Social value strategy
At Storm ID, we believe that businesses have a responsibility to create lasting, positive change for society. Through our social value strategy, we are committed to delivering meaningful community benefit and impact across the communities we work with, ensuring we support sustainable economic growth, environmental responsibility and fair work practices.
Our approach is guided by collaboration, innovation and accountability, ensuring we embed social value into everything we do, from the way we work with clients and partners to how we support our employees and wider communities.
We align with the Missions and Social Value Model outcomes expected from UK Government as well as the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework, which incorporates the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Social value refers to the additional economic, social and environmental benefits that can be delivered through public sector contracts beyond the core requirements of the procurement. It ensures that public sector spending maximises positive outcomes for society by promoting economic growth, sustainability, community cohesion and reducing inequality.
Our social value strategy is closely aligned with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Agenda is the framework adopted by all UN member states in 2015, setting out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) designed to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by 2030.
These goals address critical global challenges, including climate action, quality education, reduced inequalities and economic growth.
We contribute to sustainable economic growth by:
Supporting the public sector in delivering digital transformation
We collaborate with government agencies and local authorities to design and build digital services that improve access to essential services, ensuring they are efficient, cost-effective and user-friendly.
Investing in skills development and knowledge sharing
We provide training and knowledge-sharing sessions on emerging digital trends, accessibility and data ethics, helping organisations and individuals build their capabilities.
Creating opportunities for SMEs and social enterprises
We actively involve small businesses and social enterprises in our supply chain, ensuring they benefit from our projects.
What we’re doing
We’re committed to driving sustainable economic growth by supporting digital innovation, sharing knowledge and working collaboratively with partners across the public and third sectors.
A key part of this is helping public sector organisations deliver meaningful digital transformation. We work closely with government agencies, local authorities and healthcare providers to design and build digital services that improve access, streamline operations and make public services more efficient and user-friendly.
In 2024, we launched our first AI Challenge, bringing together multiple public sector bodies to explore the potential of AI to solve real-world service challenges. The programme helped teams prototype ideas, build skills and better understand how emerging technologies can be safely and ethically applied. Following its success, the AI Challenge will return in 2025 with a new cohort of public sector participants.
We also invest in skills development and knowledge sharing across the wider sector. Our team regularly contributes to industry events, speaking at conferences, taking part in panel discussions and publishing thought leadership online to share insights and spark conversation around the future of digital public services.
Creating opportunities for others is central to how we work. We actively involve SMEs and social enterprises in our supply chain, and wherever possible, we procure from local suppliers, whether for catering, office maintenance or service delivery. From time to time, we also make our office space available to community organisations and social enterprises, helping to support events, workshops and initiatives aligned with our values.
Aligned with PPN 002 Mission:
- "Kickstart economic growth – securing the highest sustained growth in the G7, with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country."
Social Value Model Outcomes:
- Outcome 3: Resilient, Innovative, and Flexible Supply Chains – Supporting SMEs, startups and diverse supply chains to drive innovation and sustainable economic growth.
Aligned SDGs:
- SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
We actively support the communities where we live and work by:
Providing digital expertise to charities and social enterprises
We offer pro bono and low bono consultancy to non-profits, helping them improve their online presence and digital service delivery.
Promoting digital inclusion
We ensure our digital solutions meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2 Level AA) standards, making services accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
Encouraging volunteering and community initiatives
Our team members are given time to volunteer with organisations that align with our values.
What we’re doing
We believe in designing and delivering digital services that are accessible, inclusive, and genuinely serve the needs of all users, regardless of ability, background or circumstance. Our commitment to inclusive design is at the heart of the work we do.
We regularly conduct accessibility audits and usability testing for public sector clients, including local councils, ensuring that their digital services meet the needs of diverse communities. We champion inclusive approaches to design, content, research, and testing – and we back that up with practice. Our dedicated usability lab enables one-to-one testing with people of all abilities, including those who use assistive technologies to interact with digital services. All our work is tested against the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2), and we use plain language to make sure content is clear, scannable and accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
Beyond our project work, we’re looking to deepen our community engagement through 2025. We’re actively exploring opportunities to contribute to the Developing Young Workforce programme, helping young people build the skills and experience they need for a career in digital. Having worked with several third sector and non-profit organisations in recent years, we’re also looking to expand our support in this space, particularly through improving digital literacy and exploring how tools like AI can be used to drive social impact. This includes offering training sessions, developing custom AI agents and helping organisations make confident, informed decisions around technology.
Every employee is given two days per year to volunteer their time, and we encourage them to support causes that matter to them or contribute to local initiatives. Inclusion is also at the heart of our approach to wellbeing. Through the People and Culture Forum, we run regular campaigns, such as our Mental Health Awareness Week programme. For 2025, the theme is “safe communities,” and we’ll be focusing on how we can support one another and the places we live and work.
Aligned with PPN 002 Mission:
- "Take back our streets – by strengthening community cohesion and ensuring opportunities are accessible to all."
Social Value Model Outcomes:
- Outcome 5: Crime Reduction & Community Cohesion – Strengthening community engagement and cohesion.
