Measuring and reporting social return on Investment: Knowledge transfer with the Construction Youth Trust

KEY WORDS Social Return on Investment Knowledge Transfer Training ABSTRACT The paper examines the knowledge, understanding, development and implementation of an SROI model and tools to capture and demonstrate the social... [ view full abstract ]

KEY WORDS

Social Return on Investment Knowledge Transfer Training


ABSTRACT
The paper examines the knowledge, understanding, development and implementation of an SROI model and tools to capture and demonstrate the social and economic value and impact of the work of the organisation. It draws the distinction between a measured actual and projected SROI. The work will utilise the results from the application of SROI to the organisation and identify the implications for implementation of SROI.

Literature

It has been suggested that the SROI methodology has been under theorised as it tends to be practitioner led (Arvidson et al, 2013 & Gibbon & Dey, 2011). The SROI network has brought together practitioner work but the field still lacks a standard and internationally approved means of measuring SROI. However general underlying principles are recognised and will be discussed in the paper



Methodology
This paper reports on a 2 year partnership between a university and a social enterprise funded in part by a knowledge transfer scheme. The project involved the university employing associate ( J. Bridgeman) who , with the assistance and support of university academics, devised and implemented a model to measure social return on investment (SROI). The paper will identify and explain the operation of knowledge transfer which is one of the longest running UK collaboration schemes between government, universities and companies and social enterprise. The scheme is focused upon enabling practical and implementable research with a monetised return akin to a business venture approach. The research involves the development and implementation of SROI measures using case studies from the organisation. It also involved embedding the work in the organisation
The organisation in question (The Construction Youth Trust) is engaged in introducing and training young people for aspects of the construction industry. However as it engages with young people who have troubled backgrounds with often challenged by limited educational and vocational backgrounds it has some of the characteristics of a Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE)

Findings
The work found that current academic research on SROI indicated both practical and implementation issues with the SROI approach. The findings indicated a high positive SROI from the case studies of the Construction Youth Trust

References

Arvidson, M., & Kara, H. (2013). Putting evaluations to use: from measuring to endorsing social value.

Gibbon, J & Dey, C (2011). Development in Social Impact Measurement in the Third Sector: Scaling up or Dumbing Down? Social and Environmental Accountability.