Community Engagement Project of the Year

North London Heat and Power Project
Acciona

Through NLHPP, Acciona has worked with NLWA and supply chain partner Byrne Bros. to contribute to healthy and resilient communities by building capacity amongst community organisations to enable community-led solutions to local challenges. The RE-Power Communities initiative provided financial, in-kind and volunteering support for projects designed by community organisations operating across Waltham Forest, Enfield and Haringey. Partnering with 14 local community organisations, the initiative focused on projects including environmental-based schemes that engaged with socially excluded people; building projects that offered community organisations a legacy asset to support their work; and employability initiatives that support disadvantaged groups into work.

Norton Folgate Project Charter
British Land

Norton Folgate was a technically complex and challenging project. We inherited a relationship with the local community that had been tested through the planning process. With such a complex project the easy thing for the team to have done would be to focus on the technical elements of the project. The project team not only managed the technical challenges expertly, but they also invested their time and energy in the social value initiatives – suggesting and leading initiatives as well as participating, and actively engaging with the community around the development.

Stonebridge Estate
Higgins Partnerships

Community engagement and social value is fundamental to what Higgins does. Working closely with key partners it is passionate about delivering sustainable legacy projects, identifying, and learning from the outset what is required by residents and ensuring its focus is on quality not quantity, making a real difference to individuals and communities it works with. At Stonebridge, Higgins generated over £6,953,000 in social and local economic value, working with a variety of charities and partners to deliver meaningful community initiatives, providing over 330 hours of community and volunteering, £29,578 in financial donations and sponsorship, equalling an actual SLEVA of 30.5%.

University of Glasgow Campus Development Project
Multiplex Construction

In partnership with the University of Glasgow, Multiplex have delivered an ambitious vision; a brand-new campus that seamlessly integrates into the social, cultural, and physical fabric of the city while demonstrating a staggering commitment to community engagement throughout the project lifecycle. Through consistent stakeholder liaison, educational engagement for young people, the provision of local employment opportunities, and steadfast support for local community projects, the Campus Development has delivered transformational, tangible change. We believe it is a true example of excellence in community engagement and social impact.

Shay Grange Crematorium, Heaton
Robertson 

Shay Grange Crematorium project is an award-worthy exemplar of community engagement. Surpassing social value targets by an outstanding 250%, the project's impact on Bradford extends far beyond expectations. The initiative not only exceeded the initial £1.5 million social value target but achieved an impressive £3.9 million, showcasing a genuine commitment to the community. From supporting the unemployed, empowering students, facilitating youth workforce integration, to providing valuable work experience, the community welfare contributions amounting to £10,366 underline the Robertson dedication to holistic development. Client satisfaction is evident with a perfect 10/10 score, making Shay Grange a beacon of community engagement excellence.

Critical Care Healing Garden
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

The Royal Cornwall Hospital’s Critical Care Healing Garden supports acutely unwell patients. The calm, harmonious courtyard promotes physical and emotional healing and rehabilitation. Patients can reconnect to the world by smelling different scents, feeling the sun and fresh air on their skin, and listening to the breeze through plants. Funded entirely by charitable donations, this healing garden has captured the hearts of the Cornish community not only donating via the fundraising campaign, but also with time and expertise. They have enabled a truly special space that leaves a lasting legacy on all those who have and will benefit from it.

Walsall Manor Hospital Urgent and Emergency Care Centre
Tilbury Douglas

Walsall Manor Urgent & Emergency Care Centre showcases the ‘art of the possible’ for healthcare developments, delivering an innovative, high performing building that supports an effective new clinical model that is already proving to have positive outcomes on healthcare metrics. The project exhibits excellence in all core aspects of the Construction Playbook, from technology and modern methods of construction, to a multi layered social value plan and sustainability strategy. Consciously developed with the future in mind, this proudly local project stands tall as a national precedent in its sector.

New Victoria, Manchester
VINCI Building

New Victoria, Manchester has created a vibrant new residential community. More than that the project left a remarkable legacy of social value, generating extensive local employment opportunities, economic benefit, multi-level education activities, work placements, apprenticeships, training and outreach to vulnerable groups, community and charity organisations. Most significantly our team’s innovative proposal to address the growing issue of homelessness in the city achieved powerful results by opening our welfare facilities over two festive periods, transforming them into a vital drop-in centre for the homeless and those in crisis, creating a transferable model for positive social impact.

Southampton Airport runway extension
VolkerFitzpatrick

The project team at the Southampton Airport Runway Extension delivered a 164m runway extension, full AGL replacement, new pit and duct system, drainage networks, blast screen, turning pad, and ancillary works as part of the AGS Framework (Aberdeen, Glasgow, and Southampton). VolkerFitzpatrick achieved £4.6million in Social Value spend, amounting to 75.4% of the contract value, including £1.3million in local supply chain spend, £272.6k in local full-time positions, 60 apprenticeship weeks, and 80 volunteering hours. Our engagement with the local community left a lasting positive legacy as a contractor whilst also enhancing the Client’s relationship with the wider Southampton community.

Lucent
Wates Construction

Despite Lucent operating at the epicentre of some of the most challenging, unforeseen events throughout 2021-2023, including a state funeral and coronation, this project prioritised community engagement from day one. This is highlighted by the staggering social value total at Lucent, topping £1.8m, and glowing client feedback: “We have had great feedback from our neighbours and receive regular internal comments on the positive attitude and quick response of the Wates team. There are billions of tourists visiting the Piccadilly Lights every year and Wates’ approach ensured 24/7 up-time was maintained.” Serafino Masella Community Liaison Manager, Landsec

Oldham Old Library
Tilbury Douglas

The community first approach taken in the delivery and standout performance give this project the ‘wow’ factor. Tilbury Douglas sympathetically restored and future proofed the library so that it can once again become a central part of the community. Socially responsible construction was a core value for the project team and they actively engaged with the community to arrive at solutions that met local needs, whilst supporting young people and community projects. The restoration has ensured its legacy as a key community building exceeding the client’s social value return on investment target achieving over £4m for the Oldham.