Social Value Through Procurement
What is Social Value?
Social Value in public procurement means organisations using their buying power to create extra positive economic, social, and environmental benefits for communities, going beyond just cost and quality to consider impacts like local job creation, skills training, supporting SMEs/VCSEs, and boosting environmental sustainability. This is mandated by law under the Procurement Act 2023.
Leicestershire’s three universities use the Social Value Portal (SVP) to gain measurable (£) social value commitments from bidders when inviting tenders for select contracts. We then use SVP to track and measure the delivery of this committed social value from the successful bidder throughout the contract period.
Whilst bidders can devise their own types of social value commitments when tendering, using the national Themes-Outcomes-Measures (TOMs), the universities have identified 34 types of social value commitments from the hundreds that make up the TOMS, that most speak to our aims and ambitions.
We recognise the difficulties some bidders might have in formulating deliverable social value commitments and selecting actionable TOMs. To assist in this endeavour, provided below are links to a number of organisations and resources structured according to the 34 most appropriate TOMs as identified by the universities.
For further assistance in finding suitable organisations/resources to support them in making their social value commitments, bidders may contact:
- admin@universitiespartnership.org, where relating to a University of Leicester or Loughborough University contracts
- DMU Engagement, where relating to a De Montfort University contract
Potentially helpful resources for bidders, by theme:
It is worth noting that Leicestershire Cares, signposted for a couple of the TOMS above, was established by the local business community to create an easy and cost effective way to engage with young people, schools and the community projects. Beyond any specific tender exercise for which you might be preparing, becoming a member of Leicestershire Cares could be a worthwhile step for your business.