As an established council contractor, SWG Group has recently completed three projects in Sandwell. As well as the practical element of the projects SWG have shown an enthusiasm and commitment to delivering a social value impact within the area and delivering meaningful additional social value across all the Sandwell Councils 4 key pillars – Employment & Skills, Community and School engagement, Local Spend and Environmental management.
Forge Mill Farm
The first project Forge Mill Farm, Sandwell Valley, SWG transformed a barn into a dedicated purpose-built indoor adventure and natural play barn area.
This space now serves as a valuable resource for learning and play, reinforcing a great educational and fun space.
Employment & Skills
Two carpentry learners from Sandwell College had 2 weeks work experience, helping with the timber structure of the play barn and working on a project with local school students to build planters for growing vegetables. Tom and Reece have since used this valuable experience to help them gain apprenticeships.
During the development a local resident was taken on via an agency as labour operative and now has been successful in becoming more permanent as telehandler driver.
Tim – telehandler driver, taken on indirectly, by their labour agency initially at Forge Mill Farm, has become a direct employee working on subsequent Sandwell projects.
Local Spend
By utilising local suppliers and supply chain SWG spent £644,850.40 within 20 miles of the project.
Environmental
SWG demonstrated environmental responsibility throughout, such as reuse and recycling whilst constructing and incorporating repurposed materials on other buildings on the land, reusing 160 tonnes of hardcore and 800 tonnes of soil. For example, roof sheets from the barn were re-used on another building. All concrete panels, timber cladding and gutters were kept on site for repairs to other buildings. Also, a few windows that were removed by subcontractor (Excel 2000). Rather than going to landfill they were returned to their warehouse and broken up, with all the different materials separated out and heading onto the next stage of their journey.
Thorn Close Wednesbury
SWG’s social value commitment extended to Thorn Close housing and refurbishment project
Employment & Skills
Whilst working on the development, SWG, employed two local apprentices directly to support the programme of works.
New apprenticeship positions have provided local residents Joshua Y, Trainee Quantity Surveyor, and Ashley D, Assistant Buyer/Administrator, with the opportunity to work and gain qualifications with SWG and show their potential for developing within the company following their apprenticeships.
Also, a local job was created for a resident at Thorn Close apartments, who was taken on as a general operative.
Liam, a resident at Thorn Close Apartments, was initially employed through an agency as a General Labourer before being taken on directly by SWG Group.
An existing apprentice Daniel D – Apprentice Quantity Surveyor from Wolverhampton continued his apprenticeship and learning whilst working on the project assisting the lead QS.
Community Engagement
Beyond the work opportunities SWG extended their support to nearby St. Mary’s Church by donating refreshments to their coffee mornings. This was a great way to engage with the residents.
During the project SWG supported a revamp of the church’s community hall, not only by giving it a bit of a spruce up but by also giving their time voluntarily, hiring equipment such as a scaffold tower and supplying painting materials (chosen by the church) to create a brighter, more cheerful space. As part of this a student from Sandwell College was given the opportunity to gain valuable work experience…
Dominik, pictured above, a P&D learner from Sandwell College gained valuable work experience outside of the College environment.
Contact was made with Wood Green Academy and Old Park School, and engagement activities were offered by SWG, but the schools were unable to take up the offers at the time unfortunately.
Local Spend
20 of SWG’s sub-contract supply chain were businesses from within the Black Country and Birmingham area. 4 of which are Sandwell based. Thorn Close had local spend of £1.4 M within 20 miles of the project.
Environmental
As part of the work at Thorn Close, a number of windows were removed. Rather than going to landfill they were returned to their warehouse and broken up, with all the different materials separated out and heading onto the next stage of their journey, segregation and recycling of the glass, metals and dry mixed recyclables is a standard practice withSWG. Another example on this project of how they reduced waste materials going to landfill was the Timber pallets – residents had the opportunity to take and reuse on local allotments for compost frames and the remaining pallets were collected by a local pallet recycling company.
Whitgreave Crescent
The third Sandwell project SWG group has recently completed was council social homes at Whitgreave Crescent in West Bromwich.
Employment & Skills
SWG provided two meaningful work placements for two Sandwell College plastering learners Finley and Jayden. Tim – telehandler driver continued employment working across all three of the Sandwell projects.
Community Engagement
SWG also supported some much-needed decorating at Yew Tree & Tame Bridge Community centre giving some of the well-used rooms a new lease of life. Whilst giving the opportunity for a local resident on a multi-skill training course at NOVA training in Oldbury to get some valuable work experience.
Jayden from NOVA training made a good impression and felt he had learned a lot from this experience that will help him in the future.
Environmental
Again, on this third project similar good practises to the other projects were used ensuring the re-use and recycling of materials wherever possible.
Local Spend
SWG prioritised supporting the local economy by ensuring that the majority of project spend remained within the 20 miles radius. Over 30 local SME’s and suppliers were engaged, resulting in a total local spend of £762,232.00 within 20 miles of the project.
Summary of all three projects
SWG have shown a full versatile and strong commitment across all 3 projects, remaining dedicated to their contractual developments and building stronger sustainable communities. By prioritising social value in their work, they have created opportunities for local people and local initiatives in education, sustainability, community well-being, whilst supporting the local economy.
Shaun Humphries, Director at SWG “At SWG, we take pride in fostering strong community connections and embedding sustainability into everything we do, no matter where our work takes us. Our approach is centred on meeting the needs of client and communities. Working alongside Sandwell’s social value commitments has provided us a platform to showcase how keeping things local and contributing positive environmental practices bring wider social benefits that leaves a positive impact on the communities we serve”.
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