- Outcome 6: Equal Opportunity & Inclusive Employment – Promoting diverse and inclusive workplaces with a focus on underrepresented groups.
Aligned SDGs:
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
We recognise our responsibility to minimise environmental impact by:
Reducing our carbon footprint
We are transitioning our cloud infrastructure to providers that use renewable energy and optimising our digital services to be more energy efficient.
Supporting clients in making sustainable choices
We incorporate environmental impact assessments into our digital projects, advising clients on ways to reduce their digital carbon footprint.
Embedding sustainability into our workplace culture
We actively encourage remote working and sustainable commuting, while ensuring our office practices prioritise waste reduction and energy efficiency.
What we’re doing
We are committed to operating in an environmentally responsible way, both through our internal practices and in how we support clients. Our approach focuses on reducing waste, lowering emissions and making informed choices that contribute to a more sustainable future.
One of the ways we do this is by partnering with clients to design and deliver digital services using low-carbon web design principles. This reduces the energy consumption of hosted services and ensures efficiency is built into the foundations of digital delivery. Internally, we proactively monitor and analyse our cloud resource usage to identify and eliminate inefficiencies, helping to reduce both energy waste and unnecessary cost.
We are transparent in our efforts, publishing our waste and recycling data for all employees to see. We continue to reduce office waste through active recycling initiatives and have cut down our reliance on single-use plastics across our supply chain. By prioritising local suppliers where possible, we also reduce the environmental impact of transport and logistics.
Flexible and hybrid working has become a core part of our culture, helping to significantly reduce commuting-related emissions. We support colleagues in working where they’re most effective and in a way that supports a lower-carbon lifestyle.
We also align our hosting choices with providers who share our values. Microsoft Azure is on track to be carbon negative by 2030, with data centres powered entirely by renewable energy by 2025. Azure has also committed to removing all historical carbon emissions since its founding by 2050. Similarly, AWS has pledged to reach net-zero carbon by 2040 and is already over 85% powered by renewable energy, aiming for 100% by 2025.
Aligned with PPN 002 Mission:
- "Make Britain a clean energy superpower – accelerating net zero and building sustainable supply chains."
Social Value Model Outcomes:
- Outcome 4: Sustainable Procurement Practices – Reducing carbon emissions, minimising waste, and promoting green technologies.
Aligned SDGs:
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
We support career development and education through:
Providing pathways into digital careers
We run apprenticeship and internship programmes to give young people and career changers hands-on experience in the digital industry.
Investing in continuous learning for our team
We fund professional development, ensuring our team members can access training, conferences and mentorship opportunities.
Championing diversity and inclusion in the workplace
We are committed to closing the gender gap and increasing representation of underrepresented groups in tech.
What we’re doing
We are committed to creating opportunities for people to develop their skills, grow their careers and thrive at work, whether they’re just starting out or looking to evolve in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Our approach includes building strong partnerships with educational institutions and alternative learning providers. We collaborate with Napier University to support graduate apprentices within our Creative and Technical teams, and we offer a range of entry-level pathways including Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships. We also work with coding bootcamps and universities to provide meaningful placement opportunities, helping students gain real-world experience in a supportive and innovative environment.
Internally, we invest in people through a dedicated training budget and by providing access to the right tools and technologies. Our Champions programme, which explores the use of AI in the workplace, supports ongoing learning and empowers our teams to apply new skills with confidence and purpose.
We are equally focused on building an inclusive and supportive working environment. We run internal training on unconscious bias and have implemented an inclusive hiring framework to ensure fair and equitable recruitment practices. In the past year, 50% of our new hires were women, demonstrating our commitment to building a more balanced and diverse workplace. We’ve also introduced neurodiversity training to help our teams better understand and support neurodiverse colleagues, and we continue to champion flexible working so that everyone can work in a way that suits their needs and lifestyle.
Wellbeing is at the heart of how we work. Campaigns such as Mental Health Awareness Week, led by our People and Culture Forum, encourage open conversations and promote a positive, supportive culture for everyone.
Aligned with PPN 002 Missions:
- "Break down barriers to opportunity – ensuring quality education, skills development, and access to fair employment for all."
- "Build an NHS fit for the future – improving workforce well-being and access to skills in key sectors."
Social Value Model Outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Fair Work – Ensuring fair wages, good working conditions, and ethical employment practices.
- Outcome 2: Skills for Growth – Supporting skills development in growth industries.
- Outcome 6: Inclusive Employment – Creating opportunities for underrepresented groups.
- Outcome 8: Health & Wellbeing – Supporting mental and physical well-being in the workforce.
Aligned SDGs:
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
We believe in transparency and accountability, which is why we measure and report on the impact of our social value initiatives. Our approach aligns with industry best practices, including the Impact Evaluation Standard, ensuring we deliver real and measurable outcomes.
We regularly share insights on how we integrate social value into our work. Check out these blog posts:
We are always looking for ways to strengthen our social value approach and collaborate with organisations that share our vision. If you’d like to learn more or collaborate with us, get in touch.