A Year of Insight and Impact: Reflections from My First 12 Months as a Social Value Apprentice

As part of Social Value Week, we’re shining a spotlight on Alex Quirk, our Social Value Apprentice, who reflects on his first year at Fusion21, sharing what he’s learned, why social value matters to him, and the impact his work has on communities.

When I joined Fusion21 a year ago, I knew very little about what ‘social value’ really meant. I understood it was about benefiting communities, but I didn’t know how organisations actually delivered it or what it looked like in practice. Fast forward twelve months, and it’s been quite a journey!

Practical Experience                                                                                                                                                                                                                In my role, I support social value delivery across construction sites in Knowsley. I’ve seen first-hand how meaningful opportunities are created and the difference they can make.

I’ve also learnt just how important collaboration is - from working with colleagues, contractors, and developers, to partnering with local authorities and community groups. Social value is never delivered alone; it’s created together.

Attending events like the Social Value Portal conference has also helped me see the bigger picture and how individual projects contribute to wider community and economic outcomes.

More Than Numbers
Before joining Fusion21, I didn’t realise how broad and varied social value is - or how powerful it can be. Data and metrics are important, but what I really enjoy are the stories behind the numbers - the people whose lives are changed by a training opportunity, a job placement, or support at just the right moment. Seeing these positive outcomes come to life always creates a genuine feel-good factor.

Social Value You Can See
Some of my highlights this year included coordinating a ‘Women in STEM’ event at Lord Derby Academy in Knowsley, where I organised a construction site tour for female pupils, aiming to inspire them to consider a career in construction.

I also created the Knowsley Apprentice Network, supported by Livv Housing and Knowsley Works, providing a space for apprentices to share experiences, raise issues, and influence change to better support young people.

From a company perspective, this year has further highlighted the impact of social value across Fusion21's procurement projects. Recent data for 2024-2025 shows hundreds of opportunities created - from apprenticeships and jobs (including roles in the green sector) to skills training and work placements. It’s great to see these outcomes demonstrating how our frameworks deliver real community benefits.

Looking to the Future
One of my proudest moments more recently, is being nominated in the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ category at the Knowsley Business Awards – it was a huge and brilliant surprise! It's humbling to see that the work I’m doing is making a difference and I’m on the right track. The awards take place later this week, so watch this space!

As I write this, I can’t believe I’ve completed my first year, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds. To anyone considering a career in social value: I’d say go for it. It’s fulfilling, builds transferable skills, and you get to see the real impact of your work.

To find out more about our social value offer at Fusion21 click here.