The Social Value Act requires the public sector to maximise economic, social and environmental benefits for local communities when procuring services.
What is social value?
Social value in procurement is about making sure that what we buy creates an overall positive impact on our people and communities. It can be divided into three main areas:
- social: this is about improving the wellbeing of individuals and communities, encouraging interconnectedness and mutual support among people
- economic: this focuses on promoting economic policies and business practices that uplift society’s wellbeing
- environmental: this stresses the importance of sustainable processes that take care of both the social and physical environment, ensuring a viable future for everyone
Find out more about social value in procurement.
On many of our agreements suppliers are ready to help you meet social value objectives, such as fighting climate change or tackling inequality, making it easier for you to take account of the latest public procurement policies.
Charlene Maginnis
Head of Policy Delivery, Supply Chain and Service Offering
Webinar: Achieving social value through public sector procurement
Our social value team discusses the implications of the Social Value Act on public sector buyers and the growing demand for social value through contracts.
It’s really important that we use every opportunity that we can to bring about additional benefits that improve the wellbeing and lives of our citizens.
Your social value questions answered
Please see below where we answer your most frequently asked questions.
Social value in procurement is about ensuring that public spending generates additional economic, social and environmental benefits beyond just the goods or services being procured.
Since The Social Value Act came into force on 31 January 2013, it is mandatory for public sector buyers to think about whether the services they are going to buy, or the way they are going to buy them, could secure social, economic, or environmental benefits for their area or stakeholders. Since then a number of public sector organisations, including Cabinet Office and devolved governments, have introduced policies requiring the application of social value in procurement.
We work closely with organisations such as the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), National Social Value Taskforce, Electronics Watch and the government’s Sustainable Technology Advice and Reporting (STAR) working group to develop and share knowledge and best practice.
- Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21: taking account of social value in the award of central government contracts, this PPN shares a new model to achieve social value through the government’s commercial activities
- Wales and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Scottish Procurement Policy Notes (SPPNs)
- Northern Ireland PPN 01/21 – Scoring Social Value
- Public Services (Social Value) Act
Procurement Essentials: social value in procurement
Procurement Essentials is our series of articles to help you overcome common hurdles, understand key concepts and make your life as a buyer easier.
This article explores:
- how to apply social value when procuring
- how preparation is key
- how to evaluate bids for social value
Helpful information before you start buying
Your buying decisions have the power to boost local economy, make our society fairer, strengthen communities and make the future greener. Make those decisions with CCS.
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Sustainability
We can help you reduce your landfill waste, purchase sustainable cloud storage and limit the use of single-use plastics.
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Carbon net zero
Our commercial agreements can help you meet carbon net zero objectives in everything from vehicle procurement to renewable energy.
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Modern slavery
We have a zero-tolerance approach towards modern slavery and actively manage the risk in our commercial agreements.
Get in touch with our social value experts
Talk to us
You can also contact us by email or phone
Email: info@crowncommercial.gov.uk
Telephone: 0345 410 2222
CCS customer services team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.