CLM Fireproofing: Delivering Real Social Value Through Community Commitment
CLM Fireproofing is our Supplier for July. We recognise their outstanding contribution to Social Value and community impact.
Impact at a Glance:
⏱ 420 volunteer hours donated
🤝 23 organisations supported
✅ 49 projects completed
🚧 6 projects currently in progress
💼 1 job filled through the partnership
Founded 36 years ago, CLM Fireproofing is a leader in the passive fire protection industry, recognised for its technical expertise, innovation, and strong commitment to social value. Through their partnership with Match My Project and clients like Hyde Housing Association, they’re delivering real, meaningful benefits to communities across the UK — from improving public spaces to creating employment opportunities. Their dedication to Social Value shines through in countless projects that support local schools, community centres, and vulnerable groups.
What community organisations say:
Hyde Housing, Sheltered & Supported Housing:
The residents and staff of Hardwick Court Erith, part of Hyde Housing Association, are eternally grateful to CLM Fireproofing for this amazing contribution. This will mean residents have a beautiful and safe place to enjoy for many years to come.
RS Property Chichester:
Very professional company and helpful with setting up the computer as we had a few issues with our wi-fi.
Henry Fawcett Primary:
CLM’s fast, clear communication and dedication helped us complete a playground upgrade just in time for summer fun!
Creating Opportunities CLM’s commitment to social value extends to employment opportunities. One successful candidate recently shared:
I’m happy to confirm that I received a job offer from CLM Fireproofing for the fire protection labourer position. I want to express my gratitude for your assistance in connecting me with this opportunity.
Maddison Sands, Head of Marketing at CLM Fireproofing, reflects:
We are honoured to be selected as the Match My Project portal’s Supplier of the Month. Social value is deeply ingrained in our company culture, and we’re proud to be working alongside our client, Hyde Housing Association, delivering initiatives that directly reflect and respond to the needs of the local communities we serve. The MMP portal is truly game-changing and we’re incredibly grateful to have a platform that helps us connect with projects that so closely align with our company values.
We’re proud to have CLM Fireproofing as a user, a true partner dedicated to giving back and helping build safer, stronger, and more connected communities — one project at a time.
Do you want to be a part of the story? Sign up via your local authority’s Match My Project homepage.
Already one of our users, and you would like to be featured in our journal and newsletter, email us at support@matchmyproject.org
We are pleased to announce that ForHousing has joined the Match My Project platform.
ForHousing owns and manages over 19,000 homes across the North West and is widely recognised for its commitment to supporting tenants and communities through inclusive, customer-focused services. A clear mission guides their work: to provide safe, well-maintained homes and deliver equitable and efficient services that reflect the needs and priorities of their tenants.
With a strong presence in Salford and the wider Greater Manchester area, ForHousing brings valuable regional knowledge and a proven track record of community development. Their approach is built on respect, trust, openness and passion, values that resonate strongly with our ethos at Match My Project.
We are especially proud to be expanding our work in the North West with an organisation that has consistently demonstrated innovation in tackling social issues. From award-winning strategies to address anti-social behaviour, to delivering employment and financial inclusion programmes that support vulnerable residents, ForHousing exemplifies what it means to invest in the drivers of long-term wellbeing.
By joining Match My Project, ForHousing will connect with like-minded local authorities, housing associations, VCFSEs, and suppliers who are committed to delivering social value in the places that need it most. We believe collaboration is the key to unlocking new opportunities, and this partnership will help do just that.
We look forward to supporting the ForHousing team as they engage with local stakeholders through the platform, and to seeing the positive outcomes that arise from this new chapter.
Welcome to the platform, ForHousing. We’re excited to work together to build stronger, more resilient communities.
Want to see your organisation on this list? Contracting authorities can sign up here.
This month marks a significant milestone as we celebrate two years of Sovereign Network Group (SNG) — a journey defined by purpose, progress, and partnership. In just 24 months, SNG has continued to build on its commitment to providing good, affordable homes, creating the foundations for better lives and stronger communities.
By the Numbers – A Snapshot of Impact
In two years, Sovereign Network Group has achieved impressive outcomes that reflect the power of collaboration and community-driven action:
🏢 54 businesses have signed up to support SNG’s mission
🤝 134 community-based organisations have joined the network
⏱️ 131 volunteer hours donated
🌱 52 projects supported to date
Each number tells a story of people coming together to create meaningful change across neighbourhoods and regions.
