Extent of Jeff Way Group’s social value impact revealed
Posted by: electime 10th July 2025
A family run business that employs over 200 people is having a huge social value impact on the communities it serves.
Jeff Way Group is a multi-disciplinary, family-run business providing electrical, construction and training services across the South West and South Wales.
Established in 1989 by Jeff and Jean Way at their South Bristol kitchen table, the business began with just two electricians and is still family run – with their children Neil Way, Chris Way and Jennine Hendy all directors and leading the business alongside four non-family directors.
From its inception, supporting good causes has been a focus for the family and its employees and the group make a positive difference to various initiatives.
An internal impact report has shown that in its last financial year, Jeff Way’s social value average spend was over £30k, making a huge contribution to communities in Bristol and South Wales – an area it is expanding into rapidly.
An example of the work they do is their annual Golf Day in memory of Jeff and Jean, that has been taking place for the last five years. In total, it has raised £35k for St Peter’s Hospice, a charity that is close to the family’s heart as the hospice provided care to both Jeff and Jean.
Other initiatives include organising a charity bike ride to Paris last year, which raised a record £150k for the hospice with 55 people taking part. Chris says they will also be organising a sponsored walk to raise funds soon.
Ben Lee, who is a fundraiser at St Peter’s Hospice, comments: “We are incredibly grateful for the many years of dedicated fundraising support. Your consistent support has made a real difference to our hospice and the families we care for. We are looking forward to working together in the coming years as one of our main strategic partners”.
Chris was previously a Trustee at the hospice too and is now an ambassador there.
Amongst other projects Jeff Way has been involved in is renovating a YMCA in Neath, South Wales, working with Heart of BS13 on regeneration work around Hartcliffe and Withywood, the Rugby March which has now been operating for seven years – raising money for St Peter’s Hospice – and supporting Urban Circle Newport.
Recently, the team also contributed to the refurbishment of Jubilee Swimming Pool in Knowle, Bristol.
Directors act and get involved by contributing to local causes through leadership roles too—with Neil holding a trusteeship at The Park Centre in Knowle West and Chris at Hartcliffe Withywood Venture Trust.
The group also invests over £5,000 annually in various community initiatives and more than £230,000 has also been raised in total through company initiatives.
Beyond the financial commitment the business makes to social value, Jennine Hendy says that of equal importance is the volunteering they do and their work around apprenticeships, which is a big part of their social value strategy.
Over 1,100 operatives have been trained through Jeff Way Training, and 44 apprentices are currently employed in various apprenticeship programmes, from administration to electrical, carpentry and plastering. Local recruitment is prioritised too, with operatives recruited from the communities they operate in.
Jennine says that Jeff Way also offers work experience placements in the business that includes ones for children with special educational needs through The Park (NEAT).
Mark Chircop, who is community investment and partnership coordinator at Hedyn Wales and has worked closely with the Jeff Way team, comments on the impact the business is having: “The approach Jeff Way takes to supporting residents and communities as part of its work in communities is exemplary. They regularly go above and beyond by providing extra support when additional needs are identified, forging of deeper positive relationships with residents and community networks in the areas where they work.”
Amy Kington, who is CEO of Community of Purpose, has also worked closely with the Jeff Way team for many years. She comments: “We are incredibly grateful for the longstanding support of JeffWay Group. Over the past five years, their generous donations of over £17,500 have helped us provide meals and a minibus for young people across South Bristol, making a real difference in our community. We look forward to continuing to work together and support the young people of Bristol.”
Chris Way comments: “It means a huge amount to everybody at Jeff Way to see the difference you can make if you engage with your local communities and act where it is needed.
“Financial contributions are important, but time, ideas and service are equally important and whether it’s an apprentice or one of the leadership team, we will keep providing social value in the communities we operate in. We have exceeded every social value metric set up by our clients but we’re not stopping there, and we have exciting plans.”
