Home > > Social Value in Construction: Why Community Is Core to How We Build
We believe a construction company’s value isn’t measured by projects delivered alone – it’s measured by the impact left behind in the communities we work in. Being part of the community is one of our foremost company values, and it shapes how we operate on every contract, every site, and every partnership.
For the Tier 1 contractors and main contractors we work alongside, social value is no longer a “nice to have.” It’s a core evaluation criterion in tender scoring, often measured against the National TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) Framework – the industry standard covering jobs, local growth, community wellbeing, environment, and innovation. As a subcontractor, demonstrating genuine, ongoing community engagement helps our partners meet their own social value commitments, not just tick a compliance box.
The construction industry faces a well-documented skills gap, with the sector needing hundreds of thousands of new qualified workers over the next decade. Closing that gap starts long before an apprenticeship application – it starts in the classroom.
That’s why GA Interiors is heavily involved in school and career events throughout the year. Our team speaks directly with students about life in construction and interior fit-out, offering honest, first-hand knowledge of the career paths available – from apprenticeships and trades to design, project management, and site supervision. We help demystify the industry for young people who may never have considered construction as a career, and we give teachers and careers advisors a genuine point of contact within the trade.
This isn’t a one-off CSR gesture. It’s a recurring commitment that feeds our own pipeline of future talent while contributing to the wider industry’s efforts to attract new entrants.
To formalise and strengthen this commitment, GA Interiors has a team member registered as a STEM Ambassador through the construction industry’s ambassador network. Our STEM ambassador acts as a direct link between our business and schools, colleges, and career events – sharing real project experience, answering student questions, and championing construction as a rewarding, skilled, and future-proof career choice.
Having a STEM ambassador on the team means our community engagement is structured, consistent, and aligned with recognised industry outreach programmes – giving our contractor partners confidence that our social value contribution is credible and measurable, not just promotional.
When Tier 1 contractors assess subcontractors and supply chain partners, community engagement and social value delivery increasingly influence procurement decisions. By partnering with GA Interiors, contractors gain a supply chain partner who:
For GA Interiors, being part of the community isn’t a marketing line — it’s a value that shows up in classrooms, career fairs, and conversations with the next generation of construction professionals. As the industry works to close its skills gap and deliver stronger social value, we’re proud to be doing our part, one student and one site at a time.
Interested in partnering with a supply chain contractor that takes social value seriously? [Get in touch with GA Interiors] to discuss how we can support your project and community commitments.