A Vision for Thriving Communities
SNG’s vision is to create thriving communities over generations, guided by five key goals:
1. Financial and Digital Inclusion
SNG provides proactive and critical support to customers facing financial hardship. From building financial resilience to supporting digital connectivity, they ensure the communities aren’t left behind in a rapidly evolving world.
2. Community Action
Through close collaboration with anchor organisations, local groups, and their customers, SNG co-creates social action programmes with long-term impact. Their focus areas include youth initiatives, ageing well, health and wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. Together, they harness community power and amplify customer voices.
3. Partnerships and Fundraising
SNG’s partnership approach is strategic and inclusive. By bringing in external funding, we enhance and expand our community investment offer, helping local organisations grow their capacity and deliver more impactful services. Everything SNG does, from grant-making to collaborative frameworks, is rooted in driving measurable social value.
Reflecting on the last two years, we are inspired by the dedication, creativity, and compassion fueling the Sovereign Network Group. From affordable homes to meaningful partnerships, they remain committed to helping individuals and communities not just survive, but truly thrive.
Here’s to the future — building stronger, fairer, and more connected communities. 🏡💛
How Match My Project is helping create collaborative and creative spaces for local communities
Fierce Festival is a festival of theatre, performance and experiences which takes place in and around Birmingham every two years.
This year, Fierce matched with Birmingham City University on Match My Project.
From this collaboration, the perfect home for a specially commissioned participatory artwork was found.
Photo credits: Manuel Vason, Softly/Tenderly by Sheila Ghelani, Fierce Festival
Softly/Tenderly is a participatory artwork by Sheila Ghelani exploring the complicated history of gun-making and the metalworking practice within Birmingham but, as the name suggests, does so with care.
Through Match My Project, Birmingham City University and their partner, STEAMhouse, provided technical support to manage the health and safety of the event, as well as the physical space and hospitality support for the artwork to take place.
Small groups, big conversations
Hosted in small groups, those who experienced the work played a part in the manufacturing of a small precious metal object that they were allowed to keep.
Participants made their own broaches and were gifted a specially made book by the artist about the history of gun making, the idea being for them to read this in the comfort of their own space.
Photo credits: Manuel Vason, Softly/Tenderly by Sheila Ghelani, Fierce Festival
The artist explains the symbolic significance of these objects as follows:
“A gift or totem to take away, acting (perhaps) as a gentle reminder of some of the better things industrious hands can get up to – many people making together being a nod towards some of Birmingham’s more celebrated workshop industries, such as jewellery and toys.”
A print illuminating Birmingham’s role in its lesser talked about trade accompanied the work, allowing participants to engage with the heavier aspects of history.
The shows sold out across the Fierce Festival week, reaching around 100 audiences.
Photo credits: Manuel Vason, Softly/Tenderly by Sheila Ghelani, Fierce Festival
Bridging Communities Through Creative Collaboration
This work is important because it created a space for people to engage with history in a gentler, more nuanced way—transforming potentially difficult narratives into shared, creative experiences. It shows that, when we approach the past and present with care, curiosity, and creativity, we can forge pathways to a more inclusive and compassionate future.
In an increasingly politically polarised world, we at Match My Project are proud to play a part in bringing communities together. This match demonstrates how collaborative approaches can bridge divides and create meaningful connections.
Here’s how you can get involved:
For Community Organisations: If you’re running a project that supports community cohesion and well-being, sign up at matchmyproject.org. Your initiative could be the next to receive crucial support and resources.
For Businesses: Your contribution can transform lives. Register at matchmyproject.org to discover local projects that align with your values and see how you can make a tangible impact in your community.
At Match My Project, we’re privileged to witness firsthand how local initiatives can spark transformation and bring people together.
As summer draws to a close, we want to shine a spotlight on some inspiring projects that exemplify the power of community action.
From vibrant carnivals to neighborhood clean-ups, these case studies showcase the diverse ways in which local organisations and businesses are joining forces to create real local impact.
Lets celebrate these local heroes and reflect on how we can all be better neighbours.
Summer Sports Day – Good Neighbours and Purdy Contracts
Good Neighbours comprises a group of neighbours from the Coldbath and Orchard estate (Greenwich) and surrounding areas.
The idea began with Anne Duncan, who has lived on the estate for 30 years. After lockdown, she noticed that there were no children playing and engaging with others around the estate. She wondered where they had gone, and decided to put on an event for them.
