I’ve been running an entrepreneur boot camp programme in Lincolnshire. Three groups of small business owners are working with me to set goals, then achieve them using simple techniques such as backward planning and PR. It’s great fun and everyone is making progress.

Last week, one of the group sessions was hosted in an impressively restored public building in a small market town. European money had converted a derelict building into a meeting venue, IT training suite and an advice centre manned by willing local volunteers.

One of our group had to leave early and tried to leave at 1630. As he went down the stairs, the burglar alarm sounded and at the bottom, he found the advice centre/reception area closed and the building locked up. The volunteers had forgotten we were there, locked up early and gone home.

We found a fire escape and let the by now embarrassed boot camper out of the building. We then searched the reception office, found the keyholder’s phone number and rang them to explain that we were locked in and the alarm was ringing. As you can imagine, it rather brought the afternoon workshop to a close.  

So, if you’re running a social enterprise or project that relies on volunteers, here are five ways to make sure they don’t let you down:  

  1. Select carefully – Volunteers are as much ambassadors of your enterprise as your paid staff. Choose people who can do the job, not just people willing to try!

  2. Set goals – Volunteers need to be told what is expected of them and why. Help them to see things through the clients’ eyes as well as their own.

  3. Invest in their skills – You don’t pay volunteers and they may not be long term, but they do need to be competent. Invest in training and encourage them to see how this can benefit them outside, as well as within your organisation.

  4. Say no! – Volunteers can be incredibly thick skinned. At times, you need to tell them very clearly that their help is no longer needed. Treat this as you would a staff disciplinary issue and be fair, firm and professional.

  5. Reward them – You may not pay volunteers but they do deserve rewards for outstanding contributions to the collective success. Incentives, recognition schemes and yes, even money can make sure they focus on the organisation’s targets and not their own!

Robert Ashton is an author, entrepreneur and social activist.