At the inaugural UKREiiF event in May, event organisers Built Environment Networking will team up with Loop – one of the UK’s leading social value calculators, to measure and maximise the social value generated from the event, with the longer term vision to utilise the finalised report as a catalyst for future events.

Since their inception, Loop has been involved in social value generation worth over £26bn, working with organisations such as Network Rail, Department for Transport, Suez and Sir Robert McAlpine.

They will now work alongside the UKREiiF team, who have a major focus on social value and the EDI agenda at the event.

Activity planned to drive social value at the event includes:

  • Regeneration Brainery, a not for profit organisation focused on getting more young people into the industry, will be running a C-Suite mentoring scheme at the event.
  • STEER – a support and mentoring group for final year students – will bring mentors and students together to aid student progression within the industry.
  • The event will be run to ISO20121 Event Sustainability Management Accreditation standards – with a focus on local procurement, sustainability and more.
  • Partnerships with Women in Property, RE:Women, Freehold and others will deliver EDI focused events that promote the industry to under-represented groups.
  • Numerous fringe events will be inclusive to all, enabling those without UKREiiF tickets to also get involved in the event.
  • Social value workshops with framework provider Pagabo and Loop to look at how to best maximise project social value creation.
  • Over 60 jobs will be created for local people during the period of UKREiiF by the event organisers – with a wider economic impact across the whole city region from delegate spend and overnight stays.
  • 15 permanent jobs will be created by the creation of UKREiiF – primarily recruited locally across the Leeds city region.
  • Partnerships have been struck with University’s to offer upskilling and student interaction.
  • A Diversity Charter has been created and shared with all speakers, sponsors and partners which will endeavour to put social value and specifically giving those from under-represented minority groups in the industry to be more represented, giving them an opportunity like others may not.
  • Exhibition space has been given to organisations focused on aiding EDI and social value – including Constructing Rainbows and Black Professionals in Construction
  • LandAid has been announced as the official Charity Partner, with the aim of attracting thousands of pounds in sponsorship from the event.
  • Other partnerships have been struck with Building People, Building Equality, Mayor’s Fund for London and many more – details will be shared of the activity shortly.

These are just a few of the things UKREiiF is doing to drive social value and the EDI agenda – and over the coming weeks more details will be revealed before the Impact Report is published between Loop and UKREiiF.