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Can pursuing social value through your work truly impact individuals and communities?
Equal Opportunity - Reduce the disability employment gap and tackle workforce inequality.
Credera strives to make meaningful and measurable contributions to society. It has long been part of our mission which is to create an extraordinary impact on our clients, people, and communities. As Credera’s Social Value Lead, I’m in the unique and privileged position of leading a passionate and dedicated team who make this happen. It is widely accepted that one of the key barriers to addressing social mobility is access to opportunities. We have developed and delivered a number of initiatives and our flagship initiative to address this is the 'Credera Consulting Academy'. The Credera Consulting Academy seeks to bridge the gap between people from disadvantaged backgrounds and secure, prosperous employment with the added benefit of contributing to workplace inclusivity.
The Consulting Academy is a skills-based initiative founded on the principles of social mobility aimed at 16-18-year-olds. It provides a structured curriculum and set of learning objectives based around a series of workshops to reflect a consulting engagement, helping teach and develop relevant business skills that are core to a consultant but are also transferrable across many different work settings. The curriculum covers people and communication skills through effective team working, communication and collaboration; technical skills such as SWOT analysis, planning and presentation; and critical thinking skills through interviewing, analysing, and designing solutions to problems.
Our approach to selecting schools and areas for the Academy is targeted. We focus on ensuring that we provide opportunities to underprivileged students so we've partnered with schools to reach those students who stand to benefit the most. In taking this approach, we ensure our efforts are directed where they can make the most significant difference to social mobility.
To date, the Credera Consulting Academy has been delivered in several locations including London, Leeds, Newcastle, Jersey, and Monmouthshire. Over 25 of our staff are trained to facilitate the workshops and we have reached over 400 students. As we continue to expand, our goal remains to partner with more schools and broaden our impact.
Student participants of the Credera Consulting Academy have expressed overwhelmingly positive feedback. Examples include:
“They have made me feel better prepared and less anxious about the working world.”
“It has shown me how to be more confident and how to structure my interview.”
“I’m now aware of the importance of soft skills, transferable skills and how to take initiative during an interview.”
“It has inspired me to look at more career paths.”
Staff feedback has been fantastic to hear too and examples include:
“I just wanted to say a huge thank you for such an incredible day yesterday. Our staff were so complimentary about it and the feedback from the students was that they valued the purpose and the new skills they feel able to evidence. We really appreciate all the time and effort you and the team have invested in the Academy sessions.”
“I spoke to loads of students at the end and the feedback was incredibly positive. I couldn’t find one student who didn’t get something from it. Thanks again for bringing this to our door and I really hope the partnership continues to grow and develop.”
It has been really fulfilling to see the partnerships between Credera and the schools develop, with the benefits for all parties clear to see. Being part of Credera's Social Value team and delivering the Consulting Academy has been an incredibly rewarding journey. It reflects our broader commitment to making a difference, not just within the realms of business but in the very heart of our communities. This not only benefits the people directly involved but also contributes to the broader economic and social development of the areas.
A public-private partnership for regional investment had this to say, “The Credera Academy is a fantastic initiative and is a clear commitment to supporting and developing the skills pipeline in our region. We look forward to working with you even further in the future”. The positive feedback from people directly involved in the Consulting Academy allows me to confidently state that yes, pursuing social value through your work absolutely can make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities.
As we look to the future, our aim is to keep this momentum, to continue to be a force for good in the communities in which we work, and to keep opening doors for the next generation, ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their background.
Heather Cover-Kus
Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.
Ellie Huckle
Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.
Annie Collings
Annie joined techUK as the Programme Manager for Cyber Security and Central Government in September 2023. In this role, she supports the Cyber Security SME Forum, engaging regularly with key government and industry stakeholders to advance the growth and development of SMEs in the cyber sector.
Ella Gago-Brookes
Ella joined techUK in November 2023 as a Markets Team Assistant, supporting the Justice and Emergency Services, Central Government and Financial Services Programmes.
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