Social Value UK

Author: Natasha Jolob

  • Placing Social Value at the Heart of Public Sector Commissioning

    Placing Social Value at the Heart of Public Sector Commissioning

    The integration of social value in procurement has undoubtedly seen progress. However, there’s still considerable ground to cover. From government policy and strategy development to procurement and contract management, gaps persist, resulting in negative impacts on both people and the environment, as can be seen by a rise in social issues – see below.

    • Poverty has increased to affect 14.5 million people in the UK in 2023 (JRF)
    • Income inequality has worsened (ONS)
    • There are over 309,000 people currently homeless (Shelter)
    • Mental health referrals are up by 50% since 2013 (NHS)
    • There is an increase in waiting times to access healthcare and poor outcomes (Health Foundation)
    • Domestic violence incidents are up by 63%
    • Knife crime is up by 80%
    • There are record highs in drug-related deaths and alcohol-related hospital admissions

    Enter our new Procurement Thought Leadership Group, an initiative designed to bolster the strides already made by the members of Social Value UK. Building upon the foundation laid by our Contract for Change project, our mission is clear: To ensure that social value and the principles of social value are applied at every stage of the commissioning cycle.  

    Our objectives are ambitious yet achievable:

    1. Empowering Public Sector Organisations: We strive to equip public sector organisations with the tools and insights necessary to make informed decisions and maximise the social value that they generate within communities.
    1. Enhancing Strategic Commissioning: By advocating for the integration of social value at every stage of the commissioning cycle, we aim to improve the strategic approach to commissioning, ensuring it meets the needs of people and communities.

    Drawing on our past accomplishments we will curate and disseminate best practices, craft thought-provoking member position papers on procurement to influence policy, and increase skills and knowledge in the public sector.

    Joining forces with members and non-members alike, we are looking to work with individuals from diverse sectors, each bringing their unique expertise in social value and public sector reform to the table.

    Together, let’s champion the cause of social value at the heart of commissioning.

    Calling all members and non-members that have expertise in social value and public sector reform.

    • Share Best Practice: Contribute your insights and experiences to social value and commissioning.
    • Support Skills Development: Help us nurture talent in the public sector.
    • Embed Social Value Principles: Together, let’s ingrain the principles of social value into the very fabric of procurement and commissioning.
    • Influence Policy: Help shape Social Value policy and position papers for the Government.

    Ready to make a tangible difference?

    Express your interest today: https://form.jotform.com/240862629367062

  • New Opportunities to Work with Social Value UK 

    New Opportunities to Work with Social Value UK 

    By Natasha Jolob, Member Services Director

    Are you passionate about creating social value and making a real impact? We have exciting news for you!

    Our Member Services team is growing, and we’re on the lookout for dedicated members to join us in our mission to skill up and grow the social value movement. We’ve been hard at work, reflecting on our past offerings and strategizing for the future to ensure we remain agile, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of our members and the broader social value market.

    Why Join Us?

    Our goal is simple yet ambitious: To collaborate with our members so that we can achieve our high aspirations, inspire others to join the movement, and to collectively create a more significant impact. Our vision is a world where organisations make decisions informed by their social value, and we need your help to make this vision a reality.

    Exciting New Opportunities

    We are thrilled to announce several new opportunities for accredited members to co-produce and co-deliver our services. Here’s how you can get involved:

    1. Bespoke Support

    Join us in delivering tailored workshops for clients across all sectors (private, civil society, academic and public sectors). These workshops will cover a range of social value themes, from navigating the social value landscape to social value in procurement processes. We are seeking accredited members to meet the growing demand for these vital services.

    2. Navigating the Social Value Landscape

    Building on the success of our pilot course, we are looking for a member to help us to refine and enhance the “Navigating the Social Value Landscape” course. This course aims to guide learners in finding their way and appraising and implementing the right social value methods and tools within their organisations.

    3. Peer-to-Peer Support

    We are trialling a new peer -to-peer support model that includes benchmarking and action learning sets. This initiative allows our more experienced members to mentor those just starting and learning, thereby accelerating their learning and improving overall their social value performance. We are specifically looking for members that are Level 1 accredited practitioners with extensive experience in impact management to share their knowledge and skills.

    4. Quality Assurance

    Our Quality Assurance services are in high demand, both in the UK and across the globe. As one of the most advanced joint member network with Social Value International, we need to expand our internal capacity to provide technical support to our Quality Assurance team related to the Professional Pathway and the Social Value Management Certificate.

    Join Us for an Information Session

    To learn more about these exciting opportunities and ask any questions you might have, we invite you to our Member Information Session on June 13th at 10 am. Click here to register.

    Ready to Make a Difference?

    If you’re ready to collaborate with us and help us to increase the skills and knowledge in the the social value market, find out more by visiting our Work With Us page.

    Together, we can make a difference and shape a future where social value drives decision-making across all sectors. Join us in this inspiring journey!