There are countless personal stories and impacts behind the social value data we publish regularly, that will be felt long into the future.
For example, the more than £260,000 of social value delivered through the Hertfordshire Framework in this first half of the year includes jobs for six local people who represent a balanced section of the community.
These opportunities to join a progressive business like Octavius, with a strong secured pipeline of projects, can be life changing. Our recent inclusion on the National Pagabo Civils and Transport Infrastructure Framework will bring further opportunities to people across England.
Improving Employability
Improving employability skills and helping people overcome barriers to employment is a common theme in the reports we generate from Thrive – our social value measurement tool.
For the individuals involved, we provide one-to-one support to help build self-confidence, interview preparation, job searching, CV creation and CV advice through the Hemel Hempstead Employability Hub (in connection with the Building Better Opportunities Strive project) every week at the South Hill Centre in Hemel Hempstead.
Deepa George is one individual who has benefitted from this personal development, and we’re proud that she’s gone onto securing a job as a research assistant with the University of Bedfordshire.
Deepa was really grateful for the support she’d received and acknowledged how this helped with her performance during the interview, telling us, “Your support, encouragement and care really pushed me this far for which you all, especially the whole team from South Hill centre deserve the credit. I feel so humbled and grateful for all your love and support, my sincere thanks from the bottom of my heart”.
Why Social Value Matters to Us
“Even if the Social Value Act didn’t exist and no customer ever expected us to do it, generating social value would still be a priority for us. It’s part of our culture and engrained within our four key pillars, and one of the things our employees really appreciate about working for us.” – Catriona Cliffe, Sustainability and People Director, Octavius Infrastructure
Other highlights from the first six months of 2022 on the Hertfordshire Framework include:
- 186 people hours of learning interventions.
- 57 people hours supporting education activities with local schools.
- 831 people hours protecting and improving the environment.
- 172 people hours supporting community initiatives.
If you’d like to know more about Octavius Infrastructure’s commitment to delivering social value, contact Mike Todd (mike.todd@octaviusinfrastructure.co.uk).
