Social Value

Responsible Business

Barkers are a procurement consultancy who not only believe that it is imperative to deliver significant, long-term value to our clients, but also to facilitate social value in the communities in which we live and work.

Integrity is one of our core values. We pride ourselves on being honest, open and fair. We have strong morals, underpinned by our code of conduct, and our commitment to creating social value in our local communities. We achieve this through the investment of both our time, and our company profits.

Industry Recognition

Barkers is proud to have won the SME Leadership award at the 2021 National Social Value Awards, the 2018 CIPS award for ‘Best Contribution to the Reputation of the Profession’ and the 2019 Business in The Community (BiTC) award for ‘Connecting Places’.

This is what one judge had to say about us:

An inspiring partnership, recognising and developing creative solutions to local social issues in the most effective way. Barkers and Bolton Family are a compelling example of people coming together from right across the community, with passion, authenticity and trust.– BiTC ‘Connected Places Award’ judge

Our Achievements

CIPS Award

‘Best Contribution to the Reputation of the Profession’ for our dedication to delivering social value.

SME Leadership Award

‘SME Leadership award’ for our social value impact in the community.

BiTC Award

‘Connected Places Award’ for our cross-sector work with the Bolton Family to deliver Bolton’s 2030 vision.

Our own Social Enterprise

More on LifeScape

At Barkers we aim to delivery £2m in social value every year based on our pro bono advisory work to the charity sector and the value created by LifeScape, our own Social Enterprise. In 2018 we created LifeScape, a grounds maintenance business supporting groups of excluded workers – from ex-offenders to those leaving care or the armed forces and the long-term unemployed – in the North-West. Whilst the capital investment in depots, vans, buildings and equipment has been significant, the investment of time from Barkers staff has been massive. The senior management team have personally dedicated many 100s of days into the development of LifeScape.

Even in the most civilised societies gaps exist through which individuals can fall. Many people leave education with limited or no qualifications, some drift into criminality or substance issues, the least fortunate can end up living on the streets. Without the right opportunities or because of a few ill-advised decisions that could be any one of us. At LifeScape, we teach all our employees skills and trades, and introduce them to environments through which they can learn how best to function as part of a team and develop as individuals.

SEUK

Proud member of SEUK, the leading global authority on social enterprise.

Disability Confident

Certified Disability Confident employer, supporting disabled colleagues.

Lifescape work on projects for businesses and organisations which rejuvenate their surroundings. From graffiti removal and litter picking, to hedge trimming and grounds maintenance. And many more services in between. All monies that are generated from our projects are re-invested into the people who bring them to life.

For the organisation employing Lifescape, it might just be an overdue site renovation, for the individuals carrying out the work, it’s another step towards a new and better life. LifeScape is a proud member of Social Enterprise UK, a recognised Disability Confident employer, and is fully signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Ethical Procurement

Strong values are embedded within our organisation. It’s one of the reasons we attract and select the very best professionals to our organisation, who our clients trust. We are open and honest in our working practices and driven by a desire to make a positive and sustainable impact on your business.

In addition to developing our Social Enterprise, the Barkers team are committed to offering free professional advice to the charities we work with, both independently and at the request of clients such as the Bolton Family, where our involvement has extended to offering pro bono, commercial advice to its members.

Barkers Director Warren Kozera sits on the Bolton Family board, and together with a colleague, has dedicated over 250 days of commercial insight and support to the Bolton Family. It is estimated that over £2M in savings have been created for charities and social enterprises through the pro-bono procurement advisory services Barkers provide.

Supply Chain Sustainability

Part of a world class collaboration to enable a sustainable built environment.

Ban the Box

Increasing opportunities for people with convictions to compete for jobs.