SOCIAL VALUE

Social value measures the positive value businesses create for the environment, economy, communities, and society. It is an ongoing and long-term commitment that looks at each of these areas in terms of their impact on the quality of life of people and beneficial impact to local communities.

Why is social value important to us?

We are aware that many of our current and potential customers see social value as a way of adding local economic and environmental value to their tender. This may be driven by them directly or by the project end customer and/or framework.

The addition of a social value commitment can provide much needed development for a local area ranging from economic growth to innovative ideas. Working with our customers, we aim to research, understand and support the local need at bid stage. Collaboration is key to ensure we are building long lasting relationships and providing the best outcomes for each projects local community.

For the longevity of MCS Ltd and the industry, supporting social value allows us to attract and retain talent. Opportunities such as agile working, mental health and wellbeing support, equal opportunities and providing an insight into the industry via education and employment are all ways that we can ensure we are supporting our current and potential future employees. According to Youth Employment UK 79% of young people have received some sort of careers advice or guidance while in education and 57% of those who did reported higher job satisfaction when they finally went into employment. This highlights the importance of providing good quality educational support allowing us to showcase a exciting and ever-expanding industry with many opportunities going forward.

OUR STRATEGY

To ensure our strategy incorporates the key areas of social value required by our customers, we have formed our approach by using the themes taken from the Social Value Portals ‘The National TOMs’ model.

The model focuses on five main themes:

The TOMs focus on a range of outcomes under each theme which can be used to measure social value impact. By basing our strategy on this nationally recognised model, we are able to provide clear measurable impact which cover all areas of interest for new and existing customers.

Social Value Reporting

To ensure we can accurately report against our strategy annually, we will be using The National TOMs as our reporting method. Since the development of the Social Value Act 2012, this is the most common tool for setting an expectation for social value within bids as well as measuring the suppliers offering.

2023/2024 Social Value Report

We're thrilled to unveil our first Social Value Report, showcasing the incredible impact we've made across our five pillars. From education to wellbeing, each section is packed with inspiring case studies that demonstrate the tangible difference we're making together. To download the report, please click the link below.

CASE STUDIES

Upskilling – Supporting People to Succeed

At MCS, we are committed to empowering our team to reach their fullest potential. We consistently offer opportunities for professional growth, whether through short courses or additional qualifications.

Currently, we are proud to have welcomed six new apprentices in September 2023, specialising in roles ranging from Building Services to Procurement. Notably, five of these apprentices are entering the construction industry for the first time, and two are women.

From September 2023, we are in the process of recruiting 9 new apprentices in roles from Sustainability to Building Services.

Beyond apprenticeships, we actively support our team members in pursuing higher qualifications, such as NVQs for advanced construction skills cards or by enhancing their knowledge and facilitating courses on sustainability and health and safety.

Our commitment to support extends beyond our immediate team. Recognising the significance of quality educational opportunities, we collaborate with our supply chain to provide work experience and engage with schools. In 2024, our focus will be on empowering young individuals, especially females, to explore and succeed in an industry often perceived as 'male-dominated.'

We are dedicated to providing insights into our industry and creating pathways for success.

Mental Health

At MCS, we prioritise the health and wellbeing of our staff, giving special attention to mental health. We have implemented a policy mandating that all managers and directors undergo 'Mental Health Awareness for Managers' training. This comprehensive training covers various aspects of mental health and equips managers with the knowledge to offer support and guidance to any staff members in need. Currently, we have seven mental health first aiders distributed across the entire organization, including both office and site staff, and we plan to expand this number by training at least three more in 2024.

In addition to providing support and training, we actively raise awareness and funds for mental health charities. In 2022 & 2023, we sponsored and participated in a football tournament dedicated to raising funds for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). MCS fielded two teams, not only to support the charity but also to advocate for an active lifestyle. Numerous studies have highlighted the positive impact of physical activity on mental health, and our participation aimed to promote this connection.

MCS Ltd are proud to be a Real Living Wage (RLW) employer

MCS Ltd are proud to be a Real Living Wage (RLW) employer with a commitment to ensuring all eligible employees (those over the age of 18 and not undertaking an apprenticeship) are paid the RLW by going above and beyond the government minimum. The real living wage (RLW) is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually and is calculated according to the basic cost of living in the UK. There are two rates of Living Wage: London Living Wage and UK Living Wage - both of which are applicable to all MCS Ltd staff.