Social Value
At Just Ask, delivering social value is at the heart of everything we do. We understand that as a facilities provider in the housing sector, our responsibility goes beyond cleaning and maintenance. We have a duty to improve lives, strengthen communities, and create opportunities. Our social value work is driven by a genuine commitment to making a positive impact in the neighbourhoods we serve.
Investing In People
A key part of our social mission is to create jobs and boost skills in the communities where we work. We recruit locally whenever possible, bringing employment opportunities to those who need them. We also reach out to individuals who might face barriers to employment, for example, young people who are just starting out, or those who have been out of work for some time. Through our in-house Training Academy and apprenticeship programmes, we provide pathways for people to gain valuable qualifications and build a career.
Every year, we offer new apprenticeship positions and trainee roles, helping to nurture talent from within the community. In addition, we are proud to be a Living Wage Foundation Recognised Service Provider, which means we advocate paying the Real Living Wage. We believe that fair pay transforms lives, so we encourage our clients and partners to implement the Living Wage on the contracts we service. By valuing our employees, we help create more stable, prosperous communities.
Community Engagement
We don’t just work in communities, we work with them. Just Ask actively engages with residents and local groups to support community well-being. Our staff volunteer their time to participate in community initiatives and improvement projects. This might include organizing and joining neighborhood clean-up days, helping to revamp a community garden or play area, or supporting resident events and charity drives. We listen to feedback from tenants and resident associations, treating their concerns as opportunities to improve.
By being present and involved on the ground, our team builds trust and personal connections with the people who live in the places we service. Small acts, like helping an elderly resident carry groceries or hosting a “meet the cleaner day,” help break down barriers and show that we truly care. We also partner with housing associations on broader social programs, whether it’s digital inclusion workshops, youth training schemes, or health and safety awareness campaigns, aligning our efforts with the goals of our clients and the needs of the community.
Sustainability & Engagement
Social value goes hand-in-hand with environmental responsibility. We are committed to greener practices that contribute to a sustainable future for our communities. In our cleaning services, we use eco-friendly products and methods (such as enzyme-based cleaners and microfibre systems) to reduce the use of harsh chemicals. We aim to minimize waste by recycling materials, from office paper to garden waste, and by choosing biodegradable or recyclable supplies.
Our grounds maintenance teams enhance local environments, not only by keeping them tidy but also by protecting local biodiversity where possible (for example, timing hedge trimming to avoid bird nesting seasons). We carefully manage our vehicle use and routing to cut down on emissions and are exploring the adoption of electric vans and tools. By reducing our carbon footprint and caring for green spaces, we’re ensuring that our communities remain healthy and vibrant for future generations.
Measuring Our Impact
We believe in accountability for our social value commitments. Just Ask sets targets and KPIs for community benefits – like number of local hires, volunteer hours donated, or charitable contributions, and we report these achievements to our clients. In fact, we have been rated extremely highly for our social value contributions, reflecting the tangible outcomes we deliver beyond our core services. Our goal is always to leave a place better than we found it, whether through cleaner surroundings, empowered residents, or improved facilities.
For Just Ask, success isn’t measured only by contracts won or tasks completed, but by the positive changes we spark. It could be a resident gaining employment through our apprenticeship, an estate transformed by a communal garden we helped create, or simply the smiles and thank-yous our teams receive from residents every day. These are the true indicators that we’re fulfilling our mission.
We continuously seek new ways to add value beyond the day-to-day services. By staying true to our values of being Thoughtful and There for the community, we adapt and respond to what each neighbourhood needs. Our promise is to keep delivering social value as an integral part of our work, not because we have to, but because it’s who we are.
If you are a housing association, community group, or resident with ideas about social initiatives, we would love to hear from you. Collaboration is key to making a bigger impact. Get in touch with us to discuss how we can work together to create even stronger communities and improve lives.