Social Value
What is social value and why is it important?
Social value in procurement is about making sure that what we buy creates additional benefits for society. It recognises the social, economic and environmental benefits that can be delivered to local communities over and above the direct purchasing of goods and services.
Social value considers the cost of a service alongside the additional social benefit delivered across the commercial lifecycle.
Social value outcomes can deliver tangible benefits ranging from an increase in the number of apprenticeships to a reduction of CO2 footprint, or softer benefits such as reducing the risks of modern slavery in the supply chain.
We work collaboratively to refine, implement, embed and support social value within organisational process to demonstrate positive societal contributions through adoption of best practice tools and techniques. We believe this enhances the impact of procurement and delivers improved public services and responsible outcomes.
Is about improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities, encouraging interconnectedness and mutual support.
Focuses on the promotion of economic policies and business practises that have a positive impact on economic prosperity and societal well-being.
Focuses on sustainable process which look after the social and physical environment, ensuring a viable future for all.
Evaluating Social Value
Government Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/20, requires central government organisations to maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits for local communities when procuring services and ensures social value is explicitly evaluated in procurement processes. A minimum weighting of 10% of the total evaluation criteria must be applied for social value to ensure it carries a heavy enough score to be a differentiating factor in bid evaluation. Whilst this is currently only mandated for central government organisations, many forces are adopting this as best practise. BlueLight Commercial is committed to the minimum 10% weighting throughout all our contracts and we support forces with guidance and training on adoption.
Click for information on the Social Value Act 2012
Click for information on Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/20
Click for information on the Well-Being of Future Generations (Welsh) Act 2015
Social Value Action Planning Tool
Why not join over 1000 other suppliers using our free, online Social Value Action Planning Tool, that is available to all suppliers to blue light services? It helps suppliers review the environmental, economic and social impacts of their business, identifying the positive impacts and potential improvements that could be made, resulting in a tailored action plan. Using this tool blue light services can also demonstrate their commitment to social value.
Click for more information on the Social Value Action Planning Tool
Click here to access the Social Value Action Planning Tool
Click here to access NETpositive Force Dashboards
Social Value Application & Measurement
BlueLight Commercial has created a consistent way to measure and evaluate social value nationally and throughout the Commercial Lifecyle Model. The Social Value Application and Measurement Toolkit support forces to:
- Identify social value priorities across different categories.
- Embed the most appropriate method statements.
- Understand best practice and evaluate supplier responses.
- Select relevant and achievable social value measurements.
- Monitor supplier social value performance throughout the lifetime of the contract.
For more information or to access the Social Value Application & Measurement Toolkit contact socialvalue@bluelight.police.uk
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Billie HeafieldHead of Category, Sustainability & Estates |