SOCIAL VALUE
Promoting Local Employment
When Managing Director Paul Burnett established the company in 2005, one of his key motivations was to provide employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed from within Huyton, where he was born and bred, and across Knowsley and the Liverpool City Region.
Having seen friends and former colleagues earn low pay and suffer in poor working conditions, Paul felt passionate about not only creating jobs for local people but about paying them well. This was part of the drive towards J&P Road Surfacing becoming a Real Living Wage Employer.
Paul believes that creating local employment is the best way of helping a local community strive and improving people’s lives.
Creating local jobs is what I think of when I am asked about what social value means to me.
As the business continues to grow year after year, J&P Road Surfacing Ltd aims to continue its success and create more jobs in the Liverpool City Region and wherever possible in the communities in which it works.
Participation and Engagement
Growing up in Huyton with little to do, Paul remembers how much he looked forward to playing football and being part of the local boxing club. He recognises how important organised clubs are in keeping young people off the streets and providing them with structure. This is also why J&P Road Surfacing regularly sponsors boxing shows and local football teams.
Being part of a club develops a sense of community and camaraderie in young people. Playing football for the local team with your friends is the highlight of the week for many young people, but it costs money to hire pitches and buy football kits; therefore, I like to do all I can to help these clubs keep going, many of which wouldn’t if it wasn’t for companies like J&P Road Surfacing helping them out now and again.
Building Capacity and Sustainability in the Voluntary and Community Sectors
J&P Road Surfacing also recognises the amazing work that local charities do in their communities, many of which are run by local volunteers.
One such charity is Flourish and Succeed, with which J&P Road Surfacing Ltd is delighted to have recently established a social value partnership.
Flourish and Succeed were established in Huyton and have since grown into all other areas of Knowsley, supporting 16,000 people last year. They provide support to many hard-to-reach groups, delivering sessional support focusing on men’s mental health, wellness, outdoor programmes for men, wellness for women, domestic abuse, inclusive sport for children of all ages, holiday and food programmes, hiking groups, fitness classes, music groups, parent and child groups, cost of living crisis food and fuel support.
The charity is run solely by volunteers, many of whom have received support from the charity and can now put something back into the community and help others.
We chose Flourish and Succeed to partner with as we have seen first-hand the amazing work they do in tough neighbourhoods, with those in greatest need. The number of local people they have helped over the years to get back on their feet, who have perhaps experienced a challenging time in their lives is amazing. We as a team are convinced that Huyton and the rest of Knowsley, where they work, is a better place because of Flourish and Succeed.
J&P is proud to be able to call them our charity partner, and we hope that the partnership can continue and grow for many years to come.
“Since we had our car park resurfaced by J&P Road Surfacing, we have received lots of positive feedback from our employees and our customers. The upgraded car park has enhanced our business’s outside appearance and increased convenience and accessibility. The materials used were all high-quality, and the end result is exactly what we wanted. Great job, team J&P.”