When I founded Talentheads, the conversation was very different.
Back then, we talked about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It often felt like something businesses did alongside their work - a programme, an annual fundraiser or a commitment that sat outside the day-to-day running of the business.
Today, we talk about Social Value. The terminology has changed, but more importantly, so has the mindset.
Social Value is no longer a bolt-on. It's becoming embedded into how organisations make decisions, build partnerships and define success. And I think that's exactly how it should be.
A responsibility to our communities
As the founder of an SME headquartered in the North East, I've always believed that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to the communities that enable them to succeed.
This region has shaped who I am, and I'm incredibly proud that Talentheads calls the North East home.
There's a quote from Spider-Man that has always stayed with me: "With great power comes great responsibility."
Whilst I'm not sure "power" is the right word, I do believe that with opportunity comes responsibility.
If we're fortunate enough to build successful businesses, develop expertise, influence decisions and open doors for others, then we should use those opportunities to create something bigger than ourselves.
That's why Community has always been one of Talentheads' core values.
More than a commercial business
Over the years we've been told that we "look more like a charity than a business."
I take that as a compliment because it reflects how deeply connected we are to the people and organisations around us.
We give our time, share our expertise, mentor leaders, support charities, champion local initiatives and help individuals unlock opportunities they may never have thought possible.
We're not a charity. We're a commercial business. But I've never believed those two things are at odds with each other.
In fact, I believe the most successful businesses understand that profit and purpose can strengthen one another.
Social Value is created every day
For me, Social Value isn't something we write about in a bid document or measure once a year. It's created in the choices we make every day.
It's created when a business recruits inclusively and gives someone an opportunity they may never have had.
It's created when a leader invests in developing their people rather than simply replacing them.
It's created when organisations collaborate instead of compete, share knowledge instead of guarding it and use their success to lift others.
At Talentheads, we have the privilege of working in the people profession.
That means every conversation we have, every leader we coach, every team we help develop and every person whose career we influence has the potential to create a ripple effect far beyond the workplace.
Because when people thrive, businesses grow.
When businesses grow responsibly, communities become stronger.
And when communities become stronger, our region thrives.
What Social Value means to me
That's what Social Value means to me.
It isn't a framework.
It isn't a procurement requirement.
It isn't a trend.
It's a responsibility.
Not because we have to.
Because we can.
The influence of SMEs
As SMEs, we sometimes underestimate the influence we have.
We might not have the budgets of large corporations, but collectively we employ thousands of people, shape workplace cultures, support local supply chains and influence the future of our communities every single day.
Imagine the impact if every SME asked one simple question before making a decision:
How will this leave our people, our community and our region better than before?
That's the question we continue to ask ourselves at Talentheads.
We've never seen ourselves as a recruitment business that occasionally does good things.
We've always wanted to be a people business that helps organisations grow in ways that create lasting value - for their people, for their communities and for the North East and beyond.
Looking back, I'd say we've always believed in Social Value.
We just didn't have the words for it yet.
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