North London Waste Authority shortlisted for prestigious UK National GO Award

10 Apr 2025

North London Waste Authority (NLWA) has been shortlisted as a finalist for a UK National GO Award in the category of Social Value Award - Other Organisations. This recognition highlights NLWA's commitment to delivering social value through its North London Heat and Power Project (NLHPP).

The NLHPP is NLWA’s ambitious plan to redevelop the Edmonton EcoPark into a sustainable waste hub for north London. The project has been instrumental in generating significant social benefits for local communities. As a public body representing seven councils, NLWA has embedded social value into every aspect of the procurement process and delivery contracts, ensuring that the project's impact extends beyond environmental sustainability to include social, economic, and community benefits.

Key social value achievements and targets to deliver throughout the construction programme include:

  • Apprenticeships: 48 local apprenticeships delivered or underway, providing valuable skills and career opportunities (project target 100).
  • Training Placements: 236 training placements delivered for local residents (project target 225).
  • Local Employment: 595 full-time equivalent jobs created for local people, which accounts for 19.2% of the total workforce (25% project target).
  • Local Business Spend: £52.5 million spent with local businesses and contractors, boosting the local economy, and representing 8.7% of total spend  (10% project target).
  • School Engagement: Engagement with approximately 4,500 students from 76 schools and colleges in the local area to date.
  • Community Donations: £128,213 donated to local community projects through the Energy Recovery Facility contract (target £187,500).
  • London Living Wage: Ensuring all jobs pay the London Living Wage.

NLWA's approach to social value includes ongoing monitoring and reporting, ensuring transparency and accountability. This has driven continuous improvement and has been recognised by various stakeholders, including the Institute of Economic Development (IED), which named the NLHPP Schools Programme 'Most Innovative Project of the Year' in 2023.

The GO Awards "recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements and successes of everyone involved in the procurement and delivery of the UK’s public services." The Social Value award is aimed at organisations which see social value as integral to their procurement activity – living and breathing it alongside their supply chain partners and instilling it into every contract they create and manage.

The UK National GO Awards Ceremony will take place on 21 May at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool. 

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