Amos Simbo is founder and chief executive of BPIC Network
BPIC Network is a built environment network and consultancy working with the industry to bring inclusion and social impact to life.
Over the years, our journey as a network has shown the power of collaboration across the built environment, showcasing how collective efforts can bring about effective change. Our industry has demonstrated a remarkable willingness to engage, irrespective of formal policies, allowing our network to flourish to more than 10,000 members.
“The impact should not only be in structures going up, but creation of local wealth and opportunities”
This diverse community includes young professionals, business owners, and individuals beyond the industry to whom we can offer membership, social value and access to diverse talent.
Our membership offers support to businesses to have access to diverse talent, inclusion best practice to attract and retain talent, and social impact. Our consultancy offering ranges from procurement to onsite delivery through our social value managers team.
By aligning with BPIC Network, organisations can showcase their commitment to attracting and retaining ethnic minority talent in the industry. Our practical ways of embedding ourselves into day-to-day operations enables businesses to increase access, diversity, inclusion and social impact as part of their everyday business.
In all our work the central theme has always been clear: how we can make a positive difference to our communities, empower young people, support local businesses, and uplift those from disadvantaged backgrounds while carrying out work on developments and construction sites.
The answer and delivery vehicle for this is social impact. Recognising that social value is the vehicle to drive forward our goals, we have recently launched our outsourced social value team to work closely with our partners on various projects.
Additional value
We see social value and social impact as the additional value that developments and construction projects make to the local and surrounding area they are being built in. As an industry building cities and communities through housing, the impact should not only be in structures going up, but creation of local wealth and opportunities, while bearing local people in mind.
As houses, roads and cities are being built, we understand that what we are truly constructing are the very foundations of our places and communities. These communities are designed not only to benefit investors and businesses, but also to provide local residents with job opportunities, skills development, business prospects, and promote growth.
Armed with a robust toolkit and having nurtured and established relationships, we are poised to deliver impactful change with every project and development we engage with.
Technology advancements in recent years have allowed us access to information such as statistics on lack of ethnic minority representation, especially at a senior level, and tools to make a difference. Clients and end users can no longer claim not to know or abscond responsibility on this issue and others such as skills shortages.
When building, we can now understand the impact we are making and if all the initiatives are being carried out.
We have recently also launched our site signages on sites with BW Interiors and Higgins, meaning overall we are now visible on more than 80 sites across the country. This enables us to show our work in evolving and being further embedded in everyday business.
Being plugged into communities means whenever we are developing and building, wealth and opportunities are being created that will further create thriving communities. Every community is levelled up if these basic principles are followed and enough attention given to the construction world.
Engaging in social value initiatives is not just a moral and ethical responsibility, it is a cornerstone of sustainable and responsible business practices. By prioritising social value considerations, we can actively contribute to the wellbeing of the communities we operate in and foster stronger relationships with our stakeholders.
Our industry is a crucial cornerstone of our economy, facilitating the movement of people and goods. Embedding good practices not only improves the industry but enriches our communities as a whole.
