AtkinsRéalis inspires next generation on social value

AtkinsRéalis, a global engineering, design and project management company, has been leading a series of events across the UK aimed at inspiring and empowering the next generation of industry professionals to achieve social value outcomes in their work, as they become the industry leaders of tomorrow. 

The events have been open to all next generation professionals across the built environment sector, to raise awareness of the long-lasting impact and legacy that social value outcomes can bring to areas impacted by development, and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Approximately 500 industry professionals have attended events held in Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Birmingham, Cardiff and London, with the last in Bristol at The Station in November, organised by the AtkinsRéalis Next Gen team.

The sessions have been themed around how industry can use social value as a tool for change and what that looks like in years to come.

James Butler, managing director of AtkinsRéalis project & programme services (PPS) said: “As senior leaders today, we have a responsibility to inspire and motivate the next generation coming through.

"That is critically important in terms of understanding the impact on communities of development and large-scale infrastructure. 

“What we’ve been able to do across this series of fantastic and engaging events, is embed the importance of achieving positive social value outcomes in everything we do, which has been really well received by the hundreds of professionals who have attended, from across the sector.”

AtkinsRéalis believes the built environment can do more to facilitate new ways of approaching social value and community engagement. As such the events were geared to give the industry’s next generation the opportunity to learn from social enterprise organisations, participate in interactive sessions to generate ideas whilst offering the chance to network with peers from across the built environment sector. 

Hosted at accessible and inclusive venues across the country, as well as public funded venues such as the Prince’s Trust in Birmingham, varying formats have included workshops, panels, team activities and keynote speakers. The aim was to provide attendees with key learnings and practical tools and tips that they can apply to their daily practice, and teams worked closely with third sector organisations which were integral to the events.

Panel sessions have included representatives from the Prince's Trust, Envision and Lord's Taverners charities amongst others, while more local organisations such as Bristol’s Creative Youth Network, have played a key role in operating the venues, managing the space and providing hospitality.

Sarah Lambshead, social value lead for PPS at AtkinsRéalis said: “The social value movement has a clear aspiration – to change the way the world accounts for value. Its remit for achieving this is to create a movement of people and organisations who can see a better future and work together to achieve it. 

“That is what these events around the country have really been about and why involving local external organisations to talk about their challenges and experiences has been an integral part of understanding how we can work together more effectively."

She added the firm wants to lead by example, "in this time of poly-crisis, where business, the public sector, civil society and individuals work together and draw together our strengths and our resources".

"We need to start looking at metrics beyond a financial return on investment," she said.

“We cannot shift the dial on social inequality, economic deprivation and planetary crises, without changing from the bottom up, one organisation at a time where social value is a fundamental strategic commitment.” 

Sam Giles is a senior project manager based in AtkinsRéalis’ Bristol team, and part of the Next Gen team that organised the events.

He said: “For AtkinsRéalis internally it’s about broadcasting what we are doing across our business.

"However, the bigger part of it is giving business and organisations outside of our own a forum to engage with us, to understand what we are doing, to challenge us and to debate.

"But ultimately, they can take elements from what we’re doing at AtkinsRéalis back to their own organisations to help their drive for social value."

He added that from a personal point of view, social value is about pride in the business that he is a part of.

"I want to be able to put my hand on my heart and say I’m proud to work for AtkinsRéalis, and through events such as this and the initiatives we’re involved with in our local communities, I am able to sincerely make that statement,” he said.

Lewis Godsmark, is a town planner at Knight Frank and said he was attending the event to find out more about the latest thinking in implementing social value requirements.

He said: “In Bristol we’ve recently been handed a new local plan, part of which is demonstrating greater social value in the work we do, so I’m here to learn more about social value and how it impacts my role going forward.

“Some elements of social value have clearly been around for a long time, but there are a lot of new requirements so it’s really good to be able to come to an event like this to meet people and talk through what their understanding is, so that we’re all on the same wavelength. 

“What I’ve found valuable about the session was hearing about some of the groups operating in Bristol and the work they’re doing to give back to their communities. It’s the kind of understanding we can integrate into our work which will enable us to generate new partnerships.

“These organisations have been operating in Bristol for a long time with a lot of experience and skillsets, and by coming to an event like this we can get to know them and tap into that knowledge, to benefit even more people.”