Cornish construction consultancy helps to generate £59.5m in social and economic value

MWJV has published its annual report for year four of Cornwall Council’s BEPS Framework: 2022/2023
A Cornish construction and professional services consultancy has generated an added social and economic value of £59.5 million as a result of its work with Cornwall Council over the past four years.

Mace Ward Williams Joint Venture (MWJV), which is a joint venture between Mace and Ward Williams Associates (WWA), has released its annual report following its fourth year of work with Cornwall Council on the £650 million construction and infrastructure capital programme of investment within the Built Environment Professional Services (BEPS) Framework.

Andy Snapes, Board Member at MWJV and Senior Partner at WWA, said: “We are proud to outline the social value impact of MWJV for this year in line with our ongoing commitment to share and engage on this critical area of business within our built environment and construction sector.

“The work of MWJV in partnership with our delivery partners is deeply rooted in how we aim to shape positive impact in our communities and to develop a vibrant future-focused workforce in Cornwall, putting into practice the UK Government vision of the Construction Playbook through innovation, collaboration and delivery, sitting alongside positive social outcomes.

“The recognition for this impact nationally has been significant over the last year and saw two of our businesses recognised with the illustrious Queen’s Award for Enterprise status within the Sustainable Development category.

“MWJV has been focused on delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals in our work at the local level, directly supporting seven of them as shown in the report, and our team includes three verified B Corporations; companies whose objectives are to truly use ‘business as a force for good’.”

As well as the added social and economic value it has achieved to date, the 2023 version of the annual report shares a summary of the company’s work and achievements over the past twelve months. Some of the most impressive results achieved by MWJV are its involvement in creating 202 new jobs, delivering 193 career events, facilitating 3,367 hours of work experience, and providing training and development for 150 people, surpassing its original goal by 215%. The joint venture has now spent £27.6 million on local businesses, with £20.3 million of this being spent with SMEs across the region.

Andy continued: “From the headline figures of over £59 million of value to the local economy through new jobs, training and upskilling, community and educational volunteering and local spend, through to the very individual impact we are able to create for young people entering the workforce through structured training programmes such as T Levels and apprenticeships, it is clear that economic growth through construction and positive impact is possible through innovative local partnerships such as MWJV.

“We celebrate this impact in our 2023 Social Value Report and look forward to its ongoing evolution and growth.”

MWJV works with its wide network of local and national suppliers to bring expert and cost-effective project management, architecture, design, engineering, and surveying support to a range of programmes across Cornwall in sectors including transport, education, infrastructure, town regeneration and housing. Local suppliers include teams across architecture, engineering and wider specialisms based in Cornwall and across the South West.

Chris Owen from Truro-based MBA Consulting said of working with MWJV on the Cornwall Council BEPS Framework: “All our staff live and work in Cornwall. The framework has given us additional stability in the face of COVID and the subsequent financial turmoil. It has enabled us to employ new staff over the lifetime of the framework, all of whom also live in the area.

“It provides additional satisfaction to all of us at MBA to work on projects that benefit the community around us; a sentiment that has been relayed repeatedly to me in the office throughout the past twelve months.

“The working relationships within the MWJV have been exemplary. In particular, the discussions with our fellow engineers have been enjoyable and beneficial.”

Projects across the region that MWJV has worked on over the past year include Spaceport Cornwall, Schools Backlog Maintenance, Local Town Deals, and Looe Flood Defence.

MWJV has also continued its support of a range of charities which aim to make a difference to local life and the environment, including Children’s Hospice South West, Surfers Against Sewage, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

The full annual report is available for download here: https://www.mwjv.net/s/MWJV-Social-Value-Report_V12.pdf