The Social Hub: Evaluating the Social Impact of Cross-European Portfolio

The Social Hub (TSH) brand provides hotels, student accommodation and co-working spaces, creating a more connected community. Adding to 21 locations around Europe, TSH wants to improve its social, economic and environmental performance across Europe and has developed plans to upgrade and expand its sites.

To support the assessment of current sites and future plans, TSH contacted RealWorth to demonstrate the social value of different sites across Europe, RealWorth measured and analysed the social change caused by projects and programmes using Social Return On Investment (SROI).

This analysis assisted the TSH sites in demonstrating the benefits of existing sites to its stakeholders and host cities by creating a range of social impact activities. The analysis indicated that the planned improvements could enhance the social value that these locations have brought to their surrounding areas. To date, RealWorth have worked with TSH across multiple sites in Spain, the Netherlands and Scotland.

Creative Estuary: Developing and Implementing an Impact Evaluation and Social Value Framework

Creative Estuary has been established to transform 60 miles of the Thames Estuary across Essex and Kent into one of the most exciting cultural hubs in the world.

To measure and enhance its impact, RealWorth was commissioned to develop a comprehensive Evaluation Framework.

By embedding a rigorous evaluation process, Creative Estuary is setting a standard for cultural regeneration, ensuring its initiatives create lasting and measurable change.

Earls Court Development Company: Supporting the Social Impact of the Earls Court Masterplan

The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) are responsible for driving the regeneration of the, circa 40 acres, former Earls Court Exhibition Centre site. In 2021, ECDC appointed RealWorth to measure the social value of the activities associated with the regeneration process and has since been retained as the Development Partnership’s Social Value Advisor to help define and implement its social value strategy.

This long-term appointment seeks to integrate social value into a wide range of functions conducted by ECDC during the planning, design, construction, and occupation phases of the development.

The work that RealWorth is doing is used by ECDC to underpin the design and development of the project, working towards a completed development that has embedded social value at every stage.

a-r-c-s: Evaluating the Social Impact of Lower Stable Street

In 2024, a-r-c-s commissioned RealWorth to evaluate the social impact of its activities over a 12-month period using the Social Return on Investment approach. The study assessed how a-r-c-s distinctive model – flexible turnover-based rents, community driven programming, and free event space – supports inclusive growth and cultural participation in King’s Cross.

WSP & Homes England: Creating a Social Value Strategy for Nene Valley Villages

RealWorth was appointed by WSP and Homes England to draft a locally-tailored social value strategy for Nene Valley Village in Peterborough, informed by a model assessment criteria process of co-design. The project included hosting a workshop for Homes England, to discuss a social infrastructure assessment and identify potential locally-relevant social value opportunities, priorities and place-based indicators that align with Homes England’s Strategic Plan 2023-2038 and Peterborough City Council Local Plan 2023-2044. It also included holding meetings with local stakeholders to identify community-led initiatives that the project could support, as well as identifying social value opportunities, priorities and place-based indicators. 

1Energy: Creating a Social Value Framework for Renewable Energy

1Energy is an independent developer of Low-to-Zero Carbon (LZC) heat networks in urban areas across the UK. 1Energy has the potential to significantly contribute to Net Zero targets, enhance air quality and public health, influence behavioural changes and support local economies through job creation and skill development. 1Energy asked RealWorth to develop a proposal for the creation of a Social Impact Strategy and general approach to measuring, optimising and reporting on the social value created by their activities.   

First, RealWorth developed a Strategic Framework that provided a clear and concise overview to 1Energys social impact. Second, a Social Impact Report was created, including of a gap analysis to demonstrate the additional social impact that could be created with similar levels of resource. 

Mount Anvil & Peabody: Delivering a Local Partnerships Strategy for Friary Park & Burridge Gardens

Developers Mount Anvil and Peabody Housing Association commissioned RealWorth to support their development partnership, developing over 1,600 new homes across two sites in London, over 45% of which will be affordable housing.

RealWorth worked with the development partnership to establish and deliver a Local Partnerships Strategy. This included working with local VCSE’s to establish and deliver partnerships that could operate in the two sites over a 1-3 year period. This project is helping the development partnership to establish and deliver positive social impact for residents and the wider Acton and Ealing communities.

Perkins&Will: Creating a Bespoke Social Value Framework

Perkins&Will is a global design practice with a strong internal culture of social purpose. Much of its social impact activity has historically been ad-hoc or untracked. With social value now a growing requirement in bids — especially in the public sector — the firm identified a need to define and measure its impact more strategically.

RealWorth developed a bespoke Social Value Framework based on the national TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, Measures) model. The framework bridges Perkins&Will’s internal values with external expectations and outlines a roadmap for implementation, reporting, and continuous improvement — with Year One positioned as a pilot phase.

2-3 Degrees: Measuring the Value of The Crown Estate Youth Panel

2-3 Degrees is a social enterprise that aims to inspire and equip young people with personal development skills needed to fulfil their potential. In partnership with The Crown Estate (TCE), 2-3 Degrees set up a Youth Panel to provide a youth voice on regeneration projects across London and within the Crown Estate properties.

RealWorth was commissioned to evaluate and quantify the social value generated by the young people as a result of their experience on the Panel. The study assessed the programme’s capability to deliver social value from the youth participant’s perspective, including growth in confidence, skills, career aspirations and knowledge, with the benefits expressed both quantitatively through case studies and qualitatively through a social return on investment (SROI) value.