From January to December 2023, HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd’s employees delivered an impressive £47,672.00 worth of social value. The company’s initiatives encompassed diverse areas including staff volunteering, equipment donations and sponsorships for grassroots sports teams.
A significant portion of the social value manifested through nearly £20,000 of equipment donations to community events, facilitated by National Sign Compliance Manager, Jay Taylor. Road closures for parade routes and signage to advertise upcoming celebrations were just some of the contributions made. Furthermore, over £4,000 was donated to Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) including noteworthy organisations such as Women in Transport, Brake and the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI). Additionally, grassroots sports clubs across the country received generous donations up to £3,000.
Company employees collectively volunteered more than 300 hours of their time over the year. This volunteering effort focused on providing career advice and mentoring to marginalised groups including prison leavers, women, ethnic minorities, and young people. Various roles within the company, ranging from Lead Traffic Management Operatives to Contracts Managers to members of the Commercial team and the HSEQ Team, actively participated in these initiatives. Notably, senior leadership, including Operations Director Andy Graham, led by example in supporting activities such as a beach clean-up in Weston-super-Mare.
A mission for social good
Operations Director, Andy Graham, emphasises the company’s mission to turn every day into an opportunity for social good. He said:
“What’s important is that the activities we get involved with matter, not just to the communities in which we live and operate, but to our people. Social value is a powerful factor in winning contracts, making up around 10% of the bids we complete. But we want to go further than just meeting our obligations because contributing to social value is the right thing to do on so many levels. It helps us leave a lasting, positive legacy in the areas we work, it helps us reduce our carbon footprint, it helps us to establish a succession plan and tackle the skills gap in our industry, and it has a positive impact on the wellbeing of our people.”
Andy expressed pride in the achievements of 2023 and highlighted the company’s desire to capture and amplify the remarkable social value activities that employees undertake daily, often going above and beyond their regular responsibilities.
Looking ahead to 2024
In a new development for 2024, HW Martin (Traffic Management) Ltd is partnering with the social value app On Hand. This initiative aims to provide all staff members with opportunities to contribute to the company’s mission through local, in-person, and remote volunteering missions, fostering a deeper understanding of societal challenges and their role in addressing them.