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Social value

Making a positive impact in our communities

Here at AtkinsRéalis, our purpose is to engineer a better future for the planet and its people through impactful projects. We embed social value from the outset, delivering programs that enhance wellbeing in communities, our workforce, and partners.

What is social value?

Social value on infrastructure projects is measured by outcomes, and impact. By embedding a commitment from the start to improving living standards, reducing inequality and enhancing wellbeing in the communities we engage with, we are creating a legacy of sustainable benefits on some of the world's most significant and challenging projects.

AtkinsRéalis' Social Value team partners with diverse clients and communities. We use our unique mix of knowledge, skills and experience to help drive meaningful economic, social, and environmental benefits from the decisions made across the business, on projects and on the communities they touch, but also how we operate as an organization.

We apply six social value principles - identity, inclusion, wellbeing, inclusive economic growth, natural capital, and environmental resilience - in all our operations and community work. Our commitment is evident in initiatives such as apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and work experience.

By joining an organization where social value is a core principle rather than a procedural requirement, you will help ensure that projects deliver lasting, positive impacts for local communities and the wider environment.

Meet Harry; Social Value Technician

Joining AtkinsRéalis as the first Social Value Apprentice has been the best experience in my career so far! I’ve joined various projects including looking at how we utilize colleagues' time to make a tangible impact on community support.

I’ve worked across many areas of the business, developing relationships that have allowed me to contribute on various rewarding projects. Being part of the planning team to host the first UK & Ireland Social Value Week was a great achievement. 2025 presented my biggest challenge so far as I worked on a 6-month project looking at maximising social value in Wales. Alongside this opportunity I gained valuable experience working across the Skills, Education & Employment (SEE) business delivering meaningful social value.

Developing the Internal Technical Network has seen over 100 colleagues join, and has encouraged collaboration and a valued community. Having now finished the apprenticeship, it has given me the foundations to kickstart my career, allowing me to learn and grow on the job whilst adding a wealth of experience.

AtkinsRéalis uncovered: promoting STEM careers

Graduate engineer Karina discusses her role in promoting STEM, and creating a culture where everyone belongs.

Governors for Schools programme

AkinsRéalis and Governors for Schools have forged a "first of a kind" partnership to solve the growing skills gap in engineering and construction. As a sponsoring partner, we're placing skilled governors to enrich curriculums and diversify school boards. The initiative focuses on driving real change by supporting primary schools, schools in high‑deprivation areas, Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools, and girls' schools.

Since the Governors for School partnership began:

• 116 STEM Governors appointed, supporting 150+ schools
• Presence across 64 local authorities, including complex political landscapes such as Northern Ireland
• Over 153,000 students reached, with more than £2.7M in social value generated
• Significant impact in deprived communities: 60 Governors placed in high need schools (IDACI 4 and below)
• Dedicated support for SEND settings, reaching 700 young people with complex needs.

Meet Tosin; Mechanical Engineer and STEM Governor

My name is Tosin, and I'm a Mechanical Engineer at AtkinsRéalis and a STEM Governor. I chose to become a STEM Governor because I believe in investing in the future - and children are the future. As one of the younger governors, I bring a fresh perspective that both fellow governors and teachers have appreciated. I've also found the Governors for Schools community at AtkinsRéalis very supportive, with colleagues who are also governors always available for advice.

Early careers opportunities

Our commitment to social value is also evident in our apprenticeship, graduate and placement schemes, and our work experience initiatives.

Work experience

Our Work Experience programme exposes enthusiastic learners to the exciting world of sustainability and innovation, where they get to explore our five key sectors over one working week. Where possible, our Social value team provides in-person work experience on our major projects. Since launching the Virtual Work Experience programme, hundreds of participants have completed the immersive week.

Each year, we recruit over a hundred apprentices across a wide range of disciplines throughout the UK. Our apprentices are part of our vibrant early careers community and are valued members of our organization, with opportunities to learn, contribute, and grow from their first day. They develop their skills alongside experienced professionals, are encouraged to explore opportunities that match their interests and ambitions, and benefit from dedicated study time and support.

We offer both summer and industrial year placements to support and complement the academic learning of students studying a relevant degree. These opportunities provide valuable insight into life at AtkinsRéalis and help students build skills, gain experience, and explore career opportunities. Our placement students work alongside experienced professionals, developing their confidence, expanding their networks, and discovering where their interests and ambitions can take them.

Each year, our graduate programmes provide hundreds of graduates across the UK with opportunities to develop their skills, knowledge and experience across a wide range of disciplines. Supported by our Graduate Development Programme (GDP), they benefit from training, mentoring, professional development opportunities, and on-the-job experience. They’re valued contributors and part of our vibrant early careers community.

Diverse group of people gathered around a table in a collaborative meeting, all smiling and engaged in conversation in a contemporary workplace.

Working with our communities

Giving back to the community has always been important to our UK team. Our employees take up to two days of paid volunteering leave a year, supporting the causes they care about. In 2024, we donated over 20,000 hours of volunteering time to organizations including inspiring the next generation of engineers at The Big Rail University Challenge, Big Bang Fair Engineering UK, and Future Frontiers.