Our Contractor Partners aren’t just responsible for projects they’re contracted to deliver. They also have the opportunity to transform the communities around them.

The work being done as part of the Cheshire Archives Crewe development, on behalf of framework users Cheshire West & Chester Council (with Cheshire East Council), is a strong example of exactly that.

 

Supporting The Salvation Army in Crewe

As part of the wider “Cheshire’s Archives: A Story Shared” programme, project partners have delivered a targeted programme of social value activity in support of The Salvation Army.

The main focus of this activity was the pro-bono refurbishment of the Salvation Army’s community coffee shop in Crewe. Delivered by the Kier construction team, working alongside supply chain partners McCrory’s and SAL Construction and supported by the archives project team, the refurbishment has created a brighter, more welcoming space for local residents and service users.

 

Measuring What Matters

It’s important to Procure Partnerships Framework that all social value activity is measurable. Monitored via Procure Partnerships Frameworks’ social value tool, here’s what the Kier Construction team have delivered so far on this project:

  • 340 hours of volunteering contributed to the refurbishment works
  • £992.31 of donated materials provided through the supply chain
  • £5,000 of match funding secured from the Kier Foundation, presented in March 2026

 

Impact That Lasts

The refurbished coffee shop has been designed to generate long-term income for The Salvation Army, strengthening the organisation’s sustainability well beyond the build period. This welcoming, well-maintained space attracts more visitors, and more visitors means more revenue to fund the vital social support work of the The Salvation Army.

This reflects the true value of the project, not just what it delivers on completion, but what it enables long after the team has left site.

 

Skills, Education, and the Next Generation

The project also created meaningful skills and education opportunities, building partnerships with Crewe Engineering & Design UTC and Chester College.

Students were given direct exposure to real construction environments and career pathways linked to the archive’s regeneration.

 

The Bigger Picture: Social Value Done Right

The Salvation Army refurbishment is a reminder that social value, done well, isn’t a box-ticking exercise. It’s about identifying where a project team can make a genuine difference.

The Cheshire Archives Crewe development was procured via the Procure Partnerships North WestConstruction Framework and is due to complete in Summer 2026.

 

Jack Neath, Social Value Advisor, Procure Partnerships:

“Every pound a charity has to spend on non-essentials is a pound away from their core mission, in Salvation Army’s case, fighting poverty. Contractors such as Kier are in a valuable position – with time, expertise, and resource – to improve community assets, such as the Salvation Army’s coffee shop in Crewe, ensuring their beneficiaries can focus on what they do best, and serve their local area”.

 

To find out more about how our frameworks can help you deliver meaningful social value on your next project, get in touch with our team today: info@procurepartnerships.co.uk