Amey and Hays launch business support programme

Critical facilities and asset management services provider, Amey, in partnership with workforce solutions and recruitment specialist, Hays, have launched a new business support programme as part of their sustainable procurement commitments.

The Amey Hays Social Enterprise Initiative programme will provide four VCSEs (voluntary, community or social enterprise organisations) with expert guidance and grant funding to help them scale up their work.

Both organisations will run collaborative discovery sessions with VCSE partners, designing tailored roadmaps to winning more work. With a grant of up to £10,000 available for each partner, Amey and Hays professionals will support VCSEs throughout the next phase to make best use of this funding in growing their operations. Sector experts from Social Enterprise UK will then independently review the programme’s impact and advise on how it could expand or improve to support more organisations in future.

The four participating organisations are:

• The Community Driving School CIC, changing lives with back to work training and driving courses to make people more employable.
• Morgan Developments, a socially driven enterprise delivering inclusion throughout public and private sector frameworks.
• Rising Stars Property Solutions CIC, providing practical work experience, relevant training and employment opportunities to marginalised groups who are furthest from the job market.
• Standing Tall, changing the public perception of people experiencing homelessness and committed to helping people discover their potential.

The programme was launched earlier this month at an event at Hays offices where all organisations got together to kick off the programme.

Sue Racster, Social Value Manager, Amey, commented: “We are delighted to have launched this initiative with Hays. We are incredibly passionate about sustainable procurement and this programme enables us to support organisations beyond our own supply chain. I’m incredibly excited to support the next phase of growth for the participating business and see the positive impact it has for them and their local communities.” 

Elisabetta Bayliss, Managing Director of Enterprise Solutions at Hays, said: “At Hays we’re passionate about supporting the communities we live and work amongst, and working with Amey we hope to arm the chosen VCSE’s to build upon the valuable work they are doing.  

“Alongside financial support, we’re looking forward to providing advice and insight to the organisations to help them scale up and think big, thus supporting more people.” 

Nichola McAvoy, Senior Partnerships Manager at Social Enterprise UK, added: “It’s great to see this initiative to build capacity in social enterprises, which contribute so much to our economy and society but are often not recognised or supported. By enabling social enterprises to supply major organisations like Amey and Hays, this Programme can help to drive real positive change for people and planet, so we look forward to seeing its impact.”