The Power of Collaboration

Social Value

Social Value, Corporate Social Responsibility and the subsequent Social Impact have the potential to bring real and meaningful change to the VCFSE sector and our communities.

Working together can open doors to bigger opportunities, greater impact, and more sustainable funding. When sectors work together, share knowledge, and align goals, the results are often more creative, more efficient, and more connected to community needs.

What is Social Value?

“Social Value is a broader understanding of ‘value’ which moves beyond cost and instead, recognizes the value created for people and places which is generated through spend and investment”
CLES (Centre for Local Economic Strategies) Changing Places Report, 2024

What does Social Value through public sector procurement look like?

The VCFSE sectors role in public sector procurement can come via three main areas of opportunity:

Direct Public Sector Supplier – where the third sector provide goods/services to the public sector. Many local authorities will actively support and encourage spending locally with SME’s and VCSE. For instance where national government and local authorities purchase direct from charitable organisations & social enterprises.
Subcontractor for Public Sector Suppliers – where the private sector (commercial business) purchase goods/services from charitable organisations & social enterprises and this forms part of their (public sector) contract ‘Social Value’ commitment.
Social Value Partner – where the private sector supports the VCFSE sector in the form of donations of money and/or goods, staff time, apprentice opportunities, sharing of skills & knowledge and more. This forms part of their (public sector) contract ‘Social Value’ commitment. Each delivered activity is allocated a proxy value on the TOMs framework. [see example case studies below]

The UK government Social Value Legislation & Priorities

Social (e.g. activities that promote productivity through an inclusive society)

Environmental (e.g. efforts to assist the community in reducing waste or pollution)

Economic (e.g. training, employment or apprenticeship opportunities for disadvantaged groups)

Social Value Reporting

The Social Value TOM System (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) for social value measurement (see graphic kindly shared by Social Value Portal)

Structured around 4 key themes (which incorporate the governments 3 priorities from above)

Work: Providing opportunities
Economy: Driving inclusive growth
Community: Empowering communities
Planet: Environmental stewardship

How is Social Value Measured?

Social Value Weighting: At present, the social value element of public sector contracts in the UK carries a minimum 10% social value weighting (in tender evaluations). This weighting % can vary dependent on geographical areas and contracts – *For example: Blackpool council: 20% of the tender evaluation process is allocated to assessing Social Value proposals

Reporting Frameworks: Each public sector organisation has its own reporting framework (priorities) which is reported through a standard portal – the most common portals are the Social Value Portal and Procure Partnerships Portal.

The Social Value TOM System (previously known as the National TOMs Framework) (Themes, Outcomes and Measures) allocates each delivered activity (which are categorised as NT:number) a ‘£ proxy value’ based on the activity category, creating a ‘social value £’. Higher Proxy Values are given to apprenticeships created, local workforce employed in the project, and skills and knowledge shared with the community – for instance with local schools and the VCSE sector (Graphic – shared with kind permission from the Social Value Portal)

Social Value £ = Number of Units x Proxy Value

The Power of Collaboration [case studies]

– Private sector working with CVS infrastructure to build strong links locally with VCFSE & local communities

“Working with Rachel C [place co-ordinator] and the LOCAL Project has been invaluable for Warden Construction, helping us connect with a wide range of local organisations and better understand community needs. This collaboration has enabled us to build strong partnerships and make a genuine, positive difference to the communities we serve through our social value activity.“

Heather Thompson, Social Value Coordinator, Warden Construction Ltd

– Employment & Skills

Site Operative – Preston College ‘Getting Into Work’ Programme

R.P Tyson partnered closely with Preston College to support a student through their employment readiness programme. Having recently completed their Apprentice Bricklaying course, they joined R.P. Tyson as a Site Operative and have now been with R.P. Tyson for the last 12 months of the project. Their development and integration into the team at Tyson has been a real success and a strong example of long-term, meaningful employment created through the scheme.

South Ribble Council

– Sharing Skills & Knowledge

The LOCAL Project working in partnership with the North West Construction Hub hosted a pilot series of digital workshops delivered by NWCH members from across the North West for the VCSE sector

• Tendering & Bid Writing
• Project Management
• Marketing and Comms
• Social Value
• Accounting & Finance
• Health & Safety
• Human Resources (HR)

Link to more information and workshop presentations

Learn more about Social Impact, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), ESG (Environmental, Social Governance) and SROI (Social Return on Investment) – coming soon

Useful links and further information:

The Institute for Social Value	Charitable Sector Forum – more information coming soon
The Social Value Commission: An independent body which advises national policymakers and works with local government on ways to ensure local residents share the benefits of investment and private sector initiatives in their communities.	The Social Value Commission
Legislation	The Public Sector (Social Value) Act 2012 The National Procurement Policy Statements (NPPS) The Procurement Act 2023 [which came in to force from February 2025]
Social Value in Lancashire – Lancashire CC Social Value Forum	Lancashire Skills & Employment Hub
What Impact – Free Course	Introduction to Social Value 102: This short course is designed for anyone new to social value, whether you’re working in delivery, strategy, procurement or reporting.
Voluntary Sector North West	Report from 2024: Maximising VCFSE Social Value Outcomes in Cheshire & Merseyside VSNW – Towards a Social Value Economy (pdf)
Match My Project What Impact	Match my project whatimpact \| Social Value Management\| Measure Social Value
CLES – Centre for Local Economic Strategies	REPORT: Changing Places: New Directions in Social Value (pdf)
Local Authority Social Value Toolkits/Policy	South Ribble Council Social Value \| South Ribble Blackpool Council Blackpool Council \| Suppliers social value policy Blackburn with Darwen Council Appendix 2 – Procurement SV.pdf West Lancashire Council Social Value Policy 09.2023.pdf Lancashire County Council Appendix A.pdf

[18.08.2026] This page will be updated regularly

Thank you to everyone for their support, conversations and contributions, including