Social Value and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Through Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement in the UK Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Sector

Social value, a core element of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), is increasingly recognised as essential for promoting fairness, equality, well-being, and community engagement in sustainable industry practices. Despite its significance, the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector continues to face challenges in embedding social value effectively into project delivery. These challenges are intensified by a lack of clear theoretical grounding on what social value entails, resulting in fragmented interpretations and inconsistent implementation across AEC professionals. As a result, social value initiatives often struggle to move beyond vague commitments, while disengaged and vulnerable groups are often excluded from decision-making processes. This study draws on insights from three deliberative focus groups involving 20 industry experts in the UK, exploring barriers to achieving meaningful social value outcomes in the AEC sector. Findings reveal that social value definitions and assessment methods remain vague and inconsistent, while the value of community knowledge is frequently underestimated. Critically, early-stage project engagement with disengaged groups is often deprioritized due to resource constraints, limiting opportunities for inclusive participation. To address these challenges, the study proposes targeted strategies to overcome power imbalances in stakeholder engagement. These include developing tailored engagement approaches to involve traditionally disengaged groups, alongside the creation of place-based case studies that exemplify best practices in achieving equitable social value outcomes. By prioritizing inclusive engagement throughout the project lifecycle, the AEC sector can better align social value delivery with sustainable development goals and improve outcomes for marginalized communities.