Global professional services organisation Jacobs has acquired a 50% share in UK-based social value and well-being measurement specialists Simetrica, with the companies already working together to develop new best practices and solutions related to social value and well-being principles.

The new partnership comes in response to increasing client demand driven by the Public Services (Social Value) Act in the UK, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Inclusive Growth Initiative, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

“In recent years, the importance of social value measurement has grown exponentially globally,” said Jacobs buildings and infrastructure Europe, Middle East and Africa senior vice-president and general manager Donald Morrison. “Our partnership with Simetrica will enable us to help our clients understand how they can transform local, city and regional decision-making – identifying innovative, inclusive and ethical investments that will drive social change, spread prosperity and meet the growing challenges facing communities.”

“This is an exciting time for Simetrica,” said Simetrica director Daniel Fujiwara. “Over the past decade we have made significant contributions to the methodology and uptake of social value analysis in the UK and globally. With Jacobs’ investment and partnership, we can further our impact by employing our cutting-edge methods to a wider range of sectors and clients to drive change across priorities such as mobility, connectivity and placemaking, increasing their social impact and making them more sustainable.”