How to deliver social value in construction: the University of Edinburgh’s Usher Building

Exposure to different career paths can help young people build skills, confidence and clearer routes into work, improving employment opportunities in Scotland.

During the building’s construction, McLaughlin & Harvey worked closely with the local community and collaborated with a range of education and training providers to deliver meaningful work experience placements, traineeships and employment opportunities. In total, 78 apprentices worked on the project.

Additionally, site tours, curriculum support sessions and a career guidance programme gave students from the local area valuable, real-world insights into the construction industry.

Major projects can also create wider economic value by delivering sustainable procurement, supporting local businesses, strengthening local supply chains and creating opportunities for social enterprises.

Where possible in every project, McLaughlin & Harvey supports local economies by buying goods and services locally and ethically. This approach helps to build the capacity of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fosters supply chain resilience.

As part of the Usher Building project, 90% of total spend went to SMEs, with over £127,000 directed to social enterprises. This included working with a manufacturer of bespoke fixed furniture and external planters that provides employment and training opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged people, as well as a cleaning company supporting individuals who face barriers to employment. Overall, 40% of local labour was procured within 20 miles of the site, and 56% of all spend was within 20 miles of the site.

McLaughlin & Harvey’s Sustainable Procurement Strategy also enables stronger connections to local suppliers. For example, ‘Meet the Buyer’ events create opportunities for smaller businesses to engage directly with major contractors, helping them access new supply chains and secure contracts. Their Social Partnership Portal further strengthens these connections with the local supply chain.

All SCAPE Scotland partners, including McLaughlin & Harvey, commit to a Fair Payment Standard across their supply chain when providing Works and Services on a SCAPE Framework. This means working collaboratively and ensuring payments are fair, transparent and made on time. All suppliers are paid in full for the work they deliver, with payments made within 30 days from the date on which any valid and undisputed application for payment or invoice is received.

Social impact is not limited to employment and economic outcomes; it can also be achieved through sustainable design and environmental initiatives.

Designed to achieve an EPC ‘A’ rating and maximise energy efficiency, the Usher Building helps reduce emissions through its overall performance. It also offers wider benefits for people using the space, including improved air quality, abundant natural light and access to the ‘Winter Gardens’ — a shared social space designed to strengthen connections with nature.

Elsewhere, the development prioritises sustainable transport. It includes 117 cycle parking spaces, 45 internal cycle spaces, EV charging bays and strong public transport links. By encouraging active and lower-emission travel, the building helps reduce vehicle emissions while supporting physical and mental wellbeing.

These design features were complemented by biodiversity initiatives, environmental education sessions and carbon literacy training that extended the project’s impact further.

Beyond the site itself, construction projects can strengthen local communities through partnerships, volunteering and targeted support.

McLaughlin & Harvey have seen first-hand how construction projects can contribute to healthier, more resilient communities. During the Usher Building project, the team supported a range of charities and third-sector organisations through grants, donations and volunteering. This included food and toiletry donations to a local food bank, 15 hours of volunteering with a local charity that addresses parenting inequalities and over £9,000 in micro-grants to 33 local organisations.

Delivering activities such as these helped ensure that people across Edinburgh benefitted from the project’s construction as well as the University.

The Usher Building demonstrates what is possible when social impact is embedded from the outset of a project, rather than treated as an afterthought. Through collaboration, local investment and community engagement, the project shows how construction can deliver lasting value and outcomes for both people and places.