E.ON joins leading businesses to help unlock social value and community benefit as they invest across the UK

The Commission includes E.ON UK, Barratt Redrow, Heathrow, Knight Dragon, Mitie, Pension Insurance Corporation, and VodafoneThree. These businesses are committed to the creation of social value and continue to progress their own investment in local projects and infrastructure across the UK, including regeneration, mobile and transport connectivity, housing developments, heavy infrastructure, skills development, and renewable energy projects.

The Commission will argue that alongside the need for central and local government to bring forward more development and high quality community investment projects, there needs to be a much greater emphasis on the needs of local people. This will not only help to speed up planning times by bringing communities along with development plans and ensuring they also benefit from planned projects, but it will also help to restore pride in communities that too often feel neglected by national policymakers. 

To play our part in helping the government advance infrastructure delivery and community regeneration projects across the UK, the Commission will identify how social value creation can help break down the economic, social, and cultural barriers to investment across UK regions. It will also work with local and regional leaders to better quantify social value needs and highlight best practice in community-focused development.

Ahead of local elections in May, the Commission will embark on polling research, exploring what makes people proud of their communities, whether they think their area is flourishing, how they feel about investment and infrastructure projects in their area, and the role of the private sector in delivering positive change. This will be followed by regional roadshows with regional authorities, universities, and other civic groups before producing a policy paper with recommendations for central government, local decision makers, and the private sector.

The Commission’s research will focus on understanding three main areas:

• Pride in local community. Understanding what makes people feel like their local area is truly flourishing, as well as what makes people want to leave.
• Attitudes towards local regeneration and infrastructure projects. Understanding how people feel about new and old developments in their area.
• How to change the dial. Understanding what factors can make people change the way they feel about local development initiatives and infrastructure.

The Commission will be chaired by Stephanie Driver, former Number 10 Director of Communications, who will provide strategic advice to the project.

As part of the project launch, the Commissioners will formally write to the Chancellor, offering to share the research findings and collaborate to ensure investment can be delivered and make a meaningful difference to lives and communities across the country.

The Commission’s advisory board to date includes members from Birmingham City University, JL Partners, West Midlands Combined Authority, Business LDN, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the CBI, the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Cardiff Capital Region and the Good Economy.

WPI Strategy will run the secretariat for the group, having previously carried out a similar role for the Building Back Britain Commission.

Vijay Tank, Chief Commercial Officer at E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions UK, said: “Social value isn’t an add on. It is how we build trust, strengthen our brand purpose, and lead a fair, inclusive transition to a cleaner energy future. We are proud to be working alongside other purpose led businesses, taking a place-based approach that enables deeper partnerships and greater benefits for the communities we serve.”

Dom Veney, Interim CEO of Pension Insurance Corporation, said: “The creation of social value for local residents through housing and infrastructure development is rightly becoming increasingly important. Local communities should understand what local development means for them and how they can benefit. We believe that increased transparency and responsiveness to local views will help speed up planning times, so lowering costs and providing more certainty for businesses and investors, as well as strengthening social bonds and creating intergenerational equity.”

Tim Collins, Group Corporate Affairs Director at Barratt Redrow, said: “We are delighted to join a range of leading businesses as part of the Social Value Commission. It is vital that we listen to and understand what communities want from new development and tell a compelling story of the many benefits that new homes can bring – from creating great places to live and good jobs, to unlocking significant investment in local areas.”

Helen Longfils, Group Director of Social Value at Mitie, said: “At Mitie, how we create meaningful, measurable social value is guided by  Plan Thrive which is our commitment to uplift lives and enable places to prosper. The Social Value Commission will develop a richer picture of community needs and aspirations, giving policymakers and business clearer direction on where support delivers the greatest impact. By working with regional partners and listening to lived experience, we can codesign initiatives that open access to skills, employment and wellbeing support, enabling places across the UK to thrive.”

Heathrow’s Communities and Sustainability Director Becky Coffin, said: “Livelihoods in every corner of the UK rely on up-to-date infrastructure keeping people and goods connected. Upgrading this national infrastructure responsibly means truly listening to those who live closest so we can support the country and our local community at the same time. We are serious about being a better neighbour and look forward to sharing what we have learned with the Social Value Commission while challenging ourselves to do more.”

Nicki Lyons, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, VodafoneThree, said: “For VodafoneThree, connecting every community means more than expanding our network. It is about listening to local community voices, working with councils and residents from the outset, and ensuring no one is left behind. The Social Value Commission is an important step in embedding social value at the heart of infrastructure delivery, so that investment strengthens local pride, opportunity and inclusion alongside economic growth.”