LANDMARC LAUNCHES ITS FIRST SOCIAL VALUE REPORT AT THE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE UK CONFERENCE

Landmarc Support Services has today (24th September 2013) launched its first social impact report at the Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) conference in Bristol, demonstrating the positive social, environmental and economic outcomes of the company’s UK operations. This includes £90 million Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2012 and a reinvestment of almost £2 million of profits to fund rural business improvements.

The report, entitled ‘The Landmarc Difference’ was produced by CAN Invest, experts in social impact consultancy and reporting and Social Enterprise UK (SEUK).  It establishes a baseline for shared value activity across the company’s activities, in its delivery of support services on the Ministry of Defence’s national training estate.

Of particular interest is the reporting framework that has been used, which analyses the effect of Landmarc’s supply chain activities as well as isolating the impact that the company has made beyond its contractual obligations with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

Dave Masom, Social Business Analyst at CAN Invest explains:

“The first component of the framework is called The Landmarc Difference and describes what we believe sets Landmarc apart from other similar organisations in terms of its contribution to the economy, the environment and society.  The second component is of consolidated impact, which quantifies the value that Landmarc generates across its value chain – incorporating economic and environmental factors.”

Key highlights are:

Economic – The activities of Landmarc and its supply chain generated £90 million GVA for the UK in 2012 and £474 million GVA since 2008.  Over £63 million of additional financial value for DIO and its tenants has been generated over the past ten years and profits of almost £2 million have been reinvested.

Environmental – 94% of all waste on the Landmarc operated training estate was diverted from landfill in 2013, up from 70% in 2012.  Emissions decreased by 7% across Landmarc’s value chain and, significantly, allowed DIO to reduce the output of CO2 on the training estate by some 10,000 tonnes in 2013 – an estimated saving of £2 million and the potential to save over £3 million in 2014.

Social – Landmarc forecasts that it will make a combined £750,000 investment commitment and estimated contribution over the next two years to rural communities through a number of initiatives which include; Landmarc 100, a £100k fund to provide financial support and mentoring for up to 100 start-up rural enterprises, The Rural Enterprise Hub, a free-of-charge touch-down office facility for rural entrepreneurs and its first Business in the Community (BiTC) Rural Business Connector in Northumberland.

Steve Utley, Project Director at Landmarc Support Services explains the reasons for commissioning the report,

“Landmarc’s ethic is to seek to create and add value in all aspects of its business activities; for its clients, employees, the rural communities in which it operates and our shareholders.  Twelve months in to the company’s social value commitment, it was important to assess achievements, frame future ambitions, review the efficacy of measurement tools and establish future targets.

“In particular, we wanted to provide our stakeholders with an independent review of our attitudes, achievements and ambitions and, by partnering with CAN Invest and SEUK and benefitting from its impact reporting methodology, we are able to demonstrate the positive impact of our operations outside of our contractual obligations.”

Nick Temple, Director at Social Enterprise UK, concludes, “While some of the specific initiatives outlined in the report are at an early stage, such as Landmarc 100 and social enterprise procurement, Landmarc’s potential to add even greater social value in the future is clear; be that in rural employment, local economic growth, innovation in the supply chain or community sustainability.

“Building on these achievements will position Landmarc as a pioneering social value business not only in its own industry, but in the UK business sector as a whole.”

Mark Hutchinson, Director Service Delivery for DIO said, “DIO’s priority is to support our Armed Forces as they prepare for operations.  We also have an obligation to deliver and improve the living and working environment for our troops, achieve value for money and protect and conserve our heritage and environment.

“Landmarc’s social value report demonstrates its commitment and contribution to social, environmental and economic concerns of the national training estate.”

The Landmarc Difference report can be viewed here:The-Landmarc-Difference_September-2013_FINAL