Social Enterprise UK was instrumental in helping pass the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 which places an obligation on public bodies to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area they operate in.
2022 marks ten years since the passage of the Social Value Act. In that time it has helped to transform the debate around the role of procurement and what can be achieved through public spending.
Social Value 2032: Shaping the Future of Social Value has been launched to commemorate this anniversary and further expand the impact and influence of the Act. The programme is being led by Professor Chris White, former Member of Parliament and author of the Social Value Act with Social Enterprise UK overseeing the delivery of the programme in support with a coalition of companies at the forefront of the social value agenda including PwC, Siemens, SUEZ recycling and recovery UK and Shaw Trust.
The programme considers how social value can be expanded to cover all public sector procurement and go beyond this, influencing the spending of the UK’s largest companies. It consists of the creation of the Social Value Task Force, roundtable discussions, research and new publications as well as working with key decision makers to push the importance of social value to both the levelling up agenda and the meeting of net-zero targets. If this is achieved, it will unlock billions of investment in new low carbon products; creating thousands of employment and training opportunities and see millions of pounds reinvested back into providing social, environmental and cultural infrastructure for communities.
Social Value 2032 will announce its new vision for social value at the Social Value Leaders Summit in May 2022, taking place in Birmingham. Later in the year, the programme will unveil a “Social Value Roadmap” on the changes needed to enable the 100% target to be hit in the public sector and largest private sector companies by 2032 in time for the Act’s 20th anniversary.
For more information about the programme contact Andrew O’Brien, Director of External Affairs at Social Enterprise UK – andrew.obrien@socialenterprise.org.uk
With thanks to Social Enterprise UK