She quickly realised that they were very much still around, but that there was just nothing for them to come and socialise for. From there Good Neighbours was born – with a mission to bring back the community spirit. They aim to improve mental wellness and community cohesion by running inclusive social events for children and young people that restore pride in the community.
Jay Duncan from Good Neighbours said that since the birth of Good Neighbours, the support they have received has been ‘amazing’. They have been overwhelmed by the support from the local community, their local councillor Pat Slattery, local businesses and Match My Project. They can already see the changes in the community and Anne is in the process of becoming a Greenwich housing champion!
Jay also said that Match My Project has been of tremendous support to the growth of the Good Neighbours events. They said that the support the organisation has received has contributed to over 300 attendees thus far, and without Match My Project it would be nearly impossible to have achieved the growth that they have. Receiving support with areas such as toilet facilities and volunteers is of huge importance to the organisation, and would otherwise be at a large cost to Good Neighbours.
Jay said “For me MMP is like a blessing sent from heaven and we are very grateful for the support we get to help build and grow our community.”
This summer, Good Neighbours hosted a community summer event. They matched with Purdy Contracts, a well-established mechanical, electrical, building services and renewable energy contractor, to deliver this project.
Purdy contributed 35 volunteering hours to assist at the event.
This is what Purdy had to say about the day:
“Good Neighbours are amazing and we were honoured to volunteer at their summer event. It was fantastic to see children and their families fully enjoying the bouncy castle, swimming pools, face painting and many more activities. They even provided free ice creams for the children which was a special treat and thoroughly enjoyed. We all had smiles on our faces and enjoyed every minute of the day and would love to return for their Halloween and Christmas events.”
Clapham Park Funday Carnival – MTVH South London and PiLON
At the heart of every thriving community lies collaboration and creativity. This was beautifully exemplified at the recent Clapham Park fun day. Match My Project played a key role in bringing together local talent, businesses, and residents to create an unforgettable celebration of community spirit.
The event was a kaleidoscope of activities, from face painting and arts and crafts to the mesmerising ‘Tree of Life’ character by Mandinga Arts. Local artisans showcased their skills, offering handcrafted goods that reflected the rich diversity of the neighbourhood. But what truly set this day apart was the vibrant carnival procession, made possible through the innovative use of Match My Project.
MTVH used Match My Project to secure funding from PiLON, a refurbishment and maintenance contractor. This collaboration enabled a resident to host costume-making workshops in the lead-up to the fun day. Working alongside three youth providers and Autism Voice, the project expanded to include more young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Over 30 young participants designed and created costumes, props, and stilts, learning valuable skills in sewing, building, and teamwork along the way. The generous funding provided by PiLON through Match My Project covered essential materials and volunteer expenses, ensuring that creativity could flourish without financial constraints.
As the carnival procession made its way through the fun day, it became clear that Match My Project had facilitated more than just a colorful display. It had fostered a sense of pride, accomplishment, and community cohesion.
Even the Mayor was amazed by the talent and sheer scale of the event, commenting that it was “one of the best fun days [he’d] ever attended.”
An MTVH representative echoed this sentiment:
“The sun shone, the children were smiling and the community really enjoyed themselves. The dance group were incredible and your support meant that young people were able to dazzle the community with colourful, vibrant costumes and props!”
Safer Streets: The Nightingales Community Clear-up Day – SNG Projects and Service Master
The SNG Projects Team recently used Match My Project to facilitate a community clear-up day with the aim of both cleaning up the local area and fostering a stronger sense of community cohesion.
The day involved the Greenham Community Centre and Berkshire Youth, who delivered activities for children and hosted several local community partners to showcase what they do in their communities. The Police and Fire Service also attended to engage with the public and provide advice.
For the clear-up activities, the local authority, SNG, volunteers, children and a local green group all worked together to pick up litter across the estate. These organisations were also joined by SNG supplier, Service Master, a cleaning contractor, who made vehicles available to help collect and dispose of heavier unwanted items such as white goods and furniture.
Overall, the day was a success with the benefit clear to see both from a clear-up perspective and a community engagement perspective, and everyone involved enjoyed some pizza, hot and cold drinks and fruit.
SNG Community Investment and Partnership Lead Darryl MacAndrew stated:
“This was the second of three community clear-up events on this estate. It was great to have nicer weather this time but ultimately it was another successful event with the community coming together to help assist with the clear-up, engage with the community centre and community partners or both. Although this is a small cog in a big machine in regard to the community investment being channelled into this estate – it is a vital cog in that it gives the community the chance to make positive changes where they live and feel proud where they live”.
