Delivering real social value is integral to WSP's work - nurturing sustainable societies, connecting communities and seizing opportunities - is enriched in its manifesto as a guiding principle of its business.
"Social value is about using every aspect of our business and operations to make a positive difference to the communities we work in. For us at WSP, it's no longer enough to say we are doing this – we're here to prove it," says WSP.
As such, WSP actively participates in the development of local communities and recognises the collective rights of those communities. Through WSP's projects, employee commitment and corporate activities, the company strives to contribute positively to the places where its people live and where it operates. And, working for an employer that helps bring positive change to communities can certainly make for a highly rewarding career.
Recently WSP employees helped Tuppenny Barn, a UK registered charity that supports local communities to advance education in horticulture and sustainability in West Sussex and Hampshire regions of the UK.
"This fantastic charity aims to advance education and understanding of horticulture and sustainable land use and the WSP team lent a hand recently!," said WSP.
Advancing an understanding of horticulture
Tuppenny Barn cultivates and harvests organic produce, using this to create learning experiences for all ages and to promote the benefits of growing, cooking and eating healthy food. Tuppenny Barn's vision is to create a better future for children, through inspiring communities to learn about sustainable and organic food.
From hosting school trips and after-school clubs, to workshops and holiday activities, Tuppenny Barn teaches children where fruit and vegetables come from, the benefits of eating nutritional food and gives them the skills to grow and prepare their own meals. It has also established a Young Carers project that further supports local youth through its unique educational environment.
Providing educational experiences for the community
Tuppenny Barn's social and therapeutic horticulture group delivers weekly sessions helping support the more vulnerable individuals in its community. The charity also provides educational experiences and activities for the wider community, to help people develop their growing and cooking abilities, alongside countryside skills like foraging, wreath making, bee-keeping and willow weaving.
Its shop, open every Thursday, sells delicious, fresh organic bread, cakes and bakes, eggs, preserves and the fresh organic fruit, vegetables and cut flowers the charity grows. Tuppenny Barn's Education Centre is designed with sustainable principles at its heart and provides a beautiful space for meetings, community and music events, art exhibitions and special occasions like weddings. It also provides a beautiful space for wakes that can be held both inside or weather permitting, outdoors in its marquee.
Promoting sustainable living in all its forms
At the heart of Tuppenny Barn’s approach is the promotion of sustainable living in all its forms. This underpins all that it does, and its aspiration is to be a beacon of sustainability for the community it serves.
Through learning about growing food, harvesting and cooking it, Tuppenny Barn wants to help people understand where food comes from, the nutritional benefits of eating fresh fruit and vegetables and gives them the knowledge and skills to grow their own, prepare and cook healthy fresh meals.
A commitment to building thriving communities
WSP's trusted professionals are united by the common purpose of creating positive and long-lasting impacts on the communities it serves through a culture of innovation, integrity, and inclusion. Its teams bring global expertise to their local communities, dare to challenge the status quo, collaborate with and learn from others, and are empowered to turn challenges into opportunities.
WSP’s belief is that, for societies to thrive, people must all hold them selves accountable for tomorrow. WSP's Global ESG Statement states that WSP the company will give back to the communities where its people live and work, through time and resources. WSP's efforts are directed in the form of investments, partnerships and pro-bono expertise, all guided by the passion of its people.
WSP works to bring a positive change to its communities
WSP knows that devising solutions to help the communities of tomorrow can open up a wide spectrum of career paths.
WSP employees are committed to giving back to the communities where they live and work.
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.