ACC Liverpool ‘generates £6m in social value’
ACC Liverpool Group, operator of Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the M&S Bank Arena, says its efforts to ‘give back’ to the community have generated more than £6m in social value in a year. Tony McDonough reports
Exhibition Centre Liverpool and the M&S Bank Arena operator ACC Liverpool Group claims to have benefited the community to the tune of £6m in a year.
ACC Liverpool launched its first Social Value Plan in 2022. Over the past year, it says it has worked to embed social value across the organisation, turning new initiatives into policy and processes that “become second nature”.
As a result, the organisation’s social value has grown by an estimated £1.1m. Using the Social Value Portal and the National TOMs Framework to calculate social value, the organisation recorded a rise in value from £5.3m in 2022/23 to £6.4m in 2023/24.
Accomplishments so far include reaching carbon neutral status, achieving a Green Meetings silver accreditation and establishing a Legacy Champions network.
It has also launched an equality, diversity and inclusion workplace strategy and the creation of a city-wide accessibility forum, in partnership with Liverpool ONE.
ACC will follow the National TOMS Framework to measure activity against the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
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Responsibilities set out in the latest version of the plan include becoming more environmentally sustainable, being a thoughtful, inclusive and progressive employer and using the organisation’s influence to evolve the events industry.
ACC Liverpool Group director of operations, Eddie dos Santos said: “Since introducing the first plan in 2022 we’ve made great progress in increasing our value to the local area in the four key areas of people, environmental sustainability, industry influence and community.
“Environmental sustainability has become a key focus for us and while we’re proud of achieving carbon neutral status and obtaining a Green Meetings silver accreditation.”