Putting social value at the heart of the business

Harwich Haven Authority (HHA)’s work generated an incredible GB£5.1million in social value in 2024, representing a 20% increase on the previous year and the organisation’s highest amount ever.

“As a trust port deeply connected to our community, we’ve placed social value generation at the very heart of our business,” said Linzi Jobber, sustainability manager at HHA.

“This isn’t a box ticking exercise – it’s about achieving positive impacts for all those who live and work in the haven, ensuring the benefits of our successes are felt throughout our community.”

Core tenet

The trust port, which oversees 150 square miles of water off the East Anglian coast, has made social value a core tenet of the business, covering social, local and economic themes.

Its work saw it shortlisted for the SME & VCSE Leadership Award at this year’s Social Value Awards in Birmingham.

HHA uses the Themes, Outcomes, Measures (TOMs) Framework, created by the Social Value Portal, to measure its impact across its key themes.

Highlights in 2024 included delivering more than GB£1.2m towards the environment through its own carbon reduction measures, while GB£3.2m was delivered through employing locally for 108 full-time positions.

Authority staff have also provided more than 125 hours of community project volunteering, while almost GB£60,000 was invested in local community projects.

“We would like to extend our thanks to all of our partner organisations – including the amazing charities and non-profits we work alongside in making a genuine difference to those in our community,” said Ms Jobber.

“As an organisation we will continue to strive to increase our social value delivery for the benefit of all.”

Coastal Discoveries

Partnering with its current maintenance dredging contractor, Boskalis Westminster, HHA developed and delivered a jointly funded a £50,000 initiative aimed at primary school-aged children.

When it comes to the importance of societal value, one UK port authority is going above and beyond duty of care to the local community., delivered by local Harwich teacher and environment champion Libby Scarf from Seaside Explorers.

“We are very excited to run this programme for children in our community and encourage participation,” said Sarah West, CEO, Harwich Haven Authority.

“The Coastal Discoveries initiative is an example of how we can both enrich and benefit the younger generation.”

Liz Bartholomew, head teacher, Mayflower Primary School, Harwich, added: “Here at Mayflower, we cannot praise Beach School enough.”

“The benefit to our pupils is enormous, not only in terms of getting them learning outside the classroom, but also in terms of the wealth of environmental learning that takes place.

“The children are introduced to the amazing array of wildlife we have on our coastline, and they begin to appreciate the importance of our actions and the impact we have on the environment and our part in supporting it.

“This, of course, fully complements our science and geography curriculums, but it’s more than that, it’s developing their love of the world we live in and doing it in an exciting and stimulating way.”