Since work began in 2018, the project team has undertaken over £191 million of social value activity to support local schools, sports clubs, community and outreach programmes. Their programme has also included several targeted work placement programmes including Get into Transport, Women in Construction and Steps into Work.

In particular, a focus on inclusive local recruitment has led to over 70 people from diverse backgrounds gaining experience in the UK rail industry, with representation including women, people from minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and people who were previously unemployed, leading to positive outlooks for careers within the UK rail industry.

Whilst in the community, the team created a fully accessible sensory garden at Riverside Bridge School, as well as working with the local council to build a dozen raised beds and a ‘bee-hub’ at Thames View Community Garden, providing local families with the space to grow their own fruits and vegetables.

Chris Dransfield, social value manager for Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, said: “We’re very proud and privileged to receive this recognition from Women in Rail. Our work in Barking has been incredibly rewarding, and we’re delighted to have introduced so many talented individuals to the rail industry.

“Despite the difficult situation that Covid-19 presented, we persevered and adapted our social value programme to deliver our activities safely, without compromising the benefits to the local area. We’re committed to being good neighbours and to supporting and developing sustainable social value initiatives, which will continue to provide value to the community, long after we’ve completed building the new rail infrastructure.”

Social value in action: The numbers behind the project

Supported by a dedicated team and social value charter, the project has created 38 apprenticeships, over 1,000 work placement and experience days, and more than 4,000 mentoring hours, as well as engaging with over 1,300 students. In addition, the project has provided £25,000 funds to community programmes.

About the awards: The Women in Rail Social Inclusion Award recognises organisations that have developed a strong and successful inclusion programme in UK rail, reaching out to the communities to ensure local people are given access to – and the opportunity to benefit from – a career in UK rail. They demonstrate a pro-active, inclusive and diverse mindset in the broad sense, and whose culture, approach, efforts and achievements are inspirational in its effort to include local communities into rail. (womeninrail.org.uk)

• Read more about the Barking Riverside Extension project