Social Value
Social Value is a term used to describe the difference an organisation or project can make to the community they are operating in.
Introduction
Social Value is a term used to describe the difference an organisation or project can make to the community they are operating in.
The purpose of this document is to outline how Asckey supports the Social Value Model framework which helps public sector buyers to differentiate between suppliers. The Social Value Model includes the following four areas:
- Sustainability/Climate change
- Tackling economic equality
- Equal opportunity
- Wellbeing
Climate change/Sustainability
Outcome: Effective stewardship of the environment.
Response: The nature and value of the contracts fulfilled by Asckey fall under the £5 million threshold which means we are not required to supply a Carbon Reduction Plan. However, Asckey is committed to safeguarding the environment and minimising our environmental impact as best we can.
We are a software development company; therefore, our environmental impact is low, but we have made a carbon pledge to be net-zero by 2030. We recognise that sustainability and social value are important to our clients, especially those within the NHS.
Asckey is accredited with ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental) which forms part of our integrated management system, along with ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO 27001:2022 (Data Security), and Cyber Essentials Plus. These accreditations are independently audited to help identify areas of continuous improvement in business performance and our sustainability performance. The development and integration of an Environmental Management System into our business processes strengthens our commitment to our clients and the environment.
We have an environmental policy that outlines how our business can maintain a minimal environmental impact. This includes ensuring responsible use of energy throughout our business, by conserving energy and improving energy efficiency. It also includes regularly reviewing our Impacts and Aspects Register to assess current mitigations and to identify further opportunities for development.
Being a software development company, Asckey has relatively limited opportunities to significantly increase our sustainability goals. However, our software enables clients to digitise their paper-based processes and therefore we can support their personal sustainability goals by reducing paper waste.
Most of our external sales and support activities are undertaken online which enables us to keep our travel costs to a minimum. If site visits are required, then we look for the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation method. We track company mileage so we can endeavour to meet our goal of becoming NetZero by 2030.
Tackling economic inequality
Outcome: Supply chain diversity and equality in the workplace
Response: As an SME software company, our impact on tackling economic inequality is minimal. However, we are committed to working with small, diverse, and high-quality suppliers where we can.
We are accredited with Cyber Essentials Plus which supports our commitment to managing cyber security risks in the delivery of our client contracts.
Our procurement process aims to control externally supplied products and services to obtain the best financial outcome for the company. All whilst meeting the requirements of our customers and our integrated management system that is accredited to ISO 9001:2015 (Quality), ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental) and ISO 27001:2022 (Data Security).
To ensure quality and consistency in the development and support of our applications, as well as ensuring we meet the specific data security requirements, we do not outsource any of our work.
We support local community groups with sponsorship as a way of creating more opportunities for people to get involved.
Equal opportunity
Outcome: Reduce the disability employment gap.
Response: Asckey believes that innovation and inclusion are a partnership. By employing people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and abilities we can create a workspace where our people can perform at their best. We aim to provide our employees with the support, environment and resources needed for them to achieve their potential in line with our company values.
Asckey is committed to regular, ongoing training and development of our employees to support their journey with Asckey, and with developing our products and services. This is demonstrated by the fact that part of our employee engagement involves the undertaking of formal, documented training reviews with employees every 6 months.
These reviews not only cover specific role-based training needs, but employees are also free to suggest other areas of training that can be demonstrated to benefit themselves and/or the business. Depending on the benefits in question, such training may be funded by the business.
In a software/development environment, technology is constantly evolving as are the requirements from clients. Our flexible and two-way approach to employees training and development has proven beneficial to employees and to the business as we work together to maintain and enhance our resource base.
Our working conditions promote an inclusive working environment that promotes retention and progression as demonstrated in the fact we have not had to recruit a replacement role for over two years.
Wellbeing
Outcome: Improve health and well-being.
Response: Asckey provides a hybrid working environment along with a flexible home-working policy. Asckey has some team members who work remotely full-time to accommodate where they are based, however, all employees have the option to work from home or be in the office on a day-to-day basis. This flexibility supports the mental well-being of employees as there is no pressure to come to the office should there be travel or childcare issues (for example). A flexible and hybrid working environment also supports our ambitions of reducing the team’s carbon footprint.
Asckey has a collaborative management structure. This approach enables employees to feel included in how the business develops its products and services. There is a shadowing/mentoring approach applied to the training and development of employees as we want them to feel supported in their growth within the company.
Our HR/recruitment process is supported by a third-party, Peninsula, which offers an Employee Assistance Programme for our employees to use. We have a Workplace Mental Health First Aider within the office, within that role they share any mental health campaigns with employees signposting to health and well-being organisations. We have also signed up to Mind’s Mental Health at Work Commitment.
(January 2025)
