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Social impact

Our approach to social impact

Discover how we can help you to deliver community benefits through your projects.

A group of people hugging in a community garden showing social value of a project

What is social impact?

Social impact refers to the positive change that buildings, infrastructure, and public spaces can bring to environmental, economic, and social well-being. It's about enhancing quality of life through thoughtful development.

We often use the term 'community benefits' to capture how these efforts address the needs of the community and contribute to its overall improvement.

The Social Value Act 2012 'requires the public sector to ensure the money it spends on services creates the greatest economic, social and environmental value for local communities.'

Communities Social Value Stock Card image
Social value preview report

Scotland's adoption of the Community Wealth Building

The Scottish Government integrates the Community Wealth Building into economic developments to advance the wellbeing economy goals outlined in Scotland's National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

This approach was introduced to empower communities throughout the lifecycle of built environment projects, ensuring that they:

  • Maximise community benefits through procurement by promoting fair work and utilising local supply chains
  • Strengthen local workforce participation in projects
  • Enhance the flow of local investments

Every built environment project should prioritise community benefits as a way to create lasting, sustainable legacies for communities, local economies, businesses, and the environment.

Themes, Outcomes and Measures

We’re a founding member of the National Social Value Taskforce and, in partnership with Social Value Portal, helped to develop the Social Value TOM System.

The TOM System is a set of economic, social and environmental performance measures that underpin every project.

To give you everything you need to evidence the true impact and success of your built environment projects, we rigorously measure the TOM System as part of your actively managed framework, and report on your performance.

Social Value Tom System logo

Collaborating with the industry

Our ethos of collaboration is demonstrated in our commitment to working in partnership with industry-leading organisations to drive change, and define social value best practice within the built environment.

Social Value Portal full logo colour
Considerate Constructors Scheme Client Partner Logo 2022
Constructing Excellence logo
National association of construction frameworks nacf vector logo
Construction youth trust logo
Build UK logo
Good Homes Alliance logo
Supporting Member Badge Black
IRM
CIPFA
NAWIC logo Large
Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority GLAA logo
Green Building Council Logo
SES Supporter logo

Community benefits & SMEs

Since 2006, we have invested into worthwhile community projects that have benefitted people in communities across the UK.

SMEs are vital to our economy, and we actively create opportunities for SMEs and microbusinesses to grow and thrive, through our social value initiatives. Through our frameworks, the supply chain is paid on time and in full, so that they can invest in their businesses, train, hire and expand - keeping the pound local and supporting your local economy.

Social impact in action across Scotland

Hackwood Primary School aerial shot

Embed social impact into your construction

We’re dedicated to driving industry change, and social value best practice within the built environment. Contact us to get your construction project started today.