Progress to Excellence Group (PtE Group) has recently partnered with FirstArk, a not-for-profit that helps companies examine the community impact of their activities, to examine the total social value of their combined work. The group, parent company of a number of national education and training companies, prides itself on its continued commitment to economic impact and social mobility.
The findings, which were officially announced at the company’s annual conference last week, highlighted the incredible value of their Social Economic Impact which totalled an impressive £31,417,463 and a Social Return on Investment of 2.77. This means that for every £100 invested in business operations, the company generated a social value of £277.
In addition to this incredible figure, the results show that the group has also generated £21,748,512 in savings to the State. This figure has been achieved via their work to keep young people engaged in secondary education who were previously excluded or truant from mainstream school, by providing prison leavers with opportunities for training and employment to reduce re-offending and via training that encourages individuals to remain in employment and progress within their chosen career path
Through their employees and supply chain, they have also generated an economic contribution that amounted to £11,726,839. Some of the other findings in the report include:
- 678 people have moved into employment
- 214 young people stayed in education
- 5,602 young people have moved into apprenticeships
- 6,115 people have improved wellbeing and mental health
Progress to Excellence Group MD, Sandra Kirkham, said:
“Working with FirstArk has been an invaluable experience for both the Group and its subsidiaries. This report has opened our eyes to the difference that we make, and it’s wonderful to see that our efforts are paying off.
“The dedication we have seen from everyone in the group reflects the mentality of our teams, which they bring to work every day. Social mobility is such an important issue, it is the heart of our business. It’s incredible to see just how much can be achieved.”
In addition to the report’s findings, the group also raised a total of £52,030.67 for several regional and national charities through charitable activities, sponsorships and fundraising.
This report reflects the strong commitment that Progress to Excellence Group places on giving back to the community, highlighting their dedication to training and education across the North West and beyond. Following these impressive results, Progress to Excellence Group will be nominating Impact Champions from across their subsidiaries, to help ensure that they fully embrace social mobility in each division of the business. This commitment will support them with their desire to increase their social and economic impact even further next year.
