Karbon Homes is celebrating the positive impact its £2.8m of social value activity has had on its customers and communities across the North East and Yorkshire.
Working with 47 contractors and suppliers, through the 24/25 financial year Karbon matched a record number of social value commitments to projects and charitable organisations across the regions.
Publishing its annual social value report for the year, the association summarises the social impact this activity has achieved, measuring the benefits the initiatives and investments have on the wellbeing of communities.
Philip Pollard, Assistant Director of Customer and Community Engagement at Karbon Homes, said: “Social value is a key part of our procurement activity, using the returns we get from our contracts and suppliers to create valuable, often life changing opportunities for our customers and communities.
“From helping residents find jobs to improving local spaces and supporting essential services, our programme really helps us go beyond just cash value. It’s about people, futures, and real-life impact.”
Over the last year Karbon has refined its approach to social value with a refresh of its social value measurement framework.
All managed by a newly appointed Social Value Lead within the organisation’s structure, the refresh has ensured the approach aligns with Karbon’s wider strategy and the recording of outcomes better reflects the wider impact of Karbon’s spend, particularly in relation to employment.
It also ensures activities and investments are delivered for the benefit of customers, by working with key partners across the region to identify how Karbon’s supply chain can best support them.
Jess Alexander, Social Value Lead at Karbon Homes, said: “At Karbon we believe in creating strong, thriving communities, and it’s fantastic to be able to utilise social value commitments to bring real benefits to people’s lives.
“I’ve loved being able to work with our contractors and suppliers to find ways they can make a lasting difference to our customers lives. The resounding feedback is gratitude for our support through the process, helping them support projects that empowering people, strengthening communities, and providing crucial support to those who need it most.”
Using the social value commitments of three of its material contracts suppliers, Jewson, CEF and Wolseley, Karbon is partnering with the Greggs Foundation to fund breakfast clubs in 11 primary schools across the North East.
The £60,000 investment is part of its wider approach to combating the cost-of-living crisis, affecting many families across the region.
Consett resident Edward Baker is benefitting from the breakfast club at The Grove Primary School, not only as a parent with children attending, but as a member of the school’s teaching staff.
Edward said: “The club is fantastic not just for the kids, but for the parents. I have to get to work first thing and without this before school provision, I’d be at risk of not getting to work on time.
“My eldest does struggle when he first comes into school, but I find that having him come in that bit earlier to have breakfast helps him settle down and as a result his behaviour is a bit better. It’s a big bonus for us.
“It also means that I don’t need to worry about breakfast mid-week, I know the school’s going to have it sorted. It’s perfect, everything in a nice little package.”
The Social Value Lead role within Karbon has been funded through its dividend from procurement partner Prosper’s Social Value Dividend Fund. Its dividend for the new financial year is also funding an additional Social value Coordinator role within the structure.
Karbon Homes is celebrating the positive impact its £2.8m of social value activity has had on its customers and communities across the North East and Yorkshire.
Working with 47 contractors and suppliers, through the 24/25 financial year Karbon matched a record number of social value commitments to projects and charitable organisations across the regions.
Publishing its annual social value report for the year, the association summarises the social impact this activity has achieved, measuring the benefits the initiatives and investments have on the wellbeing of communities.
Philip Pollard, Assistant Director of Customer and Community Engagement at Karbon Homes, said: “Social value is a key part of our procurement activity, using the returns we get from our contracts and suppliers to create valuable, often life changing opportunities for our customers and communities.
“From helping residents find jobs to improving local spaces and supporting essential services, our programme really helps us go beyond just cash value. It’s about people, futures, and real-life impact.”
Over the last year Karbon has refined its approach to social value with a refresh of its social value measurement framework.
All managed by a newly appointed Social Value Lead within the organisation’s structure, the refresh has ensured the approach aligns with Karbon’s wider strategy and the recording of outcomes better reflects the wider impact of Karbon’s spend, particularly in relation to employment.
It also ensures activities and investments are delivered for the benefit of customers, by working with key partners across the region to identify how Karbon’s supply chain can best support them.
Jess Alexander, Social Value Lead at Karbon Homes, said: “At Karbon we believe in creating strong, thriving communities, and it’s fantastic to be able to utilise social value commitments to bring real benefits to people’s lives.
“I’ve loved being able to work with our contractors and suppliers to find ways they can make a lasting difference to our customers lives. The resounding feedback is gratitude for our support through the process, helping them support projects that empowering people, strengthening communities, and providing crucial support to those who need it most.”
Using the social value commitments of three of its material contracts suppliers, Jewson, CEF and Wolseley, Karbon is partnering with the Greggs Foundation to fund breakfast clubs in 11 primary schools across the North East.
The £60,000 investment is part of its wider approach to combating the cost-of-living crisis, affecting many families across the region.
Consett resident Edward Baker is benefitting from the breakfast club at The Grove Primary School, not only as a parent with children attending, but as a member of the school’s teaching staff.
Edward said: “The club is fantastic not just for the kids, but for the parents. I have to get to work first thing and without this before school provision, I’d be at risk of not getting to work on time.
“My eldest does struggle when he first comes into school, but I find that having him come in that bit earlier to have breakfast helps him settle down and as a result his behaviour is a bit better. It’s a big bonus for us.
“It also means that I don’t need to worry about breakfast mid-week, I know the school’s going to have it sorted. It’s perfect, everything in a nice little package.”
The Social Value Lead role within Karbon has been funded through its dividend from procurement partner Prosper’s Social Value Dividend Fund. Its dividend for the new financial year is also funding an additional Social value Coordinator role within the structure.
You can find the 2024/2025 social value report on Karbon’s website - www.karbonhomes.co.uk/social-value-report-2024
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