How to measure social outcomes in the nuclear sector

Describing the value to society of a new asset or piece of infrastructure is no easy feat, especially if you try to articulate the return on that investment for those in the direct vicinity.

We know there is a legal requirement for social value assessments to be made on public services but what more can be done to measure the impact made and the legacy generated?

With the life span of an asset anywhere between 10 and 120 years, we can create an extraordinary amount of social value but only if we embed our initiatives upfront when we also have a huge amount of influence.

Measuring social value

We deliver social, economic, and environmental value to society, not only through our technical and professional solutions, but by investing in local communities and maximising our social impact to ensure we leave a lasting legacy.

which they live with. Communities and people need our support to ensure their futures and their environments are sustainable.

Digitally enabled social value methodology

The National Themes Outcomes and Measures (TOMs) Framework set out and curated by the Social Value Portal is a well-established resource and HM Treasury’s Green Book guidance on Wellbeing evaluation, is robust and comprehensive. Yet there are traps to navigate.

It’s important to understand the impact of our social, economic and environmental initiatives but there’s also a risk we’ll dive too deep into the detail and overlook other, less straightforward but potentially transformational, opportunities.

Equally, if we’re putting too much emphasis on the data, we risk simplifying complex human interactions so we can put a pound sign next to them.

We also need to consider social value in totality, rather than in isolation. The three main phases of a project or asset life cycle design, delivery, and operation and maintenance are interdependent. Likewise, social value is related at a system level to the economy and the environment.

Costain uses digital technology as a key enabler of social value for our clients. We use Geographical Information Systems (GIS), to focus our activities on unique stakeholder groups, and to develop a deep understanding of local community needs.

It fuels social mobility and allows people to feel valued as part of their community. It helps people feel connected to the environment in

Digital stakeholder platforms are key to capturing and visualising data relating to stakeholders’ authentic voices. Digital platforms are also essential for capturing social value inputs, outputs, and outcomes across the lifecycle of an asset and to model the impacts at a systems level. Data can then be used to improve impact, monitor outcomes, and communicate stories of change.