Macmillan Meets…Nicola Parkinson. Group Head of People at Eric Wright Group

In this edition of Macmillan Meets, Amy Mottershead, Senior Consultant at Macmillan Davies, sits down with Nicola Parkinson, Group Head of People at Eric Wright Group. Nicola shares what it truly means to be a purpose-driven organisation, how social value is embedded into everyday decision-making, and why aligning people, purpose and performance is key to long-term success.

A purpose-driven organisation

Eric Wright Group is a genuinely different kind of organisation. Being owned by the Eric Wright Charitable Trust gives the business a wider purpose, but what truly defines it is how that purpose is lived every day.

The organisation’s Social Value framework is built around four key pillars — People, Place, Planet and Performance — which guide decision-making across the business. Alongside this, its core values of Excellence, Respect, Innovation and Integrity shape behaviours and define culture.

For Nicola, purpose and performance are closely connected. Delivering high-quality work is what enables the organisation to create long-term value for the communities it serves.

What social value looks like in practice

At Eric Wright Group, social value is not just a concept, it is something employees experience in their day-to-day work.

Teams are encouraged to support each other, share skills and help colleagues develop. There is also a strong focus on enabling people to both live well and work well.

The organisation’s “Healthy Lives” approach supports physical, emotional, financial and career wellbeing. This includes benefits such as access to an on-site GP, income protection, savings schemes and targeted wellbeing campaigns informed by workforce data.

Social value is also reflected in wider business decisions, from using local suppliers and employing local labour to participating in community initiatives. Teams regularly get involved in projects such as garden renovations, building community spaces and supporting local charities.

Sustainability is another key focus, with ongoing efforts to reduce waste, protect biodiversity and identify more efficient ways of working.

Embedding purpose into the employee experience

Purpose runs throughout the entire employee lifecycle at Eric Wright Group, starting from recruitment.

The organisation looks for individuals who not only bring strong technical expertise but also demonstrate pride in their work, a commitment to communities and alignment with its values.

Once onboard, development pathways reinforce this approach. Employees have access to training across compliance, technical skills, sustainability and personal growth.

Opportunities to get involved in volunteering and local partnerships also help employees connect their roles to the wider impact of the business.

Attracting talent through purpose

Nicola has seen a growing trend of candidates being drawn to the organisation’s “profit for purpose” model.

Many candidates want to contribute to a business where their work has meaning, but they are equally motivated by being part of a high-performing organisation built on excellence and integrity.

The combination of strong performance and genuine purpose allows employees to feel proud of both the work they deliver and the impact it creates.

Employees driving social value initiatives

Employee engagement plays a central role in bringing social value to life.

Early talent programmes are a key example, with over 70 apprentices across a wide range of disciplines. Employees actively support these programmes by mentoring, coaching and helping new entrants build skills for the future.

Colleagues are also encouraged to act as career ambassadors, visiting schools and participating in careers events to showcase opportunities within the sector.

Beyond this, teams regularly take part in community projects and fundraising initiatives, including running events such as 10Ks, half marathons and marathons, often supported by matched funding from the Trust.

Evolving the people strategy

As expectations around social value continue to grow, Nicola sees an opportunity to further strengthen the organisation’s approach.

This includes developing deeper skills in sustainability and ethical practice, creating more opportunities for employees to shape social value initiatives, and strengthening the link between performance and purpose.

The organisation will continue embedding its core values — Excellence, Respect, Innovation and Integrity — across every stage of the employee journey.

Ultimately, the ambition is to create an environment where social value, wellbeing and high performance sit side by side in every role, decision and career pathway.

Final thoughts

Throughout the conversation, one message stands out clearly: purpose and performance are not competing priorities, they are mutually reinforcing.

By embedding social value into everyday decisions and aligning it with strong commercial delivery, Eric Wright Group demonstrates how organisations can create meaningful, long-term impact.

For Nicola, the opportunity lies in continuing to evolve this approach, ensuring that people, purpose and performance remain fully connected as expectations continue to rise.

Get in touch

If you would like to discuss this article, be featured in a future Macmillan Meets interview, or talk about your search for work or recruitment needs, please contact Amy Mottershead directly at amottershead@mdhr.co.uk or connect with her on LinkedIn.