Let's Talk Social Value

In this episode, we speak with Heledd Kendrick, the founder of Recruit for Spouses, a B-Corp accredited social enterprise which works to remove barriers for military spouses, and help them into employment. 

Join us as we delve into the challenges faced by military spouses in their pursuit of meaningful employment, and discover how Recruit for Spouses is making a remarkable difference by helping organisations close their skills gaps while creating a more inclusive workplace. 

We discuss who Recruit for Spouses are and what they do for both the military spouse community and the businesses they work with, the barriers and some of the misconceptions around the environmental barriers experienced by the partners of military personnel, and the value that members of this community can bring to your organisation.  

Recruit for Spouses, is breaking down barriers and empowering these talented individuals to contribute their skills to the workforce effectively. We encourage organisations to consider the untapped potential of military spouses and explore ways to collaborate with Recruit for Spouses to close their skills gaps and foster a more diverse and inclusive workforce. 

You can reach out to Recruit for Spouses via the online form on their website or by emailing [email protected] or [email protected] 

We hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss or you would like to be considered as a guest please get in touch at [email protected]. 

The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) is an arms-length body of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) with a responsibility to provide advice, information and guidance to enhance people’s understanding and knowledge of financial matters and their ability to manage their own financial affairs. This is done directly through free and impartial services designed to help people make the most of their money and pensions. 

We sat down with Paul Fox, Regional Partnerships Manager at Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) to discuss financial wellbeing and why the financial wellness and education of staff should be a priority for employers. 

This episode offers a wealth of valuable insights and practical advice as Paul shares lots of easy, practical tips for things that organisations – with the support of the Money and Pensions Service – can do.  

Contact the Money and Pensions Service

Visit the MoneyHelper website, or find and contact your relevant Regional Manager here. 

Follow Paul on LinkedIn. 

Alternatively, you can email  [email protected] 

Further resources and links

·       Information on MaPS’ UK Strategy for Financial Wellbeing, Agendas for Change and their 2030 National Goals can be found here.

·       Pensions Advice - How to talk to your employees about pensions and access MoneyHelper’s Pensions Basics and Pension Wise guides.

·       Download MaPS’ new Guide to Financial Wellbeing for Employers  here.

·       Information about Talk Money Week (6 – 10 November 2023) and how to get involved can be found here.

·       MoneyHelper is MaPS’ consumer-facing brand. The link to the website full of practical advice and sources of support for employees and employers can be found here.

·       Find out more about Credit Unions by visiting their website here. 

·       To set up a Financial Wellbeing Champions programme check out MaPS' Money Guiders Framework Programme. 

We hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss or you would like to be considered as a guest please get in touch at [email protected]. 

In this episode, we speak with James Dundas from the EY Foundation and learn about the challenges that disadvantaged young people face when trying to enter the job market; and how companies can help break down the barriers that stand in their way. 

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to experience unemployment and to struggle to secure stable, well-paid work. This is due to a range of factors, including lack of access to education and training, discrimination, and a lack of social and professional networks. 

But it doesn't have to be this way and companies have a crucial role to play in creating a more level playing field for young people from all backgrounds. By offering training, mentorship, and opportunities for work experience, businesses can help to equip disadvantaged young people with the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the workplace. 

This episode is not one to miss. James shares some heart-warming stories and fantastic examples of how companies are partnering with the EY Foundation to help disadvantaged young people.  Whether you’re an individual looking for a meaningful way to spend your volunteering days, or an organisation wanting to make a commitment to deliver mentoring, workshops or work experience for disadvantaged young people, you’ll learn a lot from James. 

If you’d like to get involved, you can find out more about EY Foundation's Corporate Partnerships here  or email [email protected]

Click here to connect with James via LinkedIn 

We hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss or you would like to be considered as a guest please get in touch at [email protected]. 

In this episode of Let’s Talk Social Value, we are joined by Carol Glenn, Social Value Programme Manager at Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. 

