Kier launches social value calculator

Since 2017, Kier has used its own in-house social value calculator, the Shaping our Communities Calculator. But as demand for sustainability and social value metrics has increased, the group has partnered with Thrive, which offers a more mature software platform and the Impact Evaluation Standard (IES), a framework of metrics that cover more than 109 different activities.

The new platform will allow Kier to track its supply chain’s social value to capture the work its subcontractors do to support its projects. Kier is also working with Thrive to further enhance its measurement methodology to include additional cost-benefit analysis metrics and its work with social mobility organisations such as LM3 to monitor regional spend.

Sheryl Moore, group social sustainability manager at Kier, said: “Through our sustainability framework Building for a Sustainable World we have recognised the need for an enhanced social value platform that allows us to report on the requirements for all of our clients and stakeholders. Building on the legacy of our existing calculator, we completed an in-depth appraisal of suppliers and concluded that Thrive was the best fit to capture our social value impact.

“Thrive is the perfect partner to help us demonstrate our social legacy and drive the social value agenda. It has a unique combination of being user-friendly, having the ability to effortlessly capture data across both our business and throughout our supply chain, as well as providing robust and credible metrics and having the flexibility to support our various customer requirements.”

Neil Macdonald, chief executive at Thrive, said: “Thrive is delighted that, after a 12-month selection process, Kier has chosen our social value platform to measure its innovative and extensive social value activities. The unique flexibility of our software compliments Kier’s broad requirements; easy data capture from site, configurable client reports, and a robust way of showcasing their corporate values and purpose. We are very excited to see the positive influence this partnership will have on the sector."