BLOG: SDF Customer & Social Value Coordinator Sandra Simpson on delivering Social Value, The Winvic Way

Winvic is committed to leading the way in Social Value. Creating a positive legacy within the communities where we work is at the heart of what we do, and making a real difference to people’s lives is central to The Winvic Way.

Through our work with National Highways (NH), this commitment directly supports their Customer Imperative – ensuring that the needs of communities, road users and the public remain at the centre of decision making. Social Value on the Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF) is not only about giving back, but also about strengthening trust and building better connections with the people NH serves.

Our teams go beyond construction to deliver lasting impact, and this blog shines a light on that community spirit. Here, we’re proud to spotlight Sandra Simpson, SDF Customer & Social Value Coordinator, who shares her insights and experiences.

Why did you join Winvic and choose this role?

Winvic felt like the perfect fit for me. The Winvic Way and our ‘Doing it Right’ ethos truly align with my own values and aspirations. As Customer and Social Value Coordinator on the National Highways Scheme Delivery Framework (SDF), I saw the opportunity to work alongside our delivery teams – not just to help deliver infrastructure, but to create lasting social impact too. The SDF gives us the platform to make a real difference in communities while delivering essential projects.

What do you believe is the key ingredient to creating meaningful social value?

For me, it’s all about collaboration. When our clients, supply chain partners, specialists, and local communities come together with us, the impact is amplified. Working collaboratively allows us to develop initiatives that go further, strengthen connections, and make a real difference to people’s lives.

You’ve contributed both by coordinating volunteer activity and by giving your own time – why is volunteering so important to you?

Helping people has always been something I love doing. At Winvic, giving back is a core part of our culture – we use our skills and experience to support others. Volunteering is so powerful because it’s something anyone can do, and when people come together with a shared purpose, anything is possible. It builds community, creates opportunities, and it’s vital for so many charities.

My role at Winvic enables me to both organise and take part in volunteering across a wide variety of projects, which is something I feel very proud of.

Recent volunteer projects include:

• Volunteer Business Advisor for the BIG Challenge – an enterprise competition for students in Sheffield. I worked with two teams from Ecclesfield School, dedicating 15 hours over two months to mentor the students on expanding their product lines, maximising profit, marketing strategies, and understanding business fundamentals. The students showcased their products at the Sales Extravaganza Event at Sheffield’s Moor Market alongside 100 young entrepreneurs, with one team achieving a £300 net profit and the other £200.

• Volunteer with Enham Trust – the SDF South East Alliance Social Value Group and partners helped to transform the charity’s Christmas Tree field. The team cleared weed growth, installed new fence posts for improved security, and thinned out unsuitable trees to create space for healthier growth. The project focused on making the grounds wheelchair accessible and creating a safer, more therapeutic environment for this Hampshire-based charity that supports disabled people to live full lives.

In June – National Highways Volunteer Month – Winvic’s SDF team contributed 104 volunteering hours. When combined with the wider National Highways supply chain this created a collaborative impact of thousands of hours across the UK supporting communities in which we work. A total of 432 hours were contributed by 54 people from 31 companies, all volunteering on the Enham Trust legacy project alone.

“It’s a reminder that impactful change often starts with getting your hands dirty and making space for everyone to grow”

• Volunteer public engagement role alongside National Highways – supporting proactive community engagement ahead of major maintenance works on the Orwell Bridge. I supported public information stands at the Suffolk Show in Ipswich, providing an open forum for over 300 residents to ask questions about the upcoming contra-flow traffic system and understand how the works would impact local travel. By engaging directly with people, listening to concerns, and giving clear information, we helped build community confidence and awareness ahead of critical infrastructure improvements, providing a better end-to-end experience.

• Volunteer at LEAP Children, Families & Communities, Tameside – the SDF North West Social Value Group and partners dedicated a day to refresh the nursery, bathroom, and kitchen at this local charity supporting families living in poverty. With paint and materials kindly donated by supply chain partner, Central Contractors, the team created a brighter, welcoming space for children and staff. The day highlighted how small actions can make a lasting impact, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with LEAP to support their vital work.

Supporting important causes and giving my time for good is The Winvic Way, and it’s my way. When we all contribute our skills and passion, we don’t just build infrastructure – we build stronger communities. By putting people and communities at the heart of what we do, we ensure that our projects leave a positive legacy and create lasting value for everyone connected to them.