Social Value UK

Author: Craig Foden

  • Improve Your Social Value Reports

    Improve Your Social Value Reports

  • Member spotlight – Mantell Gwynedd

    Member spotlight – Mantell Gwynedd

    Mantell Gwynedd is a County Voluntary Council based in northwest Wales. They have been members with Social Value UK since 2014 and established Social Value Cymru in the same year. Social Value Cymru provides social value support, advice and consultancy services to third sector organisations across Gwynedd and beyond.

    Mantell’s activities are varied and numerous including developing and supporting volunteering, representing the third sector and collaborating with partners, supporting organisations with their governance, financial and engagement arrangements, referring individuals to relevant services, a social prescription service in the Arfon area and giving guidance for organisations on how to measure their social value…… and much more!

    As an organisation, Mantell Gwynedd wanted to ensure that the principles were embedded into the organisation and develop a culture of impact management. Social Value is becoming an integral part of the governance and management of Mantell Gwynedd on a strategic and operational basis. Crucially, we are able to measure, monitor, consider and assess our activities from the perspective of users and partners; and to plan our future activities in order to maximise the positive effect on people we work with or offer a service to them.

    The first project that we measured was our social prescribing project, and we have produced an annual social impact report on this project since 2016. Having engaged with stakeholders it was clear that the outcomes that needed to be managed were loneliness, mental health and physical health. The indicators used for managing these are a subjective wellbeing scale which demonstrates the change that people have experienced through the support. Some objective scales have also been used such as reduced GP visits. In the 2022-23 report, 93% of those who completed the service said they felt less alone. The benefits of measuring and managing the impact of this project are:

    • The social Prescription SROI’s have enabled us to better understand the outcomes to individuals using the service.
    • Applying the principle of ‘value what matters’ allows us to better understand what is most important for our users and informs our decision making
    • The principle of ‘do not over claim’ has helped us to understand where we create most value and also identified where we can collaborate better with others
    • The continued need and demand for the project is clear and based on the social impact information collated. The number of referrals to the project through various NHS departments demonstrates that the Community Link Officer is taking pressure off the local health board while building a solid foundation of trust with the healthcare professionals.

    Mantell has held a Level 1 Social Value Management Certificate since 2019 and during the period from 2020 through the period of Covid restrictions, the organisation built on its frameworks and plans in order to put more thorough operating methods in place across all the company’s activities. Following the submission of the application for Level 2 in October 2023, a detailed assessment was carried out by SVI, and Mantell was awarded a Level 2 Certificate on 11 December 2023.

    This has been a long process, and we still have much to do to ensure that we have truly embedded the principles across all out activities. What was unexpected was how the process has helped staff to better understand the impact they have within communities and how this has motivated them to be involved in measuring impact themselves.

    The SVI method allows organisation to capture the real story of change without limitations. It gives us the whole story including anything negative or unexpected that happens through our activities, which allows us to better plan and make more informed decisions.

    “In the long run, implementing Level 2 Social Value is a means for Mantell to use the input of real people to influence and improve our activities for the benefit of users and partners.” – Trystan Pritchard, Mantell Gwynedd Chairman and Social Value Champion on the board

    Learn more about Mantell Gwynedd and the work they do here.

    Find out more about the SVMC here.

  • One Wirral CIC achieve Level One of the Social Value Management Certificate

    One Wirral CIC achieve Level One of the Social Value Management Certificate

    One Wirral CIC have successfully achieved Level 1 of the Social Value Management Certificate! To understand more about their organisation and why they chose to embrace the Principles of Social Value, we spoke to Katie Landon, Communications and Marketing Officer.

    Please tell us about your organisation and what you do

    We collaborate across sectors and organisations finding areas that need extra assistance to reduce health inequalities – helping to bridge gaps in health services and support. Using an agile approach means we can help people through practical and innovative solutions that really make a difference.

    Some of our projects and services include; cancer prehabilitation, diabetes prehabilitation, Community Health Checks, collaborating with Macmillan to deliver an innovative Personalised Care offering, providing various training, consultancy and research services as well as creating strategic partnerships.

    By using real data and evidence, talking to the community, and committing to our values, we aim to empower people to make the most of their health.

    We are committed to measuring and managing the social value our organisation is creating, which is why we became a Social Value UK Organisational Member. It allows us to understand the impact of decisions and understand the changes on people’s lives beyond measuring finances.

    Has your organisation been measuring and valuing social value for a long time, or are you at the start of your journey?

    We have always had an appreciation for social value, but have formally started to measure it over the last 12-18 months in order to understand our impact, report on it, and find areas of improvement. We started with one project, then two, and this year plan to roll out across all.

