A Year of Social Value Creation with the SRAG and the Social Recruitment Covenant
December 19, 2024Posted by:
2024 - A Momentous Year for Social Recruitment
As 2024 draws to a close, we reflect on a year defined by meaningful progress in social value creation through socially responsible and inclusive recruitment practices. Social recruitment isn’t just about filling roles; it’s about transforming lives, strengthening communities, and unlocking untapped potential within the UK’s workforce. This year, PeoplePlus and the Social Recruitment Advocacy Group (SRAG) have been driving this movement, demonstrating at strategic, policy making level how inclusive hiring, training, development and community engagement can deliver lasting social value for individuals, businesses, and society.
Here’s a look back at the milestones of 2024 - and a preview of the opportunities ahead in 2025.
Harnessing the Power of Connection: Four National Summits
Social recruitment and social value creation thrive on collaboration, and in 2024, the SRAG brought this to life through four national summits, three of them hosted by our members - Openreach launched the year at their Birmingham HQ, in June we met in London's Soho, Amey’s Birmingham based summit highlighted the role of community-focused recruitment in tackling local skills gaps, and the year concluded at Lidl’s headquarters, Tolworth, in the outskirts of London.
Each summit provided a platform for decision-makers and practitioners to exchange ideas, share success stories, and develop actionable strategies that align recruitment with social value creation. These events were more than networking opportunities - they were incubators for best practice and scalable solutions.
Recognising Leaders in Inclusive Hiring and Social Value creation
Throughout 2024, we celebrated the organisations that have gone above and beyond in their commitment to social value through recruitment. Year round, SRAG Charter Mark Awards recognise businesses that exemplify the principles of socially responsible hiring. These leaders are proof that when recruitment aligns with social value, everyone benefits—employees, employers, and communities alike.
Charter Mark awards are part of every summit - it's about acknowledging the standout contributions driving the creation of Social Value impact via social recruitment, community engagement, support for charities, EDI prioritisation and so much more.
Congratulations this year went to: Securigroup and G4S who raised their levels to Silver and Gold respectively. PPL Care, RGIS, Karndean, Ikea, Currys, DHL and NHS Employers completed their first assessments at Bronze level, Eurovia/Ringway at Silver, and Concentrix, Premier Foods, Churchill Group, Keltruck, M Group Services/Milestone, Openreach, Smart Environmental Support Services and Bedford College Group at Gold!
Exceptional Partners
This year, 55 Redefined, Springpod, Standing Tall, Future First, Cognassist and Ride Tandem have become SRAG strategic partners, joining The Association of Accessible Employers, Transform and Achieve, Inside Out Wales, the RNIB, and many more, including PeoplePlus strategic partner ANTZ UK. Via mutually beneficial actions, these strategic partners enable Social Value impact with their outstanding services.
Cementing Our Commitments: The Social Recruitment Covenant
November marked a significant milestone with the launch of the Social Recruitment Covenant. This initiative, attended by the Minister for Employment, Alison McGovern, formalised shared commitments to socially responsible recruitment. By embedding inclusion into hiring policies, organisations across the UK are now positioned to drive meaningful change at scale. The Covenant is a rallying point for businesses committed to improving diversity, creating opportunities for underrepresented groups, some who face multiple, intersecting barriers, to deliver measurable social impact, tackle long-term unemployment and reverse the trends in economic inactivity.
First-Hand Impact: Prison Visits and Beyond
Inclusive recruitment reaches its full potential when barriers to employment are broken down. This year, SRAG facilitated a series of prison visits, giving members the opportunity to engage directly with individuals seeking a second chance. These visits provided a powerful reminder of the talent and determination often overlooked due to systemic barriers.
Looking Ahead: Starting 2025 with Purpose
While 2024 has been a momentous year, it’s only the beginning. The new year brings fresh opportunities to build on these foundations, starting with the SRAG Q1 Summit on 16th January 2025 at Timpson’s learning and events venue, The Hub, near Manchester. A highlight of the event will be a presentation from ANTZ, PeoplePlus’s strategic partner, on their impactful legacy with community partners in the Manchester area.
This summit will set the tone for 2025, focusing on how organisations can continue to drive social value through inclusive hiring practices. By aligning recruitment with the needs of local communities and addressing barriers to employment, we can achieve even greater impact in the year ahead.
Social Value Through Recruitment: A Shared Mission
At its heart, social value is created when inclusive recruitment unlocks opportunity. By connecting overlooked talent with organisations committed to fairness, we create a ripple effect that benefits individuals, families, and entire communities. In 2024, PeoplePlus and SRAG led this charge through:
- 12 lunch-and-learn webinars sharing actionable insights on inclusive recruitment. Read about just one of 2024's sessions here.
- Research calls, site visits and Discovery Days to deepen understanding of best practices.
- Community careers fairs and hiring initiatives demonstrating the power of sharing opportunity in new ways.
These activities are united by a clear purpose: to use recruitment as a tool for social good.
Join Us in 2025
The year ahead is full of potential. Whether you’re exploring ways to embed inclusivity into your hiring practices, amplify your social value impact, or connect with a community that understands the power of socially responsible recruitment, SRAG is where you’ll find your tribe.
Together, we can drive a future where recruitment delivers far more than a filled vacancy—it creates lasting social value that transforms lives, strengthens businesses, and builds stronger, more inclusive communities.
Be part of the movement. Explore the Social Recruitment Covenant, connect with our network, and join us at our next summit to make 2025 a year of bold action and meaningful social value outcomes.
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December 19, 2024Posted by:
