488 jobs created within a year as Fusion21 helps organisations smash social value and boost green skills.

New data reveals 488 jobs were created and hundreds of people accessed apprenticeships and work placement opportunities within a year – after we helped companies to smash their social value targets.

At Fusion21, we support our members and suppliers to embed social value into projects.

The 488 jobs were created in 2024-2025 as a result of social value commitments delivered through our frameworks – a 37% annual rise from the 356 jobs created in 2023-2024.

These opportunities were in sectors including construction, green skills, and housing and across a diverse range of roles, including water safety technician, senior site manager and graduate bid writer.

The data also shows that 96 jobs - around a fifth of all created – were for residents living in the areas where the work was being delivered.

Statistics also reveal that 39 of the jobs created were classed as ‘green sector’, defined as those with a decarbonisation or net zero focus. These positions included retrofit assessors, solar panel installers and low carbon heating technicians.

Overall, 2,497 jobs were created or sustained within a year, with the data showing that almost 10% of new jobs went to previously unemployed residents.

The combined number of apprenticeships sustained or created also shot up from 190 in 2023-2024 to 216 in 2024-2025.

There was also a 20% rise in the total number of people who remained in secure employment, increasing from 1,674 in 2023-2024 to 2,009 in 2024-2025.

Out of 107 new apprenticeships created in 2024-2025, 16 were in the green sector, and 25 apprentices were recruited locally.

Other statistics show:

• Out of 803 contracts, 66% saw those involved taking steps to reduce carbon emissions.
• In 41% steps were taken to reduce waste e.g. supporting community-level recycling, 17% saw measures implemented to reduce water consumption, 13% ran activities to engage local communities/schools/colleges to promote the benefits of renewable energy – and 51% of contracts delivered training initiatives to upskill existing members of staff around sustainability and green skills.
• Work experience placements including site visits rocketed from 296 to 478 – a 61% rise.

As part of their social value commitments, our suppliers contributed materials and monetary donations worth £739,787. This ranged from gifting doorbell systems, to help domestic violence survivors feel safer at home, to charitable donations to a hospice and a guide dogs charity. Suppliers on our frameworks also embarked on 863 volunteering days for community projects, compared to 815 the previous year. This included a supplier assembling flat pack items for a resident with young children who after staying in a women's refuge, moved into a new property.

Sarah Maguire, Head of Social Value at Fusion21 said: “This data again shows the hugely positive impact embedding social value into projects can have.

“By working with our members and carefully selected suppliers, we have created hundreds of new jobs and apprenticeships, including opportunities in the green sector and in the communities we serve. It is particularly pleasing to see roles created for people previously unemployed.

“We are committed to leading on sustainability and, as the data shows, it’s fantastic to collaborate with like-minded suppliers and members who share our ambition to change lives.”

Through impactful procurement, we’ve delivered more than £300 million in social impact and created more than 16,600 employment outcomes. As a mission-driven business, social value remains at the heart of Fusion21, and we continue to make a tangible difference while delivering social value you can see.