SWG Group: delivering projects and social value across Sandwell
SWG Group: delivering projects and social value across Sandwell
As a long-standing contractor for Sandwell Council, SWG Group has recently completed three major developments across the borough: Forge Mill Farm, Thorn Close in Wednesbury and Whitgreave Crescent in West Bromwich.
Alongside delivering quality construction work, SWG has shown a clear and consistent commitment to adding meaningful social value through each project. Their efforts directly align with Sandwell Council’s four key pillars: Employment & Skills, Community Engagement, Local Spend and Environmental Management.
Forge Mill Farm - bringing learning and play to life
At Forge Mill Farm in Sandwell Valley, SWG transformed an old barn into a new, purpose-built indoor adventure and natural play space. The project now offers a fun, engaging environment for families and schools to enjoy and learn.
Two carpentry students from Sandwell College completed two weeks of work experience, supporting the timber structure construction and working with local school children to build vegetable planters. These placements helped both learners, Tom and Reece, go on to secure apprenticeships.
SWG also brought on a local resident via a labour agency during construction. Now, Tim, who began as a general labourer, has secured direct employment as a telehandler driver and has continued working across SWG’s Sandwell projects.
SWG kept spend local, injecting £644,850.40 into suppliers within the surrounding area. They also focused on sustainable building practices by reusing and recycling as much material as possible diverting 160 tonnes of hardcore and 800 tonnes of soil from landfill. Roof sheets, cladding, gutters and windows were all repurposed, helping to reduce waste and cut carbon.
Thorn Close – housing refurbishment with heart
SWG’s refurbishment project at Thorn Close created jobs, built skills and supported the surrounding community.
The project brought new apprenticeship opportunities for local residents including Joshua, now training as a Quantity Surveyor, and Ashley, who joined as an Assistant Buyer/Administrator. Another local resident Liam began as an agency labourer and was later taken on directly by SWG.
Daniel, an existing Quantity Surveying apprentice from Wolverhampton, continued his learning journey on the project alongside senior staff, gaining hands-on experience in the field.
SWG supported nearby St. Mary’s Church by donating refreshments to their coffee mornings, building relationships with local residents. As the housing project neared completion, the team also helped revamp the church’s community hall, providing equipment, supplies and time. Painting and Decorating students from Sandwell College joined in too putting their skills into practice in a real-world setting.
Dominik, one of the learners, gained valuable experience outside the college environment that will support his progression.
SWG brought in 20 subcontractors from across the Black Country and Birmingham, including four based in Sandwell, spending around £1.4 million within 20 miles of the site.
Environmentally, waste materials were carefully handled windows were broken down and sorted for recycling, and timber pallets were offered to local residents for reuse on community allotments, with the rest collected by a local recycling company.
Whitgreave Crescent – building futures and strengthening communities
The third of SWG’s recent projects in Sandwell was the completion of new social homes at Whitgreave Crescent, West Bromwich. As with the previous schemes, the focus extended beyond construction.
Two plastering learners from Sandwell College, Finley and Jayden, were welcomed on site for work placements. Their experience gave them new skills and exposure to real working environments. Tim, the telehandler driver who began his journey at Forge Mill Farm, continued to play a part here too, demonstrating SWG’s commitment to long-term employment.
At nearby Yew Tree & Tame Bridge Community Centre, SWG supported with some much-needed redecoration. A local resident on a multi-skills training programme at NOVA Training, Jayden, joined the effort and gained valuable hands-on experience. He made a great impression and said the experience had helped build his confidence and skills for the future.
Environmental care remained a key focus throughout the project. SWG reused and recycled wherever possible, continuing the good practices established on the other two sites.
“At SWG, we take pride in fostering strong community connections and embedding sustainability into everything we do, no matter where our work takes us. Our approach is centred on meeting the needs of clients and communities. Working alongside Sandwell’s social value commitments has provided us a platform to showcase how keeping things local and contributing positive environmental practices brings wider social benefits that leave a positive impact on the communities we serve.”
Across all three projects, SWG has demonstrated how construction can create wider community benefits. By supporting local learners, creating jobs, working with local suppliers and reducing environmental impact, they have shown that great building work goes perfectly with social value.