Creating Social Value at Ready Steady Cook Event
At SymClean, creating social value means making a positive contribution to the communities where we work.
Whilst our day to day focus is delivering professional cleaning services across education, commercial, industrial, and food manufacturing environments, we also believe businesses have a responsibility to support local communities and create opportunities for future generations.
Our commitment was recently demonstrated through our involvement in a Ready Steady Cook shallenge, during the school half term, organised in partnership with Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone.
The event brought together young people, industry professionals, and community partners for a day of learning, teamwork, and fun.
It was great to see the young people meet with industry professionals and respected organisations from across the food manufacture, retail and hygiene sectors.
The ‘Ready Steady Cook’ style challenge welcomed 16 young people from both the Junior and Youth Zones, who were divided into four teams and tasked with creating their own dishes whilst working alongside volunteers and industry professionals. The event provided a really enjoyable and engaging way to develop practical skills, build confidence, and encourage teamwork.
Supporting Young People Through Practical Learning
The challenge was designed to provide more than just a fun day out.
Throughout the event, young people were encouraged to work collaboratively, communicate effectively, think creatively, and learn new skills in a supportive environment.
Participants had the opportunity to prepare and present their dishes while also discussing food, careers, education, and future aspirations with professionals from a variety of industries.
The activity helped develop:
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Confidence and self-belief
- Problem-solving and creativity
- Food education awareness
- Understanding of future career opportunities
- Positive engagement with industry professionals
By combining learning with practical activities, the event created an environment where young people could develop valuable life skills whilst having fun.
Building Community Partnerships That Create Social Value
At SymClean we have built great relationships across multiple sectors, not just for cleaning, but to share business ideas and support each other in community events like this.
Working alongside the Society of Food Hygiene Technology, that promotes food hygiene knowledge and best practice across the industry, together with internationally recognised businesses including Tate & Lyle, Holland & Barrett and KersiaUK, we managed to create a really collaborative event.
Together with Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone, each organisations demonstrated how businesses and community groups can work together to create meaningful opportunities and positive outcomes for young people.
Inspiring Future Careers
One of the most valuable aspects of the day was the opportunity for young people to engage directly with professionals working across the food, manufacturing, retail, and hygiene.
Throughout the challenge, participants asked questions about careers, apprenticeships, education pathways, and the diverse range of opportunities available within modern industry.
Many were surprised to discover the variety of technical, operational, commercial, and management roles available throughout the food supply chain.
Paul Davidson from Tate & Lyle reflected on the experience:
“We all found the day to be incredibly rewarding. It was great to chat with the young people whilst we were cooking about what we do within the food industry. Some of the young people shared what they would like to do as a future career, and many did not realise the diversity of jobs and apprenticeships available within the food sector. Overall, it was fantastic to have fun with everyone on the day and to see their creativity and confidence shine through.”
Tamara Hitchen, Events & Stewardship Manager at Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone, added:
“It was fantastic to see our young people working alongside industry professionals, asking questions, learning new skills, and gaining real insight into the food industry. Partnerships like this are incredibly valuable, giving young people opportunities that could inspire the next generation of talent.”
Zara Thomson, Category Technical Manager – VHMS at Holland & Barrett, said:
“It was a fantastic event. Educating the young people about where food comes from and how we are involved in helping products reach the shops was incredibly rewarding. I cannot wait to be involved again in the future.”
Corporate Social Responsibility in Action
As a family owned business, SymClean believes that supporting charities, community organisations, and local initiatives should form part of a company’s wider responsibility.
The business has proudly supported Blackburn & Darwen Youth Zone for a number of years and has been a Patron since 2023, helping contribute towards programmes and opportunities that benefit young people across the region.
Reflecting on the event, Tanya Targett, Director of SymClean said:
“As a family-owned business, supporting local charities and community organisations has always been incredibly important to us.
Seeing the young people grow in confidence throughout the day, ask questions, work together, and simply enjoy the experience made the event hugely rewarding for everyone involved.
We are proud to continue supporting initiatives that help create positive opportunities for young people within our community.”
For SymClean, social value is not simply about financial support. It is about investing time, sharing knowledge, building relationships, and helping create opportunities that make a lasting difference.
Why Social Value Matters
Creating social value is about more than supporting a single event. It involves helping communities thrive through meaningful engagement, collaboration, and long-term commitment.
By bringing together community organisations, industry professionals, and young people, this event really demonstrated the positive impact that can be achieved when organisations work together towards a shared goal.
Through initiatives such as this, SymClean continues to support youth development, strengthen community partnerships, and contribute positively to the areas where we work.
Whether supporting schools, charities, community organisations, or local projects, our commitment remains the same: helping create cleaner environments, stronger communities, and better opportunities for future generations.
What Is Social Value?
Social value refers to the positive impact an organisation creates beyond the products or services it provides.
This can include supporting local communities, creating employment opportunities, encouraging education and skills development, protecting the environment, and contributing towards wider social wellbeing.
At SymClean, social value forms an important part of how we operate, helping ensure our work benefits not only our clients, but also the communities they serve.
