With Ofgem confirming that energy bills will rise by £221 a year for a typical household, families are facing renewed financial pressure. At the same time, government advisers have warned that it is “shameful” that more public money goes on benefits for young people than on creating jobs for them. The pressure on the construction sector to do more than simply build has never been greater.
At Potter Raper, social value has always been about responding to what communities need. This month, we’re highlighting the projects where that has translated into jobs, skills, and practical support for the people our work serves.
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Creating jobs and pathways into work
At Delamere Road for B3 Living, 20% of the project workforce was sourced from the local community. This created direct employment for people living near the development rather than importing labour from elsewhere. The scheme also included structured apprenticeship placements, giving young people a genuine route into the construction industry.
At Errol Street for City YMCA, we supported two apprenticeships alongside a commitment to local labour, a small project with a meaningful impact for the individuals given the chance to start a career.
At Pedro Street for LB Hackney, we delivered two apprenticeships as part of the development in Clapton Park.
At the Bromley OPR Programme for LB Bromley, we delivered one apprenticeship.
As pressure grows on the government to redirect spending towards jobs and skills, schemes like this show what the construction sector can deliver when social value is taken seriously.
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Building career pathways
Social value isn’t only delivered through live projects; it’s also about opening doors into the industry. This year our Langley careers day and the Waterside Academy careers fair gave young people a first look at construction careers, and our week-long work experience placements have given students the chance to spend time across several departments, including Employer’s Agent, Quantity Surveying, Marketing and Bids, Building Surveying, and Health and Safety.
Apprentices and newly qualified graduates now make up around 10% of our workforce.
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Supporting the people behind the buildings
Rising energy costs don’t affect everyone equally. People in older, poorly insulated housing, often the very residents we work alongside, are among the most exposed. That’s why the quality of the homes we help deliver matters.
At Frankham Street in Bermondsey for Peabody, surplus kitchen units were donated to community initiatives rather than going to waste, a practical decision with a direct benefit for local people.
At Store Road for Hyde Housing, we mentored a new member of Hyde’s development team beyond our contractual scope, providing additional site visits with our Clerk of Works and helping build the kind of in-house capability that strengthens social landlords over time.
Social value doesn’t sit apart from what’s happening in the country, it’s shaped by it. When bills rise, when jobs are scarce, when communities are under strain, that’s exactly when the buildings we work on, and the choices we make around them, matter most.
We listen. We solve. We deliver.
Get in contact with us about our Social Value Commitments – https://potterraper.co.uk/contact/
