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Social Value

What we want to see from contractors

Social Value is not just about numbers.

  • It's about credible, deliverable commitments that create real benefits for Tower Hamlets residents, communities and local businesses

Skills and career pathways

We want contractors to offer a range of skills opportunities, including:

  • Work experience

  • Internships

  • Apprenticeships

  • Graduate placements

We are particularly interested in:

  • How these opportunities lead to employment 

  • How residents are supported to progress

  • How skills activity links to real career pathways in construction and  the built environment

Local employment opportunities

What we want to see:

  • Employment opportunities for Tower Hamlets residents

  • Entry-level roles

  • Skilled and higher-skilled roles

  • Clear routes from training into employment

Suggested contractor focus

  • How will you identify local residents?

  • How will you support them into roles?

  • How will you retain and progress them?

  • How will you report employment outcomes?

Supporting priority resident groups

Contractors should consider targeted approaches for:

  • Women into construction

  • Care experienced residents

  • SEND residents

  • Young people in virtual schools

What good looks like

  • Specific commitments for these groups

  • Partnerships with relevant local services

  • Practical support to overcome barriers

  • Tailored pathways into training, work experience or employment 

Local SMEs and supply chain opportunities 

We want to see clear approaches to:

  • Contracting opportunities for local supply chains

  • SME mentoring

  • Supply chain capacity building

  • Preparing local SMEs for future opportunities 

Important distinction

  • Generic mentoring is not enough

  • Support should help local SMEs become more competitive and better prepared to access real opportunities

Health, work and connect to work

Theme

  • There is an important relationship between health, work and employment opportunity

  • Contractors should consider how employment and skills commitments can support residents who may face additional barriers

Focus groups may include:

  • Care experienced residents

  • SEND residents

  • Young people in virtual schools

Social mobility and raising career awareness

What we want to see

  • Work with schools and young people

  • Activities that raise awareness of construction and built environment careers

  • Early engagement that helps make construction a positive career choice

Suggested contractor activities:

  • School engagement

  • Site visits

  • Careers talks

  • Curriculum-linked activities

  • Role model sessions

  • Practical insight into different construction and built environment careers

  • Be ambitious, but realistic

  • Focus on quality and deliverability

  • Show how your offer responds to Tower Hamlets' local priorities

  • Be specific about who will benefit

  • Strategise how communities will be delivered, monitored and evidenced