What is social value?

The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 became law on 8th March 2012. The law requires Public Sector organisations to consider the potential for suppliers to deliver services that enhance the area and people with whom they will be working.

These services can focus on improvements to areas such as:

• Social
• Environmental
• Economic
• General wellbeing

A new social value model was launched meaning the central government will be required to go beyond the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. These new measures came into effect on the 1st of January 2021. It was launched with the aim of;

• Creating new jobs and promoting skills;
• Encouraging economic growth;
• Supporting COVID-19 recovery;
• Tackling climate change, and;
• Levelling up the UK.

It is important that we consider social value when delivering a service to the highest standard of excellence. Enhancing both our local and national environments and encouraging employee engagement with the charities that they support.

Here are some areas that we are working in with our teams to build on our Social Values and help our communities and planet.

 

Benevolent:

• Charitable donations
• Allowing your employees voluntary days
• Team building days at charities/non-profit organisations
• Sponsored events
• Supporting local charities in other ways

 

Social:

• Upskilling employees
• Rewards and benefits schemes for employees
• Encouraging and participating in community schemes
• Ethical supply chains – i.e. Fair Trade
• Engaging with local community groups such as sports clubs, schools and social groups.
• Community engagement – mobilising and involving the community.
• Promoting social integration.
• Providing/facilitating opportunities for disabled people
• Supporting local heritage and culture

 

 

Employment:

• Having flexible working and lieu days
• Mindfulness, counselling and therapy sessions in the workplace
• Introducing additional learning opportunities in the workplace to enhance employees’ careers

 

Economic:

 

• Extra employment opportunities
• Recruiting locally
• Introducing work experience and apprenticeship opportunities
• Engendering additional value for money by introducing cost-saving techniques
• Local investment
• Taking people out of unemployment

 

Environmental:

 

• Reducing carbon footprint
• Introducing processes to monitor energy and water usage
• Promoting sustainable practices in the community
• Using environmentally-friendly techniques and supplies
• Efficient use of equipment, people and resources.
• Picking suppliers who can supply multiple products and services to cut down on transport costs and times

High on our agenda have been the following as we have provided safe business continuity through the pandemic:

• How our organisation supports COVID-19 recovery;
• How we are creating new businesses, jobs and skills to tackle economic inequality;    
• The environmental considerations you take to help fight climate change and reduce waste, and;
• The equal opportunity policies you implement and adhere to within our organisation.

For more information or a list of our achievements for 2021 and targets for 2022 please fill in the contact form below and a member of our Senior Leadership team will be in touch.