If you are a supplier to the public sector and always wanted to know what happens once you submit your bid and how important the social value question is. You will not want to miss this episode. 

Carol shares Solihull's procurement process and what she needs to see in a social value question, what she doesn't want to see and what she wishes suppliers would do more. 

It is packed with tips and ideas on accessing and understanding local authorities' key social value priorities. 

We hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss or you would like to be considered as a guest please get in touch at [email protected]. 

In this episode of Let’s Talk Social Value, we are joined by Debbie Ryan, the Group CEO of Impact Academy. 

They are one of the government-registered apprenticeship training providers. They are delivering a whole range of apprenticeships, including some focusing on sustainability. So who better to ask about apprenticeships and how they can help create social value. 

Debbie guides us through the complexity of apprenticeships and makes it easy to understand. 

Debbie said, “Think of the apprenticeship as the wraparound training course around the individual. Rather than the individual. And that’s the best way to try and understand it. You can put your existing employees on an apprenticeship program. If you are a non-levy payer, so a co-investment employer, you can have up to 10 apprentices at any one time. So think about your existing staff. You don’t have to go and create new roles. Your CEO can be on an apprenticeship program.

We hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss or you would like to be considered as a guest please get in touch at [email protected]. 

Today we are joined by Caroline McKenna, CEO + Founder of Social Good Connect. 

Along with her passionate team, they make employee volunteering as easy as ordering a takeaway!  Connecting employees to their ideal volunteering opportunities through their unique digital search and match technology. And how volunteering can not only make an impact but make you feel even better than going to the gym. It's the feel-good factor. 

How do you embed volunteering into your culture? Caroline shares how Social Good Connect can help you do this by setting clear goals and practical ideas to build this culture and encourage staff engagement. it is about starting with "small, simple things but doing them consistently."

Caroline discusses what B Corp means and how you achieve it. Social Good Connect is only two years into its journey and has become certified, which is a huge achievement. But it doesn't stop there. This is a commitment to making their business a force for good and continuing to align its goals, operations and impact with the Sustainable Development Goals. 

If you are an organisation that wants to learn the value of volunteering and the positive impact this can have on your business, give this episode a listen.


 

We hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss or you would like to be considered as a guest please get in touch at [email protected]. 

Our guest today is Zahra Hedges, the CEO of Winning Scotland. A charity based in Scotland that acts as a catalyst for change. Collaborating with like-minded partners, they build confidence and resilience in all of Scotland's young people. Zahra is also a Trustee of Scaro, a not-for-profit based in Edinburgh and an Associate for Samtaler. 

 Zahra shares with us the importance of volunteering and the confidence it brings to her team and their personal development. The difference between team building days and volunteering; is understanding what organisations need and how you can have influence beyond planting a garden or painting a room. 

Zahra explains what she means by a 'winning culture' and how this impacts and helps young people in Scotland.

She also shares advice to prepare for tender responses - don't leave it to the last minute! 

Build and nurture relationships with charities in your communities. Move beyond social value for the sake of tenders. It is about understanding what the charities need first. Then when you come to write a social value response, you are already doing great stuff that has a real impact for you to draw upon. 

 This episode is packed with ideas and sound advice to create social value with charities and local communities.  We hope you enjoy it. 

We hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss or you would like to be considered as a guest please get in touch at [email protected]. 

Our guest today is Jaime Chapman, the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the US Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce. 

Jaime served in the US Army Reserves for 6-years and is currently an active duty Army spouse who is stationed with her family in Texas. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the challenges serving military personnel are currently facing. How to create a diverse supply chain using military spouse and veteran-owned suppliers and what the benefits are if you employ them. 

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has signed the Armed Forces Covenant—and looking for ways to create social value in the defence sector and support the military community.

We hope you enjoy it. 

We hope you enjoy this episode. If you have a topic you'd like us to discuss or you would like to be considered as a guest please get in touch at [email protected].