Social Impact

Embedded in every aspect of the design

At Powell Dobson, we are committed to responding to social, environmental, and economic issues across all aspects of our work.  As designers, we recognise that we have a responsibility and an opportunity to make a positive contribution through the buildings and places we create.

We engage with people at every level and with 5 STEM Ambassadors covering architectural design and technology. These individuals are integral to our education programme. We continuously build on our existing relationship with Careers Wales to develop further Built Environment information using a framework project to demonstrate the construction/ built environment process incorporating the key disciplines of our design teams to be used as a teaching resource or for careers advice.

Social Impact is central to all of our work, we know that working in the built environment we can create meaningful and lasting positive impacts on the people, the environment, and the economy in the places and communities where we work across Wales and the UK, its particularly important to us as a Welsh based SME that we have been able to leave a positive legacy in our local communities.

We understand that the provision of Community Benefits through investment in public infrastructure is a key policy driver for the Welsh Government and that it is driving benefits for communities through the WEP Strategic Partnering Framework particularly through training, skills learning and education across Wales.

National TOMs and National TOMs Wales frameworks

To ensure our social impact can be measured we have committed to record our social impact against the National TOMs and National TOMs Wales frameworks this also enables us to ensure that it reflects the priorities of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.

We focus on 7 areas aligned to the Wellbeing Goals of the Act and advocate a collaborative approach on a project-by-project basis. Each project will be different, and each community will have different ways we can support them with added social impact.

Step 1 is a social impact workshop with the client and the wider team to explore opportunities within the local area.

Step 2 is to embed the development of that strategy into the community engagement process to ensure we fully understand the needs of community and are able to work together to deliver more measurable positive outcomes.

Step 3 Agree the project specific actions to be delivered for the relevant themes.

Prosperity - Local Economic Impact

Proposed Outcomes:  Improved skills, More opportunities for local business and MSMEs, growth opportunities for small local organisations.

Measures:

  • Whist the short program term of the contract may mean we are unable to take on a project specific apprentice we can identify opportunities to support young people acquiring professional skills and experience in the labour market though work experience opportunities for students in schools and colleges in the area.
  • Consider through the design process the opportunity to create places and buildings that contribute to creating job opportunities and supporting existing local businesses, this includes engaging with local stakeholders throughout the community engagement process.
  • Through the proposed design prioritise local sourcing of materials and labour, contributing to the economic growth of the local and wider regional community.

Globally Responsible - Sustainable Design and the circular economy

Proposed Outcomes:  Carbon Emissions reduction, Innovation to support a globally responsible UK.

Measures:

  • We prioritize environmentally conscious design practices, aiming to minimize our carbon footprint, promote energy efficiency, and incorporate sustainable materials.
  • Set a design standard for net zero ready within the design code, include alternative measurement options including AECB and Passivhaus.
  • Run a design workshop focused on opportunities for innovation within the masterplan.

Health & Wellbeing – Maximising physical and mental well-being

Proposed Outcomes:  Creating a healthier community, reducing air pollution, protect and enhance biodiversity.

Measures:

  • As part of the community engagement strategy hold a specific health and wellbeing event with children and young people from local schools. Focus on the type and design of open spaces within the masterplan/ areas of public realm in and around the building, opportunities to partner with local and national charities groups including Grow Wales, Play Wales, and Make Space for Girls. Allows young people to have the opportunity to influence the design of these spaces. We have previously delivered these sessions successfully for Cardiff Council under the Chid Friendly Cities initiative.
  • Commit to a project green transport programme, promoting active travel during the contract, public transport car sharing to travel to meetings or holding them online.

Cohesive Communities – Attractive, safe, viable and well-connected

Proposed Outcomes:  Working with the Community, Opportunities for 3rd sector organisations, opportunities for disadvantaged families and their children, Measures to support crime reduction.

Measures:

  • Engage with local communities with project specific detailed Community Engagement strategy to understand their needs, aspirations, and challenges, and ensure new and existing neighbourhoods can knit together with meaningful connection. This also means working with 3rd party organisations with existing connections to the community.
  • Use of the RIBA Social Impact Toolkit, using targeted questions around the quality of the neighbourhood before and after development.
  • Commit volunteer hours to third sector organisations. Examples of volunteering undertaken on similar projects include supporting the Caerphilly foodbank appeal, staff volunteering with the Dogs trust and the Newport fit and fed scheme.
  • Engage at the earliest stages with the Police Architectural liaison Officer to embed the principles of Secure by Design into the masterplan.

Equality - Skills and learning Workforce Development

Proposed Outcomes:  Improved employability of young people, support for targeted STEM curriculum activities, reduce inequalities in employment.

Measures:

  • Commit time to local schools and colleges to support young people into work including providing CV advice, mock interviews, etc. Partner with 3rd sector organisations to also offer that support to long term unemployed people.
  • We have 5 qualified STEM ambassadors and commit them to support STEM curriculum activities in local schools and colleges.
  • Invest in the professional development of our team, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity and supporting ongoing training.
  • Advocate for inclusive design, strive to create spaces that are welcoming and accommodating to diverse populations.

Culture & Language - A vibrant shared culture

Proposed Outcomes: Native wildlife, nature and heritage sites are protected.

Measures:

  • Focus on identifying the known landscapes of the place, preserving the heritage and celebrating the unique identity of the site.

Charity Fundraising

Proposed Outcomes: Support positive mental health and wellbeing within our communities.

Measures:

  • Support our chosen charity, bigmoose, through fundraising and staff-led activities, helping to fund mental health support for people in need.