be successful today.
  • Engaging and inspiring the next generation in order to pursue a career in the technology industry.
  • Providing educational resources for teachers to support them in classrooms with a strong focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) education.
• Helping build the capacity of the not for profit sector (i.e. registered charities and social enterprises) by sharing the knowledge and skills of IBM volunteers so they are enabled to better support their communities and service users.

IBM retirees are very much a part of the IBM volunteering community. Leaving IBM doesn’t have to mean an end to volunteering – whether you supported one of IBM’s community programmes or a charity/school in your personal capacity. If you don’t currently volunteer it’s a great time to start your volunteering journey.

Volunteering is a fantastic way of remaining active in your local community, using your extensive skills and knowledge built up over many years and establishing new networks of colleagues and friends. Many IBM retirees are active volunteers within their communities and benefit from their continued participation in IBM’s On Demand Community, our site for both employee and retiree volunteers. Here volunteers can log and track their volunteer hours, access resources and search for volunteering opportunities.

Over 300 UK retirees are part of the On Demand community and we want to build further on this by encouraging new volunteers from the retiree community to get involved. There are a number of resources to support volunteers and potentially financial support for the school or charity you regularly volunteer with.