Our social value journey – more than just a building

It has been a long journey for West Hull Health Hub to come to fruition, with many years of talks, plans and options considered along the way.

But we haven’t just built and delivered a first-class facility – we’ve taken social value into consideration every step of the way.

From linking up with schools and organising health and wellbeing initiatives, to considering the environment and taking local residents on the construction journey with them, the community and wellbeing of the wider team has been at the heart of the project since the first spade was placed in the ground.

As part of our social value activities, the team:

  • Took a JCB to nearby Wheeler Primary School to tell them more about the project as part of their curriculum
  • Invited neighbours, school children and patients for site visits during the build
  • Organised general health, wellbeing and mental health talks for the team and local residents
  • Upskilled the on-site team and offered apprenticeship and paid work experience opportunities
  • Employed local labour and ensured for every £1 spent, £3.57 was pumped back into the local economy
  • Diverted 97% of waste from landfill and implemented energy-saving measures on site
  • Collected Harvest Festival and foods bank donations

Sewell Construction is recognised as a Considerate Constructor, an accolade which saw the West Hull Health Hub team score 43 out of a possible 50.

The impact on the environment wasn’t overlooked during the project, including members of the team volunteering to remove graffiti from the nearby Army barracks wall.

Sewell Construction Project Manager Dave Major said: “We went with the strapline ‘the journey starts now’, as we wanted to people to think about health as we built the health centre.

“We realise the importance of general and mental health and we also have two mental health first aiders on site.

“Maximising the social value our activities have on the communities we work in is hugely important to us. At West Hull Health Hub, it has been a privilege to be able to engage with and give back to the workforce, local residents and the wider community on many levels.”