Close Menu
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing & Mental Health
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
Trending
  • Putting information security first is your first step to building digital trust.
  • Why the crackdown on late payments could be a turning point for SMEs
  • MPs bring Google training to regions outside London
  • Nearly Half of London Start-Ups Unfamiliar with Tax Obligations, New Analysis Reveals
  • AI isn’t just for the big players: How SMEs can effectively leverage AI
  • UK Businesses Are Suffering From The Tariff Turmoil
  • How employers can help LGBTQIA+ employees thrive
  • Meeting Overload: A symptom of a bigger problem?
X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • News
  • Home
  • In Profile
  • Finance
  • Legal
  • Technology
  • Events
  • Features
  • Wellbeing
  • Marketing
  • HR & Recruitment
SME Today
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Events Calendar
  • Business Wall
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • 0843 289 4634
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • RSS
You are at:Home»Legal»Business boost from employing volunteer magistrates
Volunteer as a magistrate

Business boost from employing volunteer magistrates

0
Posted By sme-admin on May 10, 2022 Legal, News

Research amongst business decision-makers suggests staff who volunteer as magistrates can be ‘good for business’, as the Ministry of Justice calls upon employers across all sectors to support the search for 4,000 new magistrates in England and Wales. 

As part of the national recruitment drive, research from the Ministry of Justice has found the top qualities HR and business leaders see in people who volunteer as magistrates are sound judgement (89%) and effective decision-making (81%).

Magistrates are trained to develop transferrable skills such as critical analysis, complex problem solving, mediation, influencing and decision making. Employers agreed the potential business benefits of having employees as magistrates include the ability for organisations to show a commitment to local communities (43%) and demonstrate their social conscience (41%). Encouraging employees to volunteer as magistrates is an effective way for employers to give back to society.

Supporting volunteers and demonstrating social responsibility is particularly crucial for employers in the current battle to attract and retain talent, with evidence suggesting people are more likely to want to work for organisations that give back. IBM’s Institute for Business Value research from 14,000 people across nine countries, including the UK, found more than two-thirds of the workforce are more likely to apply for, and accept, jobs with socially responsible organisations.

Currently, some misconceptions mean a number of employers risk losing out on the business benefits of supporting staff who volunteer. Only two-thirds of decision-makers say they know what a magistrate is and does (66%), which is less than the general public (72%).  Over half wrongly believe magistrates are required in court more than 13 days a year (56%).

In reality, the time commitment is limited and many magistrates fulfil this crucial role alongside full-time employment and caring responsibilities. Volunteering as a magistrate is also something open to most of the workforce. All magistrates are given robust training and an experienced mentor in their first year to develop their skills and legal knowledge.

No specific qualifications are required and people from all walks of life are encouraged to apply – from plumbers to project managers, and chefs to computer programmers. Employers in all sectors are therefore being encouraged to support the largest campaign in the 650-year history of the magistracy.

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab, said:

“Encouraging your employees to fulfil the vital voluntary role of a magistrate is not only a powerful way to show your commitment to them and your local community but it makes good business sense.

“Magistrates enjoy excellent training and develop a wide range of highly valued skills that can help to boost their career and your business. Supporting volunteer magistrates can help you attract and retain talent whilst delivering improved job satisfaction.

“We are calling on employers to back this recruitment drive for more magistrates – it’s good for your people, your organisation and your community. Your support will help enable magistrates to play an even greater role in serving swift justice for our society. ”                                                                                                                                                                                         

Sarah Findlater, Director of HR, M&S said:

“At M&S, we take pride in supporting the communities we serve. Encouraging our employees to become magistrates means they gain insight into local community issues and valuable new skills to boost their career with us. We would encourage all employers to provide time for people to act as magistrates as it gives back to society, supports colleague development and is good for business.”

Janet Garner, Head of HR, Skills and Academy Principal, BAE Systems, said: 

“Providing our employees with time to act as magistrates not only supports the local communities in which we operate but we recognise it also presents a unique opportunity to develop their skills, experience and knowledge which helps their career development and ultimately, the effectiveness of our business.”

A magistrate’s role is voluntary with individuals expected to dedicate a minimum of 13 days a year service. Employers need to allow time off work for this type of public service volunteering. It is at the employer’s discretion whether this is paid or unpaid leave, but many employers support their employees by granting paid leave for at least some of a magistrate’s sitting days.

If would like to support your employees to volunteer as magistrates visit: icanbeamagistate.co.uk/employer-advice

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

MPs bring Google training to regions outside London

UK Businesses Are Suffering From The Tariff Turmoil

Why it’s time for law firms to embrace smart identity infrastructure

Comments are closed.

Follow SME Today on Linkedin and share all the topics you find interesting
ISO/IEC 27001 roadmap: A practical guide for UK SMEs
ISO/IEC 27001 roadmap: A practical guide for UK SMEs
Are you a Company Director?
Are you a Company Director - Verify your identity
Personal Pension offer
Events Calendar
    • Marketing
    September 9, 2025

    SEO 101 for SMBs: Reaching Customers with the Right Visuals

    August 29, 2025

    OneMetric forms strategic partnership with RevOps expert to drive UK growth

    • Finance
    September 16, 2025

    Why the crackdown on late payments could be a turning point for SMEs

    September 15, 2025

    Nearly Half of London Start-Ups Unfamiliar with Tax Obligations, New Analysis Reveals

    • People
    September 11, 2025

    New Chief Revenue Officer joins CBS to drive strategic growth

    August 14, 2025

    A Life Worth Saving – A Tribute to Dame Stephanie Shirley CH, 1933–2025

    • Health & Safety
    September 2, 2025

    1 in 3 employees anxious about lack of first aiders at work

    July 1, 2025

    Temperatures Soaring: Is Your Workplace Becoming Unsafe?

    • Events
    September 9, 2025

    Nominations for the 2026 Bold Woman Award by Veuve Clicquot open

    July 22, 2025

    South West Expo Delivers Outstanding Event at Swindon’s STEAM Museum

    • Community
    July 11, 2025

    Building community, one cause at a time

    June 23, 2025

    Celebrating One Year In Fairford Supporting The Community

    • Food & Drink
    August 22, 2025

    How to get stocked by major retailers as an SME

    July 18, 2025

    Warning to Small Businesses Over New Food Waste Regulations

    • Books
    September 3, 2025

    New book on conquering fear of public speaking

    August 7, 2025

    Learning to Leave a Legacy in Business

    The Newsletter

    Join our mailing list for the best SME stories, handpicked and delivered direct to your inbox every two weeks!

    Sign Up
    About

    SME Today is published by the same team who deliver The Great British Expos’. We have been organising various corporate events for the last 10 years, with a strong track record of producing well managed and attended business events across the UK.

    Join Our Mailing List

    Receive the latest news and updates from SMEToday.
    Read our Latest Newsletter:


    Sign Up
    X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    Categories
    • Books
    • Community & Charity
    • Education and Training
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Features
    • Finance
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Safety
    • HR & Recruitment
    • In Profile
    • Legal
    • Marketing
    • News
    • People
    • Property & Development
    • Sponsored Content
    • Technology
    • Transport & Tourism
    • Wellbeing & Mental Health
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
    • Privacy
    • Contact
    Copyright © 2025 SME Today.
    • ABOUT SME TODAY: THE GO TO RESOURCE FOR UK BUSINESSES
    • Editorial Submission Guidelines
    • Privacy
    • Contact

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.