At Sherpas, we’re proud to be a social enterprise, delivering social value through every programme we run, and embedding that commitment structurally, including a profit promise written into our articles of association.
“One of the first countries to focus on social entrepreneurship at large and social procurement specifically, the United Kingdom stands as a leader in social procurement.”
– World Economic Forum
We’re part of a growing movement in the UK, which is recognised globally for its leadership in this space:
But for all the progress, there’s still room for improvement, particularly in who gets included.
Social procurement isn’t just about who receives the contract. It’s also about who shapes the value being created. And right now, young people are often left out of that picture.
At Sherpas, we work with young people who don’t usually get invited in. They’re not sitting in boardrooms, they’re in bedrooms. They don’t have networks of influence or long CVs. But they have sharp thinking, bold ideas, and lived experience that’s essential to the future of work and society.
Take Max. A teenager who co-created a local impact idea with his grandad. That idea didn’t stay in a notebook, Max pitched it directly to decision-makers at Hammersmith & Fulham Council. That’s not tokenism. That’s Social Value rooted in lived experience, family insight, and intergenerational connection.
Or Rokeebat. A young woman who joined Sherpas through our paid talent pathway and didn’t just take part, she helped shape the programme. From redesigning onboarding to influencing how we talk about equity, she was central to how the work got done.
These aren’t soft stories. They’re examples of how value is created with young people, not just around them. And yet, youth voices still rarely show up in procurement conversations, Social Value frameworks, or ESG reporting, and that needs to change.
Social procurement can’t only focus on supply chains, it must also invest in ecosystems where future talent can emerge, contribute, and grow. That includes young people who are ready to take on real work, deliver real insight, and shape what comes next.
At Startup Sherpas, that’s exactly what we exist to do:
- Build a bridge between young people and the organisations shaping their future
- Turn involvement into employment
- Turn potential into a practical, paid opportunity
The UK may be leading the way, but if Social Value is going to live up to its name, the next generation has to be part of it.
(Source: World Economic Forum)