    It’s good to see that evidencing social value is being requested more and more amongst tender application processes, because it means even a greater number of organisations are required to showcase and evaluate their impact on their communities.

    What prompted your organisation to apply for the Social Value Management Certificate?

    Our directors were accredited as Level 1 Associate Practitioners, and we saw this an opportunity to celebrate the work we had done to date, highlight to partners and collaborators the importance of social value, and how it can contribute to long-term goals and missions.

    Having the organisational certificate clearly demonstrates our commitment to social value, so our stakeholders can have confidence in our approach.

    What are you putting in place to improve how social value data is collected and acted upon to create social value?

    Our directors and wider team have implemented a robust policy that means we’re always thinking of the big picture, which includes ensuring our projects and services can provide as much social value as possible. It allows us to be as accountable as possible with our outcomes, develop our internal capacity and utilise the social value hub.

    For example, with our Cancer Prehabilitation service, we regularly report the social return on investment to update to update our stakeholders and provide continuous transparency with how the service is contributing in multiple ways.

    What has your organisation learned in achieving the Social Value Management Certificate?

    During the discussions of looking at our processes and policies, it highlighted the ways we collected information could have been improved.

    Measuring and monitoring social value also makes us and our stakeholders appreciate how our projects and services are having positive impacts in ways that we may have previously not thought about, meaning we gain a lot more insight and evidence to put forward and inform various organisations or bodies, which can help also them discuss solutions and opportunities.

    Therefore, it can support our wider collaborative efforts even further.

    How do you see your organisation benefiting from achieving Level 1 of the Social Value Management Certificate?

    As well as implementing the processes in order to better collect the social value, we can use it to inform our future initiatives and make our strategic partners also aware of the benefits.

    We will also be utilising the accreditation within tender applications to highlight that we are committed to not only monitoring social value, but also maximising it.

    What initiatives will you be working on to create social value for your stakeholders?

    We’ll continue to embed measurement across all our projects and services over the next 12 months, including encouraging our partners and collaborators to do the same as it has far-reaching benefits to our communities.

    Find out more about the SVMC here.

  • Activity spotlight – The Credera Academy

    Activity spotlight – The Credera Academy

    This blog is the first in a series which showcases some of the fantastic activities which members of Social Value UK are conducting to generate a positive social impact.

    In this blog, we’ll be shining a spotlight on the work of one of our organisational members, Credera, and their flagship social value initiative the Credera Academy. Credera are a global consultancy with expertise in data, ecommerce, artificial intelligence, experience design, and management consulting.

    The Credera Academy is a skills-based initiative aimed at 16-18 year olds, delivered in a school setting. Guided by Credera’s staff, students experience a series of interactive workshops crafted to equip them with the tools and knowledge to thrive in the workplace.

    The workshops are provided to schools entirely free of cost, providing students with a window into the world of consultancy – a career path they may not have previously considered or even knew existed.

    Credera Academy workshops cover a broad range of topics, from crafting a great CV from scratch, to understanding how to confidently navigate a job interview. Students are provided with insights and practical activities every step of the way. There’s an emphasis on “soft skills”, too, such as communication skills, collaboration, and critical thinking – skills applicable to any industry the student may choose to start a career in.

    Through interactive activities and case study scenarios based on real-world consultancy projects, students have the opportunity to use and improve their problem-solving and decision-making skills – essential competencies for any aspiring professional.

    The impact of Credera Academy workshops extends far beyond the confines of the classroom. As a member of Social Value UK’s movement, Credera are deeply committed to driving positive social change through their activities. By providing students from all backgrounds access to these workshops and experiences, Credera are helping to unlock the potential of young people as they move from education and into the world of work.

    Case study questions

    Could you tell us briefly about your organisation?

    Credera, a global consulting firm, combines transformational consulting capabilities, deep industry knowledge, and AI and technology expertise to deliver valuable customer experiences and accelerated growth across a broad range of industries worldwide. 

Our one-of-a-kind, global boutique approach means we provide our clients with tailored solutions unique to their organisation that can scale due to our extensive footprint.

    As a values-led organisation, our mission is to make an extraordinary impact on our clients, our people, and our community.

    We believe this approach allows us to work with and transform the most influential brands and organisations in the world, from strategy through to execution. Visit us at www.credera.com

    What social needs/problems is the Credera Academy aimed at solving?

    The Consulting Academy is a skills-based initiative founded on the principles of social mobility. The Academy seeks to bridge the gap between people from disadvantaged backgrounds and secure, prosperous employment with the added benefit of contributing to workplace inclusivity.

    How has it been developed?

