Social Value Statement

Introduction

At KnowledgeBrief, our mission is to inspire a future where every company has great leadership at all levels. We understand that resilient, successful, and desirable organisations are those that embrace their responsibility to society and the environment, with leaders and managers at the forefront of this commitment. Guided by principles of sustainability and purpose-driven practice, we are committed to making a positive impact while minimising negative effects. Our Social Value Policy reflects this dedication, aligning with the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and relevant frameworks to ensure meaningful contributions to society.

There are numerous definitions of ‘Social Value’. This policy uses The Sustainable Procurement Task Force’s definition which has been widely adopted. Here ‘Social Value’ is defined as, “a process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis in terms of generating benefits to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment”. KnowledgeBrief recognises that social value is about maximising the positive impact from our activities through this broader lens. We promote this through our remote delivery model, which extends support to learners and employers of apprentices throughout the UK, promoting accessibility and effectiveness in equal measure, and through specific activities and initiatives targeted at delivering wider benefits.

Policy Scope

KnowledgeBrief's Social Value Policy applies across all organisational operations, client engagements, supplier relationships, community initiatives, employee well-being efforts, environmental sustainability practices, stakeholder engagements, and continuous improvement processes.

Our commitment 

At KnowledgeBrief, we recognise that true success extends beyond financial gain. We are committed to nurturing a culture of sustainability and ethical practice through our interactions with learners and clients, where every endeavour contributes to the well-being of our communities and the planet. While KnowledgeBrief does not commission services solely to fulfil contracts, we acknowledge the significance of social value in showcasing our dedication to enhancing the economic, social, and environmental well-being of our stakeholders.

As a provider of leadership and management training, we integrate the essence of social value into our core curriculum. Our apprenticeships encompass a variety of topics relating to social value, including Servant Leadership, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental, Social, and Governance principles, Stakeholder Management, Inclusive Leadership, Social Entrepreneurship, and Triple Bottom Line Accounting.

Beyond our curriculum, KnowledgeBrief is dedicated to the following initiatives:

• Working with our clients to develop a skilled workforce, through comprehensive development and growth initiatives, that then support client businesses in their own social value development.
• Developing learners’ resilience and emotional intelligence, while championing ethical leadership practices and facilitating effective team building and motivation strategies.
• Encouraging active community engagement to empower learners to play a more active role within their communities, fostering social cohesion and collective well-being.
• Advocating for environmental sustainability by promoting initiatives aimed at reducing carbon footprint and eliminating unnecessary waste, contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.
• Engaging our clients in meaningful discussions about how our training initiatives can address the unique needs of their local communities, ensuring relevance and impact, and collaborating with them to create local employment opportunities and training pathways, identifying avenues for staff advancement and addressing skill shortages within their workforce.
• Providing our learners with opportunities to enhance their health and well-being, including participation in initiatives such as our Responsible Manager program and well-being enrichment workshops, which cover topics such as mental health awareness.
• Supporting national charities through our annual Charity Partnership of the Year initiative, underscoring our commitment to philanthropy and community engagement.
• Advocating for equality and fairness through workshops on inclusive leadership and strategies for mitigating unconscious bias. Additionally, we showcase industry-recognised speakers for topics such as workplace equality in our bespoke Leaders in Action series.
• Promoting environmental sustainability by minimizing waste and climate impact, both internally and through the adoption of a remote delivery model, thereby reducing our carbon footprint.

How will KnowledgeBrief ensure social value is delivered?

To embed Social Value into all aspects of our business, KnowledgeBrief:

• Conducts annual reviews of our curriculum offerings to align them with the local and regional needs of our clients, as well as with learners' starting points and aspirations.
• Undertakes Advisory Boards with our clients to understand the ROI impact of the apprenticeship programme and share best practices between different industries involved in the delivery of apprenticeships in their workforce, with ‘ROI’ including social value considerations.
• Supports our learners in creating meaningful "live" work-based evidence projects, where apprentices work to devise real solutions to genuine issues affecting areas such as staff retention, staff well-being, sustainable practices, and economic value.
• Ensures full delivery of our ESFA contract and achieve "good" in all aspects of the ESFA Accountability Framework for Apprenticeship Providers.
• Regularly produce and widely distribute content focusing on important social value topics through our bi-monthly publication and curriculum content, including research on topics such as ESG.
• Actively promotes our curriculum offerings to enhance progression rates into higher-level study and future career aspirations and monitor the success of this through our Key Performance Indicators
• Collaborates with our learners and clients to ensure we support the skills and resilience of our learners to enhance their quality of life and actively contribute to society through our value-added curriculum.
• Conducts regular feedback activities with our learners, including learner forums.
• Includes apprentices, employers, and other key stakeholders in decision-making processes.
• Engages in volunteering activities that deliver benefits to local communities through our Charity Partnership of the Year.
• Supports learners in living healthier lives through our health and well-being series.
• Promotes sustainability in our workforce and curriculum, including research and best practices on resource efficiency to reduce waste and maximize value.

Governance and Communication

We maintain rigorous governance mechanisms to monitor and evaluate our social value initiatives, overseen by our Strategic Board. Regular reporting on our social value commitment is required to ensure transparency and accountability, with the Operations Director responsible for providing these updates. Furthermore, our governance framework ensures compliance with ethical standards and regulatory requirements, including adherence to the AELP Code of Good Governance for Independent Training Providers. This commitment fosters trust and integrity in all our practices, reinforcing our dedication to ethical conduct and responsible practices.

Stakeholder Engagement

At KnowledgeBrief, we prioritise the perspectives and needs of all stakeholders, including staff, learners, clients, and external partners. Through inclusive engagement strategies, we actively seek to understand and address their concerns, fostering mutually beneficial relationships built on trust and collaboration. By valuing and incorporating stakeholder input into our decision-making processes, we ensure that our actions align with the diverse interests and aspirations of those we serve.

Policy Review Schedule and Record

Our Social Value Policy undergoes regular review to adapt to evolving needs and challenges. The Operations Director oversees this process, ensuring that our commitments remain relevant and impactful in an ever-changing landscape.

Social Value Statement, v1, 03.11.2023