Businesses urged to maximise social value impact through youth support at Spark Oldham event

Local businesses gathered at The Brew in Fitton Hill recently for a powerful social value networking breakfast hosted by Spark Oldham in partnership with The Casey Group.

The event highlighted how business contributions to community organisations can be transformed into a measurable social value impact. 

It brought together business leaders, community stakeholders, and young people supported by Spark & Casey’s to explore how strategic investment in grassroots organisations can deliver both meaningful community outcomes and tangible commercial benefits. 

Attendees were introduced to Spark Oldham’s innovative approach to social impact measurement, including the use of a social value calculator that demonstrates how business donations can quadruple in measurable social value terms. 

This approach enables companies not only to support young people but also to evidence their social impact credentials when bidding for contracts and tenders where social value is a key requirement. 

Guests also heard directly about Spark’s work supporting young people in employment, training, and personal development pathways across Oldham. 

The event formed part of Spark’s ongoing mission to connect local businesses with opportunities to create lasting social impact while strengthening their own organisational purpose and procurement outcomes. 

A key highlight of the morning was the direct impact discussion from Spark’s work with young people, including recent employment placements supported through The Casey Group partnership. 

Three young people have recently been taken on by Spark Oldham, with a fourth due to start in June, demonstrating the tangible outcomes of sustained business engagement and investment. 

The young people shared testimonies about the impact this support has had for them, reporting that their confidence has massively improved, and they feel more work ready by being in a nurturing environment that supports them to achieve. 

Kim Rogers, Founder of Spark Oldham, said: “Social value is not just a metric — it is a real change for young people who need opportunity, guidance and belief. 

When businesses choose to invest in organisations like Spark, that contribution multiplies far beyond the financial value. It creates confidence, employment pathways, and futures that might otherwise not exist. 

“We are proud to show that every pound invested can generate significantly greater social value when measured properly and used intentionally.” 

John Walmsley, Social Impact Executive, The Casey Group added: "We walked through the Spark door and met Kim. We saw the passion and energy that they have for the young people and what they were doing was making a big difference so we wanted to be part of it and we wanted to be a massive part of it because that is exactly what we are about in our ethos of transforming lives". 

The event concluded with a networking session encouraging businesses to explore corporate volunteering days, partnership opportunities, donations essential items and long-term engagement with Spark Oldham. 

With increasing emphasis on social value within public sector procurement, organisations were urged to consider how community investment can strengthen both local outcomes and business competitiveness.