Brunel Engine Shed – Social value case study

By Mia Cherry
Social Value Advisor

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ODInteriors was appointed to deliver the first phase of interior works at the Brunel Engine Shed, for Buckinghamshire New University (BNU). Generating social value was a key driver of the project and the team worked in partnership with BNU to provide multiple opportunities to create value within the High Wycombe community.

Our Social Value Advisor, Mia Cherry, worked in collaboration with the members of the BNU community engagement team to fully align goals and to tailor the project’s social value plan, emphasising the needs of the university, as well as the local community.

Our strategy was to highlight the importance of education, as well as identify the needs of young people and diverse representation they might need to see in order to guide their future career paths.

Supporting the local community was another key focus in the plan. ODInteriors partnered with local charity, Chiltern Rangers – working with then to coordinate volunteering days and fund essential materials for local biodiversity initiatives.

The delivery of these social value initiatives for the Brunel Engine Shed project greatly contributed to the award of 45 out of 45 under the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS). The project delivered full marks across all three CCS categories showing care of our workforce, environment, and the community.

Key elements of the project Social Value Plan are summarised on this page, each equally important in their contribution towards the success of the project.

Apprentices on site: Over the course of the project, we had the opportunity to work with four apprentices on site. We recognise the value of combining hands-on experience with education needed to learn a trade, and we made it a priority to create an environment where learning and growth were encouraged.

By involving the apprentices in various aspects of the project, we aimed to highlight the importance of practical experience in their field. Their presence not only supported the success of the project but also reinforced ODInteriors’ commitment to fostering the next generation of skilled professionals.

University Site Visits: We hosted a site visit for university students who were interested in pursuing a career in construction, which was led by our Senior Construction Manager. By showcasing construction as a rewarding career path, ODInteriors hopes to inspire students and broaden their perspective on opportunities within the industry. This initiative played a valuable role in promoting a positive image of the construction industry and the opportunities it offers.

A Day in the Life at BNU: ODInteriors partnered with HUT architects and Build the Way, a programme focused on getting young people into the architectural field with a nine-month training programme that provides the trainees with academic, and industry experience, giving them an advantage in a competitive industry.

Our team hosted Build the Way trainees for ‘A Day in the Life of a contractor’. The day consisted of inviting three architectural apprentices to site to see a live construction project, helping them gain more understanding of the many different career paths the construction industry has to offer.

We had one-to-one sessions with the trainees offering them careers advice and tips on how to make their CV more bespoke. Our Construction Manager led a site walkaround explaining the works that were happening on-site.

The day was finished off with our Head of Sustainability, providing a talk for the students on the Brunel Engine Shed’s SKA Gold Rating and the impact of sustainability on the construction and design process.

We received great feedback from this experience, and it was extremely beneficial to all that attended.

Supporting Student money and Mind week: ODInteriors pledged a monetary donation to the university, which was used to fund their ‘Student money and mind week’.

This event helped hundreds of students by contributing food and wellbeing parcels to those who needed it most.

The money also went to a scheme that taught students essential skills on how to improve their financial literacy. This donation has had a lasting impact as the university have not received any requests for additional food parcels from the BNU Foodbank since the parcels were distributed.

Volunteering initiatives: We partnered with the Chiltern Rangers based in High Wycombe, with the site team volunteering to help towards the upkeep and improvement of green spaces in the community. This involved manual labour such as building flower beds and helping to move new flora to be planted in the summer. We had 30 volunteers in total involved in the effort to bring more greenery to the town.

Chiltern Rangers are also partnered with One Can Trust foodbank, who provide food to local struggling families, each operative was expected to bring a couple of necessary items to provide to the foodbank.

Wellbeing on site: ODInteriors pledged to have at least one mental health and wellbeing champion on this project and this time the role was given to our Senior Construction Manager. We wanted this service to be available on-site for our operatives to have someone to talk to whether it was personal or work related.

Everything discussed is kept strictly confidential and is given the privacy and care necessary, providing a safe space for those in need. en the privacy and care it needed.

Great work achieved by our in-house sustainability team. Find out more about our team, social value initiatives and accreditations here.