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Introduction
In FY 2023/2024 the Education Authority (EA) awarded a Contract to Tetra Tech for the delivery of a Radon Detection and Monitoring Service to the EA, and schools throughout Northern Ireland.
The Contract was awarded for a period of three years commencing on 23 January 2024 with a total estimated value of £920,000. The service consists of the placement of monitors to record and gather readings on Radon Gas within the environment and provides for laboratory analysis and reporting.
Objectives
Social Value initiatives included within this Contract were scored in accordance with PPN 01/21 Social Value within Procurement, with a total of 10.2% of the overall award criteria allocated to Social Value.
The theme selected for delivery as part of the Contract was Theme 1 – Increasing Secure Employment and Skills through delivery of Paid Employment Opportunities and/or Support and Training, with the Contracting Authority’s Priority Groups being a particular focus area.
Actions
Tetra Tech provided a proposed Social Value delivery plan which would see the offer of a paid employment opportunity to a person within the EA’s priority group.
Outcome
During the FY 2024/2025, Tetra Tech have delivered the following initiatives as a result of the award of this contract:
- Paid employment 6-week placement for a student within the EA’s Priority Group through engagement with Include Youth, a charity based in Belfast with over 40 years’ experience in working with care experienced young people and those from disadvantaged communities.
- Science, Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) workshop to St. Joseph’s Primary School in Ballyhackamore, delivered by Bricks4Kidz.
These initiatives have proved very successful, with EA receiving the following feedback:
Victoria Welsh, Environmental Consultant with Tetra Tech stated in relation to the student placement:
“Tetra Tech partnered with Include Youth to host a placement student, Robel Mahari, who worked primarily on the EA Radon Monitoring and Detection Contract for six weeks, starting on February 3rd. During his placement, Robel was involved in the collection of monitors and shadowed various members of Tetra Tech‘s staff.
The overall experience was highly positive for Tetra Tech. Robel's contributions significantly aided the collection aspect of the EA monitoring programme. Additionally, this collaboration with Include Youth, a charity dedicated to providing professional experience to young people from care backgrounds, has allowed Tetra Tech to build a meaningful connection with the organisation.
As a testament to this successful partnership, Tetra Tech has since employed a young person from Include Youth to work in their administrative team.”
Ciaran Wright, Primary 7 teacher in St. Josephs Primary School, Ballyhackamore, stated in relation to the Bricks4Kidz workshop:
“The sessions were fantastic! Extremely well planned and pitched with a perfect level of challenge for the pupils that tested their skills and kept them engaged in the activities. As well as enjoyment, the pupils developed skills such as having to work collaboratively and taking on different roles in a group activity. They also had to use their problem-solving skills and added their creativity to the activities.
The nature of the construction activities also helped to develop their fine motor skills as well as STEM related skills linked to construction and materials.”
Conclusion
Through the development of a partnership approach with Tetra Tech, we have seen how collaboration can bring benefit through social value initiatives to a range of EA beneficiaries in compliance with PPN 01/2 Social Value within Procurement and NI Executive Draft Programme of Government.
These initiatives also align with the EA’s Vision - to inspire, support and challenge all our children and young people to be the best that they can be. It also demonstrates how Contractors delivering services within the Public Sector are prepared to go above and beyond with the delivery of social value initiatives.