Milestone Infrastructure, a part of M Group Services, is delighted to have been named as a finalist in the Continuing through Covid category at the Somerset Education Business Partnership (EBP) Awards.
Somerset County Council (SCC) and Milestone have worked closely together on the Somerset Highways maintenance contract which has been in place since 2017. As part of the partnership they also formed a Social Value Group in the same year. Activities were carried out in person until the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020.
Tim Henderson, Project Manager at Milestone said: “Once pandemic restrictions were in place the group had to quickly adapt to use the technology available to be able to deliver social value and continue to build relationships with our key social value partners.”
Some of the Group’s key opportunities were adapted when restrictions were introduced, including:
- Lunch and learn sessions. In partnership with Mencap, the group offers lunchtime training which was made virtual during the pandemic to encourage our people to learn about how their work and actions impact vulnerable people.
- School visits. When the pandemic stopped face-to-face visits the team adapted and worked with SCC education department to create a virtual stand at an online careers event. The virtual booth had 25,000 visits which was an incredible achievement.
- A programme for care leavers and young people from troubled families to promote site safety, construction and highway maintenance as careers. During the pandemic the programme was made virtual.
- Webinars and live question and answer sessions which have been put together in collaboration with a series of charities in the local community: Somerset Works, Young Somerset, Somerset Community Connect and South Bristol Youth.
- To find out more about the opportunities available visit: https://search-jobs.mgsworkwithus.com/vacancies/vacancy-search-results.aspx
Measures taken to continue running social value projects during the pandemic have proved beneficial for the group which has decided to adopt some virtual events going forward. The online careers event was successful and offered information to such a large group of people that the group is planning to host online again as well as holding in-person events.
David Jones, Highways Commissioning Manager at Somerset County Council said: “I have been very impressed with the way that social value has been delivered throughout the COVID-19 global pandemic.”
“The Milestone Social Value Group has maintained both drive and determination to create virtual links with key partners so that social benefits could continue to be realised across the county of Somerset even when social distancing restrictions were in place.”
Charlie Green, Social Value and Communications Manager at Milestone said: “The Social Value Group truly cares about giving back to the community. It’s fantastic to see the team and their hard work being recognised.”
“The awards ceremony is due to take place 14 July at the Canalside in Bridgwater and we wish the team the very best of luck.”
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