Multiplying Impact
These stories demonstrate how small acts can lead to big impact. At Match My Project, we are proud to play a role in connecting local organisations with the resources and support they need to uplift their communities.
Whether you are a business looking to maximise your community impact or a grassroots organisation seeking to expand your reach, Match My Project is here to help. Read our top five tips for suppliers here or our top five tips for community organisations here!
Deliver the Best Social Value in Your Communities with Match My Project.
How can you make a bigger impact?
What if you could boost your business by transforming your social engagement?
Match My Project is here to help you take your Social Value delivery to the next level.
We believe in the power of Social Value to transform lives and communities. That’s why we build technology that enables organisations to do just that. And we’re always thinking about ways to make that impact as meaningful and as far-reaching as possible.
Over the past few months, Laura from the Match My Project team has spoken to Social Value experts across the UK about their remarkable work. She asked them how businesses can be more responsible and make a bigger impact in local communities.
This is what she found out.
Here are the top 5 things suppliers can do to deliver better Social Value:
Offer longer, incentivised work placements
I’d like to see more longer periods of work experience, but incentivised … we need to invest in these young people and show that we’re investing in them by incentivising them.
– Phillipa Wilkinson, Post-16 Lead at the Stockport Virtual School
Show that you are invested in the future of young people and their development. Longer placements give participants more time to learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to your organisation.
Incentives could include paid positions, performance bonuses, or opportunities for permanent employment upon successful completion. This shows a genuine investment in developing talent and can lead to a more diverse and skilled workforce.
Take advantage of Pathways to Work
This Match My Project feature is designed to streamline the process of connecting job opportunities with local communities. Utilise it to post apprenticeships, entry-level positions, and training programs. The platform can help target specific demographics or areas, ensuring your Social Value efforts reach those who need them most.
I would like to see more willingness from our contractors and suppliers to think creatively about ensuring employment and training opportunities that they committed to within their Social Value tenders or pledges. And ensure that these are followed through and delivered in areas where [the contracting authorities] have customers and communities … More could definitely be done to use the platform, especially the new features that Match My Project has launched, and link these opportunities to our customers.
Emma Needham, Social Investment Specialist at Onward Homes
Create early opportunities for work placement candidates to familiarise themselves with the work environment before starting.
Starting a new job is scary. Especially when it’s your first time in a professional work setting.
Laura Perry from Ridge and Partners, a built environment agency with eleven locations across the UK, offers a brilliant solution to this obstacle: allow placement candidates to come into the office before they start working there. This allows them to familiarise themselves with the space, the people who work there, and the journey they will take to work.
In Laura’s words:
I recommend meeting with the placement student beforehand. That helps to make them feel more relaxed and I think it can make the organisation feel a bit more relaxed as well. You both know each other, you both know what to expect. [I recommend] visits to the workplace before starting so that they can journey to and from because it can be quite overwhelming if they are not used to travelling to a city centre in rush hour. And it helps the other teams be aware as well of someone else who might be coming in if they want to speak to them, or perhaps they are interested in a certain discipline.
Ridge and Partners recently matched with the Stockport Care Leavers Team to facilitate a successful work placement for a care-experienced individual. Read the inspiring story here.
Consider the whole supply chain.
Try to think about the whole end-to-end process.
Amy Holbrook, Bid and Responsible Business Manager at PH Jones (British Gas).
Transforming your supply chain for Social Value creation might involve:
Partnering with social enterprises or B-corps for supplies and services
Supporting local businesses in your procurement processes
Encouraging your suppliers to adopt their own Social Value initiatives
Amy Holbrook from PH Jones explained the broader social impact that transformations to the supply chain can have. She told me about a project PH Jones completed to illustrate this.
PH Jones worked with building merchant chain Jewson to paint the L6 Centre, a charity they connected with through Match My Project. The paint used for the project was from Paint360, a social enterprise that re-engineers waste paint back into brand-new paint and employs ex-offenders. Not only was the L6 centre repainted, but, through this project, PH Jones was able to champion a socially and environmentally sustainable cause.
This approach demonstrates how considering the entire supply chain can multiply the Social Value impact of a single project.
Commit to the long run.Transform from within.
True Social Value isn’t about one-off gestures or short-term projects.
It’s about embedding a commitment to social responsibility deep within the fabric of your organisation. This approach requires a fundamental shift in how businesses view their role in society, moving from occasional charitable acts to a consistent, integrated approach that aligns social impact with business objectives.
What does this look like practically? Here are some ideas:
Include Social Value objectives in your company’s strategic plan
Provide training on Social Value to all employees
Celebrate and reward Social Value achievements internally
Take it from two businesses that exemplify an authentic, embodied form of Social Value:
Don’t keep flashing money around for Social Value. That’s probably one of my biggest frustrations. It’s not about all the financial money. Yes, it’s nice to give a token gift of money. But it’s not – it’s the longevity, it’s the hours. Really buying into what you’re doing. You know, be emotionally invested in Social Value, because the impact it does have is massive.
Andrea Ratcliffe, Business Development & Bid Manager at Connolly Ltd
You can’t do Social Value if it’s not embodied in your business … You’ve got to start at the heart of it, which is your business and your people.
Laura Perry, Social Value Project Consultant at Ridge and Partners
By integrating Social Value into your core business practices, you can create a meaningful impact in your communities while also benefiting your organisation through improved reputation, employee engagement, and stakeholder relationships.
Social Value isn’t just about what you do—it’s about who you are as an organisation.
The experts we’ve heard from throughout this blog have demonstrated that true Social Value is embedded in every aspect of business operations. It requires a holistic approach that encompasses everything from work placements and supply chain considerations to long-term organisational transformation.
But don’t just take our word for it. Take a deeper dive into these insights and hear directly from the Social Value experts themselves.
Watch this exclusive video to gain valuable insights, practical tips, and inspiration to take your Social Value delivery to new heights.
Are you making the most of Match My Project? Find out from Match My Project’s most prolific community beneficiary how to maximise the resources available on the platform.
The Henry Fawcett Primary Boxing Club
I spoke to Rachel, the Assistant Head of Henry Fawcett Primary School, the most active community organisation on Match My Project. The school has an impressive history of using our platform to channel the best resources and opportunities into the local community. This has earned them a reputation for excellence in the community.
Our mission at Match My Project is to help communities flourish. We do this by matching community organisations with businesses that want to deliver Social Value and CSR.
Rachel said, “The support that we’ve had via [Hyde Housing Association] from Match My Project compared to the support we get from other organisations … it’s not even comparable”.
Rachel provided some invaluable tips and principles which could help you enhance your impact within the community you serve.
Here are the top 5 tips for Community-Based Organisations on Match My Project:
Build strong relationships
Have a look around
Frame asks clearly
Go the extra mile
Go for it!
1. Build strong relationships
Match My Project exists for people and communities.
That’s the heart of what we do.
It’s all about relationships – so naturally, having strong ones will set you up well to create flourishing communities through the platform.
Rachel identifies two key ways to achieve this:
a. Keep in touch with the authority
“If there are things I put on there and I start getting a bit panicky that I might not get them, I would contact the Social Value person at Hyde and just say … ‘is there anyone you can poke to help us with this?’.”
The authority could be a bridge between you and a new community partnership – they may be able to put your project in front of the right people. Reaching out to them could help you get the resources you need for your community.
b. Understand the businesses on the platform
Rachel puts her success on Match My Project down to her savviness when it comes to understanding the different focuses and preferences of the business users on the platform. She says: “I’ve understood what sort of things they might be looking for.”
She goes on to explain that, when creating new projects, community-based organisations should consider: “What kind of organisations might want to do them? And framing them in a way that is going to be appealing to them.”
While this may require some initial effort, it’s worth the fruitful relationships that could follow:
“I generally end up getting more than I ask for … once you’re engaged with the supplier and they come and have a look and they’ve come to move the furniture but then they go ‘oh but now you need some carpets in here don’t you? We’ll do that’.”
Taking some time to get your head around the outcomes that suppliers are looking for can go a long way in receiving the right support for your projects.
Remember that suppliers will be looking for projects that contribute to the shared goals or outcomes selected by the authority, for example, “safeguarding the environment” or “promoting jobs and skills” – you will see these outcomes listed when creating a new project.
2. Have a Look Around
In the same spirit of working towards shared goals, Rachel also suggests having a look at other organisations’ projects on Match My Project.
She says, “It’s worth having a little bit of a look around to see what other people are doing and who’s being successful.”
