Procurement specialist Pagabo has launched a new awards programme celebrating projects that deliver lasting social value and positive outcomes for communities in the UK.

Entries for the inaugural Pagabo Community Impact Awards opened on 16 June and will remain open until 9 September, with winners to be announced at a ceremony on 19 November at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester.

The awards feature 14 categories recognising projects, organisations and individuals that have delivered meaningful community benefits through the built environment. Categories include Outstanding Community Impact Project of the Year, Social Value in Action and Outstanding Legacy.

According to Pagabo, the awards are designed to shift the focus beyond project value and technical excellence to recognise the wider benefits construction and infrastructure schemes can bring to local people, economies and places.

Amman Boughan, group chief executive of Pagabo Group, said the initiative would celebrate the planning, procurement and delivery processes that help projects create opportunities and leave a lasting legacy.

“Built environment developments have a uniquely powerful role in creating positive transformation in people’s lives, communities and local economies,” he said. “In this modern era of the built environment, it’s no longer just about the value or scale of a project, but about what that investment brings to the people and places around it.”

The awards will be delivered by the Pagabo Foundation, with all proceeds from the awards ceremony donated to the charity. The foundation focuses on improving mental health awareness and wellbeing, with a dedicated mental health award category to be judged separately by its trustees.

Mental health support

Jason Stapley, Pagabo’s chief procurement officer and chair of the Pagabo Foundation, said the initiative would also help expand access to mental health support across the construction sector.

“While the stigma around mental health is reducing, it remains a significant issue within construction,” he said. “The additional support from the Community Impact Awards this year will provide financial support, particularly for SMEs, to access vital training and support services.”

Pagabo said funds raised through previous charitable initiatives have enabled the foundation to provide mental health training and advice to people working across the industry.

The awards ceremony will take place at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester, chosen for its industrial heritage and links to the local community.