The total includes 24,814 direct employees and 14,190 supply-chain jobs. More than half of the economic contribution came from Serco’s operations, with the remainder generated through its supply chain.
The contribution is measured as gross value added, the value of output after deducting purchased goods and services. Serco’s activities include support for the armed forces, justice and immigration systems, hospitals and other public services.
“We have always understood that our impact extends beyond the critical public services we deliver,” said Anthony Kirby, Serco Group chief executive. “For the first time, this report shines a light on the scale of that contribution and the people and places behind it.”
Serco spent £1.18 billion annually with UK suppliers, according to the analysis. Small and medium-sized enterprises comprised 58% of its supplier base, representing 4,614 businesses.
The report attributed £369 million, or approximately 30% of supplier spending, to SMEs. It found that each direct Serco job supported a further 0.6 jobs among suppliers.
The South East received the largest share of supplier spending at £369 million. London followed at £234 million, with the North West accounting for £124 million.
Serco operated in 188 Westminster constituencies, with employees living or working in an estimated 475. The report found its employment was less concentrated in London and the South East than that of other large employers.
Across England, 40% of Serco’s jobs were located in the most deprived 30% of areas. Rural areas accounted for around 19% of jobs, compared with approximately 12% of employment nationally.
“The public services Serco provides reach every part of the UK,” said Fiona Walters, Serco UK & Europe chief executive. “Our work is essential to the functioning of society and we are creating opportunity in some of the UK’s most deprived communities, strengthening local economies and helping more people share in the opportunities public services create.”
The South East remained Serco’s largest employment region, with approximately 3,900 jobs. The analysis also recorded 18 jobs supported per £1 million of revenue, compared with four nationally.
More than 4,000 members of Serco’s UK workforce were aged 16 to 24. Its Pathways programme aims to improve social mobility by removing barriers to employment faced by disadvantaged groups.
Serco said the programme had helped recruit more than 290 people so far this year. It is intended to provide access to work that might otherwise have been out of reach.
Source: Serco.
