Social Value UK

Document Type: Technical Guidance

  • Maximise Your Impact – A Guide for Social Entrepreneurs

    Maximise Your Impact – A Guide for Social Entrepreneurs

    The Maximise Your Impact guide was developed within “Know Your Impact: Social Impact Management Tools for Young Social Entrepreneurs” by Estonian Social Enterprise Network, Koç University Social Impact Forum, Mikado Sustainable Development Consulting and Social Value UK. The “Know Your Impact: Social Impact Management Tools for Young Social Entrepreneurs” is funded by Erasmus + programme of the European Union.

    “This guide is brilliant. I run several social enterprises and advise lots of others and have a background in social research and think this is the best impact guide I’ve read. It’s clear, not patronising, practical, intelligent. I shall be recommending widely. Thanks to all involved.“
    Jessica Prendergast, Onion Collective

  • Quantifying the Impact of Investment in Education

    Quantifying the Impact of Investment in Education

    There is plenty of research which argues that, overall, education leads to better outcomes for individuals and society. However, accounting for the specific social, economic and environmental outcomes from an investment in education remains a challenge, not only for governments, but also for any organisation which runs or invests in education programmes or initiatives. Without this information, it is difficult to make choices between different ways in which these outcomes can be achieved, and how best to design and deliver education activities.The objective of this paper is to review some of the available research and provide guidance on how it can be used.

  • A Discussion Document on the Valuation of Social Outcomes

    A Discussion Document on the Valuation of Social Outcomes

    There is growing recognition and interest in the valuation of social outcomes, and Social Value International (SVI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) convened a meeting of experts to further the debate. This document is the result of the result of the meeting in September 2015 that took place in the Bellagio Center on Lake Como in Italy, and was sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation. The meeting brought together 22 individuals from a range of sectors and countries to discuss the variety of valuation techniques, their relationship to one another, and how they can be mapped and brought together with clearer guidance. This report is the result of the global meeting, and is designed to garner cross-sector discussion and alignment – with a particular focus on the assigning of monetary values to social outcomes. We hope you enjoy the document, that it adds to the ongoing debate and discussion around these important issues.
  • Standard on Applying Principle 2: Understand what changes (Part one: Creating well defined outcomes)

    Standard on Applying Principle 2: Understand what changes (Part one: Creating well defined outcomes)

    This standard accompanies “A Guide to Social Return on Investment (2012) and focuses on Principle 2. Within the context of all of the Principles of Social Value, “understand what changes” is pivotal. It is so closely intertwined with many of the other principles that it is essential it is applied well.  The aim of the standard is to help you know how to collect the information you need about ‘changes’ and how to analyse this information in order to produce a set of well-defined outcomes. This standard is essential for anyone looking to maximise value and increase well-being, equality, and environmental stability.