Our Social Values

  1. Utility Swop Shop
  2. Our Social Values
At Utility SwopShop we started our Social Value journey back in November 2019. To date our values, are captured in this 10-point Social Value Commitments Plan:
  1. Local offices – we have committed to a lease in a serviced office at Whitehills Business Park, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 5GU.
  2. Local Employment – all our staff live in the Blackpool area and operate a Car Share Scheme to minimise our impact on the environment.
  3. Local Apprenticeship Scheme – our first apprentice started with us in December and we are supporting him through an NVQ Level 3 in business administration.
  4. Local Government Kick Start Support Scheme – we have created 2 opportunities through the government “Kick Start Scheme” in conjunction with the Chambers of Commerce.
  5. Annual Charity Day – our employees receive 1 day per annum paid leave to support a local charity.
  6. Blackpool Beach Clean – The Utility SwopShop Directors are members of the BLCC (Blackpool Light Craft Club) and annually support the “LoveMyBeach” event managed through the council run scheme.
  7. Green Recycling Ambassador – Utility SwopShop manage the recycling policy programme at our offices in Blackpool.
  8. Partnerships in the Community – Utility SwopShop partner with local companies for services within the supply chain within a 10-mile radius limit.
  9. Net Zero – our commitment to net zero is quantified through off-setting our scope 3 travel Carbon Emissions for all UK travel through our travel management agents.
  10. Utility SwopShop have committed to achieving the Social Value Management Certificate Level 2 by 2022. http://www.socialvalueuk.org/social-value-certificate/

Our reasons for committing to The Social Value Management Certificate are:

  • Gain a competitive advantage: We can prove to external stakeholders (including funders/ investors/ commissioners) that we are aligned to an international standard for managing social value and taking steps towards maximising the value that we create.
  • Improve our practice: We can follow a clear pathway for improving the way we measure and manage our social value with the support of peers and an international network of practitioners.
  • Maximise: We can maximise the value we are creating for all our stakeholders by implementing robust systems to measure, manage and maximise our social value.
  • Social risk management:The certificate will provide evidence to our our customers and our stakeholders that we are taking steps to manage our social value.