The Social Value Act came into force on 31 January 2013. It is supported by the Procurement Act 2023 and the National Procurement Policy Statement.
Its aim is the wider benefit gained by a local community from the delivery of public contracts or services to secure and maximise social, economic, and environmental gains.
The benefits of such an approach aligns with our Cumberland values with health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do:
- addressing inequalities
- supporting the local economy
- measures to address the climate emergency
- delivering excellent public services
It is our ambition to ensure that Social Value is embedded into the core values and culture of our organisation. We have committed to incorporating Social Value requirements that are aligned to our Council Plan Priorities, into tenders, wherever relevant and proportionate to do so.
As part of the procurement process our teams will consider, from the outset, how Social Value can be achieved through our contracts, to secure additional value for the communities and residents in Cumberland. The process we follow is underpinned by Cumberland’s Social Value Menu. Refer to Appendix 1.
Embedding Social Value into procurements encourages our commissioners to consult with the local provider market, our communities and service users. This in turn can lead to design of better fit for purpose services, and identification of new and innovate ways of providing them.
Our Social Value focus areas are split broadly into the following areas:
- local economies that work for local people
- addressing inequalities
- environmental resilience and climate emergency
By enabling positive outcomes in these areas will contribute to delivering positive outcomes in relation to health and wellbeing, prosperity and the environment for our communities.
Our aspiration
Through design, inclusion, and application of Social Value within our procurements and resultant contracts, we aspire to deliver:
- ethical procurement practices in our supply chain
- fair employment practices (including promotion of equality and diversity and inclusion and employment of people from disadvantaged backgrounds)
- job creation and apprenticeships, including jobs for the long term unemployed and those Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET)
- increased opportunities for Small Medium Size Enterprises (SME), and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSE)
- additional skills and training opportunities for staff and local businesses
- career advice and work placements for students and graduates
- protection and improvement of environmental sustainability
- support, protection, investment and improvement of community assets
- sustainable economic growth locally
- good health and wellbeing in Cumberland’s communities