At Morris & Spottiswood, we believe social value is about more than policies and reports, it’s about people. We care about creating opportunities that help individuals grow and communities thrive. This summer, we were proud to welcome Moesha Chhabria and Ellie Griffith to our team through Entrepreneurial Scotland’s Saltire Scholars Programme.
During their 12-week internship, Moesha and Ellie joined our Social Value team to explore what social value looks like in practice and to help us identify new ways to grow our impact.
Learning What Social Value Really Means
Both interns began their journey by exploring how social value is defined, measured and delivered. Moesha focused on aligning our approach with the latest Social Value Model and comparing it to wider industry ambitions. Ellie applied her research geographically to Glasgow, identifying regional priorities and new partnership opportunities.
“Having those strong connections with local communities is always helpful because every day so many people face so many hardships.” Moesha
What became clear is that social value is not just a tick-box exercise. As Ellie reflected, it’s about “long-term practical outcomes like job creation, skills development, and environmental benefits.” For Moesha, it was about both “the quality and the quantity of resources and jobs provided”, ensuring that change is meaningful and community led.
Highlights of a Hands-On Experience
A particular highlight for both was co-leading the Centenary Challenge alongside our other interns, an initiative that brought colleagues together in support of charity. This gave them the chance to see how our values are lived out day-to-day, with people across the business rallying around a shared cause.
Ellie also valued the way the internship was structured: “I liked that it started with an introduction to social value, moved into working on specific projects, and then led into finishing with one big, final report. It gave me a really well-rounded understanding of social value in practice.”
Why Social Value Matters
Both Moesha and Ellie recognised the importance of businesses taking a socially responsible approach. For Moesha, it’s about “building strong connections with communities and people” and helping to alleviate challenges people face. Ellie highlighted that while social value is increasingly a requirement for contracts, it also supports business growth and client trust, but ultimately, “it’s the right thing to do.”
Advice for the Next Generation
For those considering a career in social value, Moesha encourages curiosity and open-mindedness.
“Social value touches so many areas like environment, people, communities and supply chains, many don’t even realise how vast it actually is.”
Ellie’s advice was to embrace creativity and a willingness to learn: “There’s a lot to take in, especially with the models, but it’s also about finding different solutions and new ways of thinking.”
Looking Ahead
Their time with us has been inspiring, and their contributions have helped us strengthen our approach to social value. Just as importantly, they’ve reinforced our belief that investing in future talent is itself a powerful form of social value, one that creates lasting benefits for both individuals and communities.
You can read Moesha and Ellie’s full interview here: https://morrisandspottiswoodgroup.co.uk/news-and-insights/meet-moesha-and-ellie-our-social-value-interns/
At Morris & Spottiswood, we remain committed to building on these experiences, continuing to invest in people, projects, and partnerships that create meaningful and lasting change.