I asked Rachel about the type of resources Henry Fawcett Primary has requested on Match My Project and was impressed by the broad range of projects they have completed. These vary from physical things like chairs to volunteers and funding. She notes that their Breakfast Club is subsidised by suppliers on Match My Project, as is a member of staff (a 1-1 mentor for the children), therapeutic residentials, and a boxing club.
To view other organisations’ projects, log in to your account and navigate to the “Directory” on the left-hand side tab. Here you can see community projects, supplier offers, jobs & training opportunities, as well as a list of all organisations under the “organisations” tab.
3. Frame Asks Clearly
“That’s the important thing: being clear.”
Rachel stresses the importance of framing resource requests clearly.
There are three main elements to this.
a. Be specific
“Try and think about framing the narrative in your request. What you put as your heading – that’s the one-line thing that comes up – is really important … if you can make the title show the benefit and paint a nice narrative, I think that’s helpful. And be specific in what you’re asking for.”
b. Prioritise projects
“You’re always playing a game of prioritising what you put on there and not putting too many things up at the same time. And being clear about which ones are really important to you and which ones are nice to have.”
“I try and keep the requests middling and then find that people are very helpful after the fact.”
c. Separate requests
“There is also an art to … separating things out in the requests. So, rather than saying ‘I need my library redone’ [say], ‘I need the walls painting’; ‘I need the furniture moving’; ‘I need somebody to pay for books.’ Because there might be different organisations that are able to help with those things separately.”
The wording you use in your project request is crucial to the success of the project. Remember to be specific in the title, be clear about your priorities, and try to separate larger projects into smaller, more workable ones.
4. Go the extra mile
Providing as much information as possible, and consistently engaging with community partners, makes a big difference to the impact of projects on Match My Project.
What could you do to get the attention your projects need?
Here are some ideas that have worked for Rachel in the past:
“We always try and contact the supplier directly, send photos of what’s going on, say ‘would you like to come visit the project?’ … I don’t have to do these things, but I chose to.”
Little actions like contacting suppliers directly and sending them photographs can have a huge ripple effect. Fortune favours the bold!
5. Go for It!
As the old adage goes … if you don’t ask, you don’t get. Rachel puts it this way: “Ask, because you just don’t know. Somebody might give it to you.”
Or, you’ve got nothing to lose.
In Rachel’s words: “Realistically, I could spend 15 minutes writing a Match My Project request and get £4000.”
Insights on Impact
At Match My Project we are dedicated to getting the best resources and opportunities into the communities that need them most. We are so inspired by community users like Rachel who are using Match My Project to make a real difference in the local community. Listen to our full conversation with Rachel here – you’ll come away with plenty of insight.
You can also watch some highlights of the conversation here:
Do you have any tips or pieces of advice for other community users? Please get in touch – we’d love to hear from you about how to make the biggest impact in communities.
What is the relationship between social responsibility, the tech industry and product development?
I recently posed this question to Ruth, the Product Lead at Match My Project.
Her answer got me thinking.
This is what she said:
“Technology – we’ve seen through social media – can be quite divisive at times and it can demand a lot of our time and attention, but we want to do things the human way. We want our platforms to be tools that bring people together, bring communities together, and help positive change to happen in the world.”
We want to do things the human way
We want to do things the human way.
This is in the context of a world where things can seem less and less human every day. As Ruth so astutely pointed out, technology can be divisive and demands much of our time and attention. Technology is all-pervasive, and it’s changing how we relate to the world and one another. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and disconnected from the very essence of what makes us human – our communities and personal connections.
At Match My Project, we have made it our mission to bring communities closer together. Our platform harnesses the power of the digital world while staying grounded in the fundamental need for human interaction, empathy, and collaboration.
We’re not about creating online communities for their own sake or as a way to harvest data and market to people. We’re creating connections to get more jobs, training and resources into our communities.
A Platform that Makes a Real Difference in Communities
Onward Homes and Novus Property Solutions recently used Match My Project to collaborate on an inspiring initiative to create a local work opportunity in the Kirkdale community of Liverpool. Working closely with Everton in the Community (EITC), one of the UK’s top sporting charities, eight local candidates were identified and interviewed by Onward and Novus.
Ryan, who lives locally and who was out of work at the time, was appointed to a permanent job position with Novus that included all training needed. Ryan will be working on various elements of Novus’ retrofit scheme with Onward to deliver energy efficiency improvements to 400 homes in Liverpool, making them warmer, quieter and more comfortable for the people who live in them.
