Authenticity and Negativism. Social Value in UK Construction

Watts, Gregory

Abstract

Social value engagement in UK construction procurement provides contractors with a competitive edge. Arguably this serves to force contractor social value action. Whilst this is seemingly of benefit to the social value agenda and wider societal needs, the problem exists that there is gap in current research around the impact the perceptions of contractor leadership have on the social value delivered. The aim of this research is to understand if altruistic main contractor social value strategies result in greater social value activity than those strategies driven purely by procurement success. Sixteen interviews are conducted across four main contractors. These include a member of the leadership team from each contractor, with twelve of the interviews conducted from across the different contractor’s social value delivery teams. The findings reveal social value authenticity and negativism exists. The leadership of some contractors see social value as a means of procurement success only, which filters down to the delivery team, resulting in minimal social value delivery. Contractor leadership with authentic social value intentions is easily identifiable by the social value delivery teams resulting in broader social value benefits achieved.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (published)
• Acceptance Date: Oct 1, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 16, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 21, 2024