This session explored what social value really means once contractors leave site, and why that question matters for customers, communities and delivery partners alike. Set against the context of UKREiiF, where long‑term regeneration and infrastructure decisions are debated daily, the discussion focused on moving beyond reporting outputs towards lasting outcomes that residents can still point to years later.
Opening the session, Jamie McKechnie, framed social value as something rooted in place and personal connection rather than a bidding requirement. In Kier Places’ work across schools, hospitals, libraries and homes, teams are often operating in buildings their own colleagues grew up using. That proximity creates responsibility. The discussion was clear that disruption is sometimes unavoidable, but how organisations behave during that disruption shapes trust and long‑term legacy.
Megan Webb challenged the audience to reconsider how social value initiatives are chosen. She highlighted the risk of organisations repeating well‑intentioned schemes simply because they have worked elsewhere. While those initiatives may generate strong case studies, they can miss what a specific community actually needs. The contrast between delivering a pre‑selected programme and responding to a community‑identified need illustrated how impact increases when residents are asked early and listened to properly. Social value, she noted, is an industry term. Communities talk instead about safety, access, wellbeing and opportunity.
