Social values
What is social value
Social value is defined through the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 as the requirement for public bodies to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the relevant area.
In practice, this means looking beyond the immediate cost of a contract and considering how procurement activity can deliver wider benefits for communities, including local employment, environmental sustainability and social outcomes.
Procurement Act 2023 – expectations
The Procurement Act 2023 strengthens the focus on delivering public benefit through procurement. The Act requires contracting authorities to:
- design procurements that deliver value for money across the whole lifecycle, including wider social and economic outcomes
- increase transparency in how contracts are awarded and managed.
- ensure processes are open and accessible to a broader range of suppliers.
- focus on the delivery and measurement of outcomes, not just commitments at the award stage.
Our commitment
We will use procurement as a strategic tool to deliver wider benefits for our communities. By embedding social value in line with the Social Value Act 2012 and the expectations of the Procurement Act 2023, we aim to ensure that public spending contributes to:
- stronger local economies.
- improved opportunities for residents.
- a more sustainable and inclusive environment.
How we embed social value
We take a whole‑lifecycle approach to integrating social value, ensuring that it is built into procurement from the earliest stages and delivered consistently throughout the contract period. This approach includes:
- Planning ahead: identifying where procurement activity can generate additional community, economic or environmental benefits before the process begins.
- Balanced assessment: evaluating social value alongside price and quality using clear and proportionate criteria.
- Engaging the market: working with suppliers to encourage practical, creative and deliverable social value proposals.
- Managing delivery: monitoring commitments during the contract period to ensure that agreed outcomes are achieved.
Our approach aligns with our wider organisational priorities set out in the Corporate and Improvement Plan, which defines how we deliver outcomes for our residents and communities.
Find out more about our corporate priorities:
Social Value principles