Bronze Online Application

These are the main requirements for achieving Bronze. Each will need to be evidenced when you submit your application.

Social value commitment starts at the top. It should be part of your senior decision-making, culture and how you do business.

Your development group will help embed social value throughout the organisation, so we recