Social value

Community focused

Giving back to the communities where we work is at the heart of what we do. We are committed to providing opportunities for local people through work experience placements and apprenticeships and take the lead in developing community projects to help improve local environments.

Apprenticeships

Elkins is committed to offering apprenticeships and training opportunities to local residents, including those from socially excluded groups and people not in education. Where we are unable to offer direct employment or an apprenticeship, we will liaise with our supply chain and sub-contractors to agree placements. This is a system that has seen many success stories. Over 95% of apprentices and trainees have gone into long-term employment with Elkins or our suppliers.

We offer apprenticeships in the following areas:

  • Resident liaison
  • Site management
  • Contracts management
  • Multi trade
  • Electrical
  • Plumbing

Work experience

Our work experience programme provides two-week placements to those who are currently studying in a trade-related subject or interested in working in the construction industry.

We offer work experience placements in:

  • Electrical
  • Multi trade
  • Plumbing
  • Quantity Surveying
  • HR
  • Health and Safety

Who we work with

  • Local communities. We offer vacancies directly to residents on the estates we’re working on through events, monthly newsletters and residents’ meetings.
  • Schools, colleges and job centres. We attend careers events, run mock interviews, CV workshops and training exercises for students and those seeking employment in the construction industry.
  • Local recruitment partners. We work closely with local recruitment partners to ensure our apprenticeship and training opportunities are offered to those from socially-excluded groups.

If you are an organisation working to connect people with apprenticeships or work experience opportunities in the construction industry please email [email protected]

Supporting local suppliers and SMEs

We put great emphasis on using local labour and sub-contractors and our management team and site managers are encouraged to actively source local enterprises. This helps regenerate the local area whilst reducing environmental impact. Over 60% of our tradespeople, suppliers and sub-contractors are based within London’s most disadvantaged boroughs. We ensure smaller businesses and sole traders seeking opportunities to distinguish themselves are given the chance to join our preferred contractor list. We help them to complete PQQs and give guidance if they need to improve on issues such as health and safety and insurances.

Our pledges and commitments

As a family business, Elkins has always promoted and sourced talent direct from local communities. We have committed to a number of initiatives helping to open up more opportunities in the construction industry to a wider range of local people:

  • Mayor’s Fund For London’s Firm Foundations. We have pledged to partner with organisations that work with young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds to help drive diversity and inclusion within the business.
  • Care Leaver Covenant. As a signatory, we offer workshops and training, apprenticeships and work experience placements – enhancing opportunities for some of the UK’s most vulnerable young people.
  • Social Mobility Pledge. By taking the pledge, we have committed to supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds or circumstances, providing skills sessions, practical workshops and careers advice, and offering apprenticeships, work experience and recruitment opportunities to level the playing field and boost social mobility.

Our charities

One of our primary goals is to give back to local communities. We do this, not only through our social responsibility policy and procedures, but also through sponsorship and support of charities and organisations providing a multitude of services to local people. This includes COLA Southwark Pride basketball team, which we have sponsored for over ten years. We have also locally supported UK Homes 4 Heroes, Studio 3 Arts, Shine, Freddie Farmer Foundation, Edible Rotherhithe, Link Age Southwark, Pecan, Charlton Athletic Community Trust and Kingswood Arts.

Latest community news

Social value round-up: October to December 2024

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At Elkins, we always strive to make a positive difference in the communities where we work, which is why providing social value is an important part of our offering. In this update, we look back at the social value initiatives we undertook in…
Read more
Photograph in frame of young woman in navy blue top. Text alongside reads: Cydney Tucker, from apprentice to Resident Liaison Officer.

From Apprentice to RLO: Cydney Tucker looks back on a decade working for Elkins Construction

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At Elkins, we’re dedicated to helping a new generation of workers into the construction industry through apprenticeships and work experience opportunities. Cydney Tucker first joined us as an apprentice nearly a decade ago, and now works as…
Read more

Social value round up: July to September 2024

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As we approach the last few months of 2024, it’s time to take a look at the social value we’ve undertaken over the last three months. We continue to work with organisations to provide employment and training opportunities for local people,…
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Social value round up: April to June

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At Elkins Construction, we’re continuing to provide social value in the communities where our projects are based, working with local organisations, charities, and schools to provide donations and offer work experience and apprenticeships.…
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Elkins’ donation helps Dulwich Wood Primary School build new outdoor science area

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Since 2021, Elkins has been undertaking multiple refurbishment projects at Kingswood Estate for Southwark Council. Early on during our work, we contacted Dulwich Wood Primary School (located within the estate), as part of our commitment to providing…
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Social value round up: January to March

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Throughout the first three months of 2024, we’ve been continuing to support local charities and organisations, accommodate work experience placements and engage with the local communities as part of our commitment to providing social value…
Read more

Social value round up: October to December

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With Christmas coming up, this is a busy time for the local charities and organisations we work with, and we’ve been continuing to support their many events and activities wherever possible. Let’s catch up on what we’ve been up to since…
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Elkins supports Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s Extra Time project

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As part of our commitment to providing ongoing social value in the communities where we work, Elkins Construction is pleased to have agreed a partnership with Charlton Athletic Community Trust (CACT) to support its Extra Time project. CACT…
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Social value round-up: July to September

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At Elkins, providing social value as part of our projects is at the heart of everything we do. We regularly partner with charities and organisations, volunteer our time, provide donations, and offer employment opportunities to local people.…
Read more
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[email protected]

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