ENCOURAGING employees to support charity through their payroll delivers benefits to business, according to a new report commissioned by The Giving Campaign.

It found that 96 per cent of companies surveyed thought Payroll Giving was something employers should offer.

Benefits included improving company image, enhancing community involvement, boosting staff morale and improving staff recruitment and retention.

The survey, conducted by Ashridge Centre for Business in Society, showcases a number of FTSE 250 companies and the Payroll Giving Schemes they offer.

Last year, £72.5 million was raised for charities through Payroll Giving with 1,000 companies launching new schemes in their offices.

Stephen Timms, Minister of State for E-commerce and Competitiveness, said: "It has long been clear that companies who place value in supporting the community and their staff are laying the foundations for a successful future."

High profile companies involved include Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Rolls-Royce, BT, 3i Plc and Zurich Financial Services.

The Giving Campaign has launched a Payroll Giving Toolkit for organisations

looking to offer the scheme to their employees.

For a free copy of the Payroll Giving toolkit and executive summary of the research, contact The Giving Campaign on 020 7930 3154, e-mail

admin@givingcampaign.org.uk or visit www.givingcampaign.org.uk.