According to the UK government’s Social Value in Government Procurement Consultation, social value refers to the wider financial and non-financial impacts of projects and programmes including the wellbeing of individuals, communities, social capital and the environment. The UK Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 has placed social value as a key influence over policy and procurement decision makers. Challenging them to consider the social, economic and environmental benefits on the local economies they operate within.
At Bloom we make it easier for public sector buyers to deliver on their social value goals and objectives through our marketplace.
Social Value runs through the veins of our business, including our technology, policies and processes. This enables us to measure, manage and maximise the social value that we create as a business and offer our customers.
We are proud to have been awarded the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership Social Value Award, demonstrating strong social value within local communities. Social Value is integral to all aspects of our business model and as a socially responsible organisation we continually seek to maximise the impact of the social value we create.
Since the commencement of the NEPRO3 contract (01 September 2019) to date (31 December 2022), over 72% of projects in our marketplace have been awarded to SMEs, enabling the public sector to drive significant growth back into the local economies in which they operate.
We have facilitated the award of over 2,900+ projects to SME suppliers valued at more than £403 million.
This has enabled public sector buyers to set their social value goals and agenda for a project, whilst challenging tendering suppliers to demonstrate how they will add social value and support the delivery of the public sector buyer’s objectives.
The Bloom marketplace has a large catalogue of pre accredited third sector suppliers seeking new business opportunities with the public sector. Pro-vide 2.0 also has the functionality to specifically search for third sector suppliers. Bringing the third sector into the marketplace for the delivery of professional services.
Impeller Case Study J C Gill Case Study Social Value Report 2020 Social Value Report 2021 Social Value Report 2022 Bloom Carbon Emissions Report 2022
View Social Value International’s guide to the Seven Principles of Social Value:
https://socialvalueint.org/social-value/standards-and-guidance/the-principles-of-social-value/
View Social Enterprise UK’s guide to the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012:
https://www.socialauditnetwork.org.uk/files/5413/4996/6918/Public_Services_Social_Value_Act_2012_guide_SEUK_2.12_-_010312.pdf
View a summary of the UK Government’s Social value in government procurement:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/social-value-in-government-procurement
As the importance of social value grows so does the need to effectively measure it. Currently Bloom utilise the National TOMs model (Themes, outcomes and Measures). Developed by Social Value Portal, the National TOMs model was launched in 2017 and has since been endorsed by the Local Government Association.
To find out more please visit: https://socialvalueportal.com/what-is-social-value/
View Social Value’s International guide to social return on investment:
www.socialvalueuk.org/social-value-training/social-value-sroi-training
In this short video, Paul Mander, Procurement Director at Bloom, is joined by Sarah MacNab, Head of Social Value at Bloom, to discuss the details of PPN 11/20 and provide insight into how Bloom can help your organisation to deliver its required outcomes.
Our panel of experts explored the unprecedented pressure on providers, the importance of building collaboration to ease these pressures and the benefits end-users will feel from outcomes-focused commissioning.
Digital skills are an essential entry requirements for two-thirds of UK SOC occupations. These occupations account for 82% of current online job vacancies. As the pandemic pushed forward a programme of digital transformation, there is now a risk that those without the required digital skills will be excluded from any economic recovery,
A digital divide in the UK economy will result in the least digitally engaged being at a real disadvantage. Helen Dobson, Managing Director at Citizens Online joined our head of social value Sarah MacNab, to discuss the threat the digital divide poses the UK’s economic recovery and the steps the public sector can take to address this.