Liverpool Experience Campus delivers £11m social value boost for city region

Liverpool Experience Campus (LEX) has revealed more than £11 million in social value delivered across the city region in the past year, and over £28 million generated since 2022.

The report outlines how the campus – home to a convention centre, exhibition centre and M&S Bank Arena – is embedding social value into every aspect of its operations, from event delivery and supply chain partnerships to workforce development and community engagement.

Built around four core pillars – people, environment, industry influence and community – the strategy reflects a growing expectation within the UK events sector for venues to demonstrate measurable impact beyond economic contribution.

The organisation continues to lead on event legacy, linking clients with local initiatives to deliver tangible benefits for the city region. Rooted in Liverpool, it remains committed to creating long-term, meaningful impact, while strengthening partnerships with charities and grassroots organisations, awarding grants to 14 local projects and raising £15,000 through its employee-led LEX Liverpool Foundation. 

Other key achievements from 2025/26 include a 75% site-wide recycling rate, ISO 50001 certification, and recognition at the international A Greener Future Awards. LEX also strengthened its role in talent development, hosting work experience placements, launching a mentoring programme and supporting the Power of Events Schools Engagement Programme. 

Looking ahead, the strategy sets out ambitious targets including eliminating single-use plastics back of house, transitioning fully to electric operational equipment, reducing commuting emissions, and expanding inclusive entry routes into the industry through apprenticeships and early careers programmes. A particular focus will be tackling regional skills challenges, with targeted support for young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), and strengthening pathways into the events and visitor economy. 

Liverpool Experience Campus’ CEO, Faye Dyer, said:

“Social value is no longer a ‘nice to have’ for our industry, it’s fundamental to how we operate and how we grow responsibly. Our latest Social Value report demonstrates the scale of impact a venue can have when it works in partnership with its clients, suppliers and community. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made so far, but we’re equally focused on what comes next and using our influence to help shape a more inclusive, sustainable and forward-looking events industry.” 

Alongside the Social Value Impact Plan, LEX has reinforced its environmental ambitions with the publication of an updated sustainability strategy, underlining its commitment to becoming a net zero event campus by 2030. The strategy embeds sustainability across both operations and event delivery, with a clear emphasis on reducing environmental impact while enabling clients to deliver lower-carbon events. 

The organisation is continuing to innovate in sustainable event delivery, using carbon measurement tools to provide clients with clear emissions insights and support more informed decision-making. It is also exploring integrated ticketing solutions that link event and public transport, helping to reduce the carbon footprint associated with visitor travel. 

Spanning energy, waste, procurement, catering and travel, the strategy sets out a focused roadmap for change, from increasing renewable energy use and eliminating waste to landfill and incineration, to promoting greener travel behaviours. By aligning these environmental priorities with its wider social value agenda, LEX aims to play a leading role in accelerating more sustainable practices across the UK events industry. 

Deputy Council Leader and Cabinet Member with responsibility for social value at Liverpool City Council, Councillor Ruth Bennett, said: 

“It is fantastic to see the social value commitment from the Liverpool Experience Campus delivering solid outcomes. The council’s recently launched Social Value policy adopts exactly this approach.  As key players in the local economy, we each have a huge role to play in ensuring our spending secures additional positive social, economic, environmental, and cultural outcomes for our residents.” 

As industry scrutiny increases around environmental performance and social impact, LEX’s latest report positions the campus as a leading example of how major venues can align commercial success with community benefit. 

Find out more on the LEX website.

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