Social Value Award
Acknowledging the positive contribution utilities make to society beyond their core operations. This award recognises organisations delivering meaningful, measurable social value for customers, communities, employees and the environment – whether through a hiring initiative, local community engagement or social value added through a capital project.
Social Value Award
Acknowledging the positive contribution utilities make to society beyond their core operations. This award recognises organisations delivering meaningful, measurable social value for customers, communities, employees and the environment – whether through a hiring initiative, local community engagement or social value added through a capital project.
Cadent and The Warm Homes Network
The Warm Homes Network (WHN), created by Cadent in partnership with Citizens Advice Manchester, Turn2us, YES Energy Solutions and Northern Gas Networks, is transforming how households experiencing fuel poverty access support. Through a single referral, customers can receive coordinated advice on energy, finances, benefits and wider wellbeing from multiple specialist organisations. Available through both digital and telephone channels, the network removes barriers, reduces duplication and simplifies often complex customer journeys. Since launching following a successful pilot, WHN has delivered thousands of support interventions, helping vulnerable households increase financial resilience, access essential services and stay safe, warm and connected.
DT Hughes Building Contractors and SP Energy Networks
Powering Local Futures
Powering Local Futures is DT Hughes Building Contractors Ltd’s innovative approach to ensuring utility infrastructure delivers lasting benefits for communities. Through one integrated programme, we connect local employment, skills development, education, community investment and environmental improvement to utility projects. Working with utility partners, schools, community organisations and the DT Hughes Foundation CIC, we create pathways into construction and infrastructure careers, support people facing barriers to employment and deliver tangible improvements to local communities and environments. Social value is embedded into project planning, delivery and measurement, creating a repeatable model that transforms infrastructure investment into meaningful, measurable and lasting community legacy.
OCU Group
Creating a lasting legacy
In two years, OCU has delivered more than £3.6m of social value across the ED2 Framework, including £2.72m in FY25/26 alone, exceeding its annual commitment by almost £400,000. By transforming social value from individual activities into a structured, needs-led programme, OCU ensures infrastructure investment delivers lasting benefits for people, places and the environment. Working with schools, charities, councils and environmental partners, we create targeted opportunities in employability, inclusion, wellbeing and biodiversity. From supporting SEND and NEET students into employment pathways to environmental volunteering and improving access to nature, our approach generates measurable outcomes that are reviewed, refined and continually improved.
SES Water
River Mole Citizen Science Partnership
SES Water has partnered with local charity River Mole River Watch, putting local people at the heart of an investigation into nitrate pollution affecting the River Mole and Leatherhead groundwater. Over 50 volunteers have collected water-quality data from 32 locations across the catchment, creating a unique dataset to identify nitrate hotspots and improve understanding of the surface-groundwater interaction. Combining community-led monitoring with SES Water’s scientific expertise is empowering people to better understand and protect the river, providing valuable catchment insight and helping identify cost-effective measures to protect the environment and future-proof water resources against increasing drought risk.
SP Electricity North West
Our Social DSO Strategy
Our social DSO strategy provides a clear framework for ensuring the energy transition benefits everyone – focusing on decarbonisation, creating economic value but delivering societal benefits at the same time. It’s the first in GB to place fairness at the centre of operating an electricity network, built on the belief that the transition to net zero will only prove successful if fairness is designed in from the start. Low-income households, digitally excluded people and rural communities risk being left behind in a rapidly changing energy system. Our strategy responds by ensuring that equity, participation and social value guide our decisions.
Tideway
Beyond the Tunnel - Tideway’s Lasting Social Value Legacy
Tideway was set up to build the Thames Tideway Tunnel to protect the Thames from sewage pollution. But from the outset, the company sought to deliver far more: reconnecting London with the river and creating lasting value for communities, the environment and the infrastructure sector. Social value was embedded in financing, governance and contracts, turning 54 legacy commitments into measurable action. Alongside its core environmental benefits, Tideway created jobs and apprenticeships, supported people into work, improved safety, invested in communities, reduced construction impacts and created 13 riverside spaces. Independent analysis found £1.72 of additional social value for every £1 spent.
UK Power Networks
People, partnerships and power
At UK Power Networks, social value is not an add-on, it’s central to how we deliver essential services, support customers and strengthen communities. The ‘Community Matters’ programme brings together veteran employment, Defence partnerships, STEM education, employee volunteering and community collaboration in a strategic overarching programme creating measurable social, economic and environmental impact. It’s embedded within the company’s Social Value Strategy and aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This company demonstrates how a utility can deliver lasting value far beyond the assets they build. Employees are committed to improving lives, developing future talent, supporting communities and building stronger partnerships.
Utilita Energy
Utilita Energy Hubs
Utilita’s Energy Hubs are transforming what it means to be an energy supplier by delivering trusted, community-based support networks that tackle fuel poverty, digital exclusion and the challenges of ensuring an equitable transition. Through 12 high street Hubs, 60 trained advisors, dedicated Eco Energy Experts and free Summer Sustainability Clubs, Utilita provides practical in-person support and community connection to more than 100,000 people annually. Open to everyone, regardless of energy supplier, the Hubs combine face-to-face advice, outreach, financial support and environmental education to deliver measurable social value, strengthen communities and build lasting resilience for the future.
Wave
Social & Sustainability Promise
Wave's Social & Sustainability Promise is a business-wide commitment to creating meaningful environmental, social and economic value beyond our core operations. Through water efficiency innovation, community partnerships, employee-led volunteering, employability initiatives and industry-leading sustainability programmes, we’re helping customers, communities and colleagues thrive while addressing some of the UK's biggest challenges, including water scarcity, climate resilience and social inequality. Embedded throughout our business strategy and governance, the programme has delivered measurable outcomes including 9.4 million m³ of customer water savings, 2,294 volunteering hours and employment support for disadvantaged groups. By combining innovation with purpose, we’re delivering lasting social value at scale.