Back in November, our work on social responsibility was recognised through an Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community trophy, at the sixteenth annual THE Awards. This completes a record hat trick of awards in this category over the past decade.

The award recognises the social and community impact created during the construction of the Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) in partnership with Balfour Beatty.

Our Director of Social Responsibility at the University, Julian Skyrme, dedicated the award to the late Paul Maccabee, who played an integral role in the project. Julian said: “Paul cared deeply about local communities – particularly those who can be marginalised – and this success reflects the characteristic commitment, professionalism and compassion he applied in all of his work.”

As Chair of the project group at the University, Julian recently featured in a winner’s interview with The Times Higher Education, speaking to Saj Hussain co-founder of SmartCitti about the life-changing impact of the MECD project.

Successes included creating 182 jobs and apprenticeships for local people, some of whom were previously homeless or in the prison system; awarding £60,000 of cash grants to local community groups and charities; pro bono work with a local women’s refuge, an LGBT centre and food bank; and scoring a maximum 45 out of 45 in the Considerate Constructors Scheme.

Listen to Julian talk about the project.

Find out more about the THE Awards.