Leeds-based Esh Construction creates over £2.8m worth of social value in the region in 12 months

Its constructing local strategy is centred around employment, education, engagement, even greener, employees and economy.

Megan Roberts, who initially joining Esh in November 2021 as a community co-ordinator, was promoted to social value manager for Yorkshire in 2022 with a key ambition to get into the communities in which Esh operates and build a social value legacy.

Ms Roberts has been named in the Top 30 Under 30 Leeds and West Yorkshire list for new business talent after developing collaborative partnerships to grow Esh’s offering and support established organisations at the heart of the local communities.

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She said: “When I joined Esh, I spent a period of time playing catch up on commitments that couldn’t be fulfilled throughout the lockdown period and social distancing restrictions. In the past 12-18 months though, there has been vast change and improvement in our social value programmes and partnerships, coinciding with growth in our work in the South Yorkshire region – it's a really exciting time to be working in social value, and construction.

Key initiatives launched in the last two years include Construction in the Curriculum and a water themed Get into STEM programme, which offer real life insight into construction careers.

Ms Roberts said: “There has been a monumental shift in mindset on social value in the last five to 10 years and we’re seeing clients join us on our journey. The majority of Esh’s current projects in the region involve improving infrastructure and public realm and new build affordable housing schemes, and we can deliver a targeted and tailored approach to social value in partnership with our respective client for each project.”

Earlier this month, Esh was announced as a skills investor partner with Skills Street at its new interactive learning facility at Gulliver’s Valley Theme Park. The site is expected to welcome 16,000 students annually.