Building social value in Bradford
The secondment proved to be a fantastic opportunity to work closely with our client. Whilst the secondee introduced the Council to various methods of building social value, the Council provided Amey with the space and connections to bring initiatives to Bradford. One example saw the secondee successfully bring Amey’s Net Zero Campaign to Bradford.
During Net Zero Week, an energy reduction campaign was run in Bradford, involving preparing posters, educational presentations, informative emails, and offering school assemblies from Amey’s energy team. Bradford’s Titus Salt School achieved a 5.4% reduction in carbon emissions by switching lights off, shutting down computers instead of leaving them on standby, and turning the biomass boilers down to a summer temperature of 75°.
The secondment also opened up valuable recruitment opportunities. Through this initiative, two apprentices were hired onto Amey’s Bradford contract. Additionally, Amey’s partnership connected the company with Bradford Council’s careers organisation, SkillsHouse, a leading hub for education, training, and skills development. By collaborating with this service, Amey helped create meaningful employment opportunities for Bradford citizens.
Building social value through the Amey Challenge Cup
Leveraging Amey’s success in delivering the Challenge Cup, an event designed to help bridge the gender diversity gap in STEM, the first secondee seized the opportunity to bring the Challenge Cup to Bradford for the first time. The event invited female students in years eight and nine to participate in an engineering project, inspiring them to break down barriers and consider a future in STEM. The 2023 Bradford Challenge Cup was a great success, with over 50 students attending.
Building on the success of the first Challenge Cup, the second secondee organised a second event in Bradford. Unlike the previous year, which focused on designing a Sustainable School, this year’s theme was more locally relevant. With Bradford named the City of Culture 2025, the district was undergoing exciting developments, including plans to redesign south Bradford to attract new visitors and encourage residents to remain in the city, a project known as the Southern Gateway.
As part of the Council’s effort to understand the aspirations of Bradford’s youth for their city’s future, the Challenge Cup was tailored to uncover these voices. As a result, the challenge shifted to Build a Sustainable Southern Gateway. To enhance engagement, Amey collaborated with a small team at the University of Bradford, who 3D-printed a model of the Southern Gateway. This interactive model, manipulated using a projector, proved to be an exciting feature of the event.
Like the previous year, this event was a great success, with both organisations eager to continue using this initiative to build social value in Bradford.
Strengthening our relationship with Bradford Council
To further foster collaboration and unity between Amey and the Council, the secondee participated in council team lunches, visited different offices, and attended Away Days meetings with the wider Council employment team to discuss what each division was working on.
Additionally, with the Council’s supply chain meeting quarterly, the Council asked the secondee to produce work and present in front of senior members of the Board, creating unique opportunities to build skills and experience. This request was a testament to the strong relationship built through the secondment, highlighting its mutually beneficial nature.
