• Sustainability
  • Championing youth & communities

    • Our social impact partnership

    Making amazing happen for a brighter world

    Our social impact partnership

    Meet our global charity partner: SolarAid

    RS is proud to partner with SolarAid in a multi-year mission to light up lives across Africa. Together, we aim to raise £1 million through corporate donations, matched funding, RS PRO product contributions, fundraising, and gifts in kind. This ambitious effort will help deliver clean, safe solar light and power to 150,000 people living in rural communities without access to electricity—empowering education, improving health, and unlocking opportunity.

    Because when we work together, amazing things happen.  

    £ 166,000

    raised within first six months of partnership

    136,000

    lives improved since 2020/21

    34

    employees donated time for skills-based volunteering

    Learn more about SolarAid's programmes

    Reaching the lowest-income communities

    SolarAid distributes safe solar lights through innovative models that create affordable access to solar lights, ensuring the poorest are not left behind. They recently reached 100% of homes in one of Malawi's poorest communities with affordable energy access, and their community Light Libraries offer solar lights for just 2p per night. 

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    Maintenance and repair

    SolarAid has long recognised the importance of ensuring off-grid solar products can be repaired, reused and recycled. Their research has shown that 91% of broken solar lights are repairable, and they are committed to extending the impact of solar lights and reducing e-waste by training local repair technicians and advocating for sector standards and access to spare parts. 

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    Entrepreneurship

    SolarAid works with local entrepreneurs, schools and women's groups to reach remote, rural communities and catalyse a sustainable solar market that benefits all - focusing on customers, not beneficiaries. To date, they have reached over 12 million people across five countries with a current focus on Zambia and Malawi. 

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    We are proud to partner with SolarAid on this important mission. Access to clean, safe solar light is a powerful catalyst for education, safety, and opportunity. By combining the passion of our people with the innovation of our customers and suppliers, we can make amazing happen for communities that need it most.

    Andrea Barrett Chief Sustainability Officer, RS Group

    We are delighted to be working in partnership with RS Group. From the very start our shared purpose and alignment has been clear. Like RS Group, we strive to innovate the best solutions for our customers, so that we can deliver sustainable energy access. We are incredibly excited by the huge opportunity we have together, to progress our mission and bring clean, safe light and power to those living in the most remote, hardest to reach communities.

    John Keane CEO, SolarAid

    RS x SolarAid Launch Video

    A Trader Uses Her Light To Sell Her Produce At The Local Market. Photo Credit Solaraid Jason J Mulikita

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    Want to learn more about our partnership?

    James Tucker

    Social Impact Partnerships Manager

    Email