Global engineering firm inspires next gen professionals with social value projects

AtkinsRéalis, a global engineering, design, and project management company, has organised a series of events across the UK to inspire and empower emerging professionals in the built environment sector.

These events aim to highlight the long-term impact of social value outcomes on areas affected by development and large-scale infrastructure projects.

Around 500 industry professionals attended events in Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Birmingham, Cardiff, London, and Bristol.

These sessions aimed to show how social value can drive change and its future impact, providing practical insights for everyday practices.

The events provided the next generation of professionals with the opportunity to learn from social enterprise organisations, engage in interactive sessions, and network with peers.

Hosted at inclusive venues, including publicly funded spaces like the Prince’s Trust in Birmingham, the events included workshops, panels, team activities, and keynote speakers.

The teams collaborated with third-sector organisations, and panel sessions featured representatives from charities like the Prince’s Trust, Envision, and Lord’s Taverners, as well as local organisations such as Bristol’s Creative Youth Network.

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 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.

“We want 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. 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.”