A representative from Novus emphasised the organisation’s commitment to creating good Social Value employment opportunities. They said:
“At the end of September 2023, the number of unemployed people aged 16 and over in the Liverpool area was a staggering 14,600 – a rate of 5.7%. Novus are committed to reducing that statistic where possible by offering local persons the opportunity to join our contract with new client Onward Homes … Local employment and helping people return to work after a period of unemployment is one of our main priorities within all our contracts. We wish Ryan all the success within his new role.”
Ryan’s successful appointment to a role at Novus is a shining example of the tangible difference that Match My Project is making in local communities.
This is what an Onward spokesperson had to say:
“The Retrofit programme is a great initiative to work in partnership to promote opportunities in the Kirkdale area. Using Match My Project has enabled us to promote these opportunities and give the best social value return in our local areas.”
Onward Homes and Novus Property Solutions were both rated 5 stars on Match My Project for the accuracy, communication and timeliness of their involvement in the project.
At Match My Project, we are proud of success stories like this one. We are championing a human approach to technology, where connecting communities is at the heart of our work.
We believe in technology as a force for good. Our new Pathways to Work feature is enabling businesses and community-based organisations to work together to create high-quality employment opportunities in local areas.
Our Product Development team is working hard behind the scenes to make our platform even more innovative and efficient for the people who use it. Watch this video to find out more about the upcoming feature releases you can look out for, and to hear more about what motivates the Match My Project team.
Liz is the Head of Communities and Social Value at the Breyer Group, a leading property services provider that has been working with the public sector for over 60 years. We’ve been collaborating with Liz and her Community and Social Value Manager, Bobby Lorraine for the last couple of months and wanted to share what we’ve learnt about some of the work they’re doing. We caught up with Liz recently.
Breyer recently signed up to use Match My Project’s new features, which will help Liz and Bobby create more pathways to work for local people – and share Breyer’s good work far and wide. For a preview, have a look.
What’s a typical day like at Breyer?
Our role as the Social Value team is to support the Breyer Group through facilitating and delivering Social Value impact in line with the contract KPI’s. There is no typical day as it varies, depending on the needs of our communities and business priorities.
It can include bid writing, strategic planning, report writing, or collaboration with our contract teams and external partnerships, such as charities, local government, training organisations and SMEs.
We will also attend job fairs and community events where there are opportunities to meet and engage with residents.
What’s the community project you’re most proud of?
We worked with Allen Edwards Primary School in Lambeth to support their Eco Club. We donated both time and money to help students develop their fruit and vegetable growing areas. We gave £1,000 towards buying seeds and plants for the Primary School, which were chosen by the Eco Club students.
Then, later in the spring, a number of Breyer staff joined students and parents for a planting day.
Deputy Headteacher, Nicola Harris:
“We are so grateful to Breyer Roofing for helping transform our allotment area and for joining the Eco Club students on numerous occasions to discuss plants; help plant seeds; and to deliver and establish bigger flowers and vegetable plants. It has been an amazing learning experience for the students involved and the results will be enjoyed by all of us at the school. Thank you!”
That’s great. What’s coming up in the future? What are you really excited about?
We are very excited to be launching the Breyer Virtual Employability Academy. This will enable residents and students to access pre-employment training modules, that are usually only available to our employees online, in an environment in which they feel safe to explore construction.
Part of the programme offers access to a town hall Q&A session with Breyer professionals to hear about their career journeys and why the construction sector is a great place to have a lifelong career plan.
Each learner will receive certificates of completion and an interview to access suitable work placements, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities.
What would you change tomorrow if you had a magic wand?
One area we would change immediately would be the way Social Value is procured, measured and reported. It needs streamlining. We are a small team and the resource required to manage the multiple different approaches is confusing and unmanageable.
The key factor for us is to ensure the procurement requirements meet the demographics of the communities we are working in.
For instance, there is no sense in focusing on apprenticeships when the real need is to improve education for students, promote apprenticeships in construction and the built environment or to provide residents with clothes and food for their families because of the cost-of-living crisis.
Finally, what’s the best piece of advice anyone has given you?
Listen, collaborate and be innovative in order to find solutions that meet the needs of individuals and communities.
Thanks Liz!
If you are looking to create more successful apprenticeships in the local communities you serve, our up coming new features will be helpful – please take a look! If you want to know why we’re doing this, have a look here.