    Credera have worked closely with an Education Consultant, and taken onboard feedback from staff and students at their partnership schools, to create a structured curriculum and set of learning objectives based around a series of workshops, helping students to develop relevant business skills that are core to a consultant but are also transferrable across many different work settings.

    What outputs have been achieved?

    30+ Crederians have been trained as facilitators and the Credera Consulting Academy has reached over 500 students in Leeds, Newcastle, London, Jersey and Monmouthshire; with further sessions planned throughout 2024.

    How does this benefit your organisation in the short term?

    Running this initiative enables our people to be a force for good in the communities within which we work.

    How does this benefit your organisation in the long term?

    Running this initiative will allow us to evidence meaningful positive social impact in underprivileged areas and contribute to ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their background.

    Do you have any stories from individual young people who you’ve helped that you could share?

    • “They have made me feel better prepared and less anxious about the working world.”
    • “It has shown me how to be more confident and how to structure my interview.”
    • “I’m now aware of the importance of soft skills, transferable skills and how to take initiative during an interview.”
    • “It has inspired me to look at more career paths.”

    Is your organisation also working to generate positive social impact? If so, learn more about Social Value UK’s mission here, and consider joining our movement.

  • Floyd Slaski achieve Level One of the Social Value Management Certificate

    Floyd Slaski achieve Level One of the Social Value Management Certificate

    Floyd Slaski Architects have successfully achieved Level 1 of the Social Value Management Certificate! To understand more about their organisation and why they chose to embrace the Principles of Social Value, we spoke to Alicia Ho, Management, Marketing and Sustainability Assistant.

    Please tell us about your organisation and what you do

    Floyd Slaski Architects Ltd is a RIBA Chartered Practice based in London. Established in 1952 we have a wide portfolio of healthcare types and facilities including community clinics, high tech diagnostics, emergency departments, operating theatres and intensive care units. Whilst healthcare forms the majority of our commissions, Floyd Slaski’s expertise also encompasses education, residential, commercial and community buildings. Our designs integrate sustainable practices and aim to create lasting and positive social value.

    Has your organisation been measuring and valuing social value for a long time, or are you at the start of your journey?

    We have been implementing Social Value initiatives and practices into our work for some time now, and it is a design consideration we are always thinking of. Working towards our Level 1 Certification has prompted us to formally record and measure our Social Value outcomes and draw up benchmarks and goals that we are able to work towards.

    What prompted your organisation to apply for the Social Value Management Certificate?

    We decided to apply for the Social Value Management Certificate to show our determination and commitment to Social Value. Prioritising social value aligns with our broader objectives and commitment to making a positive impact. There were also stakeholder expectations that influenced our decision to obtain Level 1 Certification as this reflects our responsiveness to stakeholder needs and interests. This certification will enhance our credibility, reputation and competitive advantage and will improve our ability to measure, manage and communicate our social impact effectively.

    What are you putting in place to improve how data is collected and acted upon to create social value?

    We are already contributing to social value and have these values integrated in the way we work. Moving forward we are committed to recording and calculating the social value we have provided in our past work, and for all our future projects.

    We will be working on creating further community engagement, have larger efforts in our environmental sustainability impact and ensuring diversity and inclusion in our designs, to further maximise our social impact.

    So that we can properly keep track and record our results, we will measure and report our progress in a way that enables us to have better specified target goals.

    What has your organisation learned in achieving the Social Value Management Certificate?

    The process of achieving certification has deepened our understanding of social value concepts and principles. Through this exercise, we have learnt the importance of recording data, especially quantitative data. While we were already implementing many social value initiatives in the office and in our work our understanding of social value concepts in relation to measuring and managing social value within the context of our organisation have been enhanced.

    How do you see your organisation benefiting from achieving Level 1 of the Social Value Management Certificate?

    Achieving Level 1 certification demonstrates our commitment to managing social value effectively. It enhances credibility in the eyes of our clients. Level 1 certification has encouraged us to establish basic processes for measuring and managing social value and by formalising these processes we have improved our efficiency in collecting data, assessing impact and implementing strategies to enhance social value creation.

    We have learnt a lot through the application process. Acknowledging our strengths and assessing our weaknesses has already had a big impact in the way we work. We believe that moving forward, our actions will be further empowered because of the certificate.

    What initiatives will you be working on to create social value for your stakeholders?

    1. Emphasis on improved infrastructure to benefit local residents, to foster and promote positive social interactions.

    2. Create a cost-effective sustainable building solutions to adapt in our future work.

    3. Emphasis on preserving local biodiversity by minimalising impact to nature, or restore lost biodiversity within our designs.

    4. Create a systemised action plan and maintain a record/catalogue for recording changes and any reasons for not making changes made to activities based on social value data.

    Find out more about the SVMC here.