Social Values.
Southernsbroadstock generates social value by working collaboratively with stakeholders to create maximum economic, social, and environmental benefits.
By engaging with individuals, groups, and customers from the communities we work in, we identify ways to support their needs and effect sustainable change.
Our sustainability and social value objectives are aligned to both the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the publication of the procurement policy note PPN-06/20, we have also aligned our social value objectives to the five themes:
- COVID-19 recovery – Help our local communities to manage and recover from the impact of COVID-19.
- Tackling economic inequality – Tackle economic inequality by creating new jobs and increasing our supply chain resilience.
- Fighting climate change – Fighting climate change and minimising our environmental impact.
- Equal opportunity – Tackle workforce inequality by offering accessible recruitment practices and progression.
- Wellbeing – Improve the health and wellbeing of our staff and communities.
Introducing our charity partner
Mustard Tree (https://mustardtree.org.uk/) are a northwest based charity that combat and prevent poverty, inequality and homelessness across Greater Manchester. We will be supporting them as a corporate partner and championing their great cause over the coming months. By focusing our efforts on this dedicated cause, we believe we can make a real difference through a genuine and meaningful relationship.
With an annual donation alongside four fundraising events, we will be utilising our time and resources; furniture, food, and supplies to support this wonderful charity to continue their essential work.
This video (click here) shows the difference Mustard Tree are making in our community.
Health Assured
The health and wellbeing of everyone at Southernsbroadstock is paramount, and we proudly partner with the UK’s leading wellbeing provider Health Assured. This enables our employees to have access to the very best support via their Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
The EAP strives to improve home and/or work life and general health and wellbeing, covering everything from life support to free online CBT.
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Delivering Social Value to Existing Clients
By engaging with stakeholders, Southernsbroadstock aligns closely with the needs of community groups. This solutions-based approach allows us to empower local organisations and drive positive change. An example is the innovative scheme we have developed with Kings College London (KCL):
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/london/civic-challenge
Having been appointed as a single source provider, we have been working in partnership with Kings College, London to launch an innovative social value scheme. Aimed to impact on a local level and develop community integration, projects are selected using a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style approach. The committee, incorporating key stakeholders from the client, Southernsbroadstock, and community representatives, identifies opportunities that will deliver real economic regeneration.
Over £100k of funding has already supported a range of projects including training for workforce skills and disadvantaged groups; food bank provision; and initiatives to tackle social isolation. Kings College London’s single source rebate is applied to the fund to invest in these worthy schemes.
Partnered with The Real Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage is a voluntary scheme promoting fair pay that reflects the true cost of living. Accredited employers that take part in the initiative ensure their teams receive wages that meet their everyday needs.
Southernsbroadstock is a Living Wage employer dedicated to providing better pay and working conditions for our teams. The Living Wage provides extensive benefits for both our employees and the company as a whole. It enhances the wellbeing and job satisfaction of our staff, while creating a work environment where everyone feels valued.
Student Placements & Work Experience
First-hand experience within a professional environment offers an invaluable insight for those looking to step onto the career ladder. Southernsbroadstock works with local colleges to provide placements and work experience for students, offering insight into a wide range of disciplines. We support and accommodate the needs of local colleges as required, giving students opportunities to enhance their skillset.
Recent placements include:
We recently completed a two-week placement within our Bolton based upholstery team in partnership with Blackburn College. It was important to us that we provided this student with ‘real life’ work experience and an insight into the skills needed for this role. We understand the value this can add, not only for the students but for the future of the furniture and upholstery industry.
Southernsbroadstock has also partnered with Macclesfield College to provide supported internships for individuals with learning difficulties. With 52 weeks of coaching toward unaided working, the overall aim is to offer them full-time employment within the SB community.
Donations & Support for Local Charities
Part of our commitment to strengthen local communities is through our involvement with charities. By providing additional resources and funding, we facilitate their valuable work with the people, communities and causes they support.
Thinklikeapony (Leeds) – Southernsbroadstock proudly donated furniture to their organisation, and is a big advocate of the superb work they do within the local community. The furniture provided included desks, tables, sofas and booths. The donation assisted with the furnishing and function of their new family development centre, providing even more than a city centre stables for neurodivergent therapy.
Southernsbroadstock Bolton Site Fundraiser – at our Bolton site, we collect donations each week for ‘Dress Down Friday’, and every 3 months a member of our team selects a charity that means something personal to them. Previous beneficiaries from this scheme include Parkinsons UK, Maggie’s House, and Derian House which is a Chorley based hospice for children’s end of life.
Rossendale Trust (Macclesfield) – Southernsbroadstock has regularly worked with The Rossendale Trust for many years. The Trust provides Supported Living care to adults with learning and physical disabilities. Southernsbroadstock supports the Trust through fundraising and work taste placements. We host short workplace opportunities, encouraging individuals in consolidating and developing their skills, increasing their scope, and helping them feel valued.
“Our relationship with Broadstock, now Southernsbroadstock, stretches back many years. We have had several WorkTaste placements completing various roles. Unfortunately, COVID halted the partnership for a few years, but we are pleased to say that we have picked up where we left off. We currently have a supported Intern from a local college on placement and are in the planning phase to have a WorkTaste placement in the New Year. The welcome and training the intern and I have been given is exemplary. Giving the intern a buddy to work with allows for independence in their tasks to be achieved far quicker as support and advice is always nearby. Loren Carragher has been instrumental in re-establishing the mutually beneficial partnership. It’s fantastic that local businesses, such as Southernsbroadstock, engage with The Rossendale Trust’s WorkTaste project to enable our tenants the opportunity to contribute and feel part of the working community”
Colin, WorkTaste Manager, The Rossendale Trust
Supporting Local Recruitment
Corporate Social Responsibility is something we are passionate about at Southernsbroadstock. As a company whose purpose is to create nurturing environments, we feel it is only right for this ethos to extend into our communities, where we can create a real and lasting benefit.
We employ over 110 people across the UK. Our offices are in areas where unemployment is above the UK average, and we will continue to employ in these areas as our company grows. We have a rigorous training plan in place that ensures that all levels of staff are given every opportunity to diversify their skills and knowledge and grow within the business.
Southernsbroadstock holds onsite recruitment days and implements ‘refer a friend’ schemes to draw more local talent into our business. When in high demand, we aim to employ local team members wherever possible. This reduces the impact of emissions on the environment and local area through less travel time, and savings in travel costs for the individual.
Sustainability
As a leading UK manufacturer and supplier of furniture and equipment, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and recognising our responsibilities to social value. We have developed a measured development plan encompassing initiatives to lower our greenhouse gas emissions; enhance opportunities for our employees and the local community; as well as our commitments to our customers and suppliers.
Our dedicated sustainability advisor works across our business to focus our efforts and ensure alignment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals together with the UK Government’s Social Value Model.
Our Sustainability Development Plan is built around key SMART metrics to drive innovative development and change, and embracing equity, diversity and inclusion.
Our Social Value Commitments.
See Our Case Studies.
City of Liverpool College.
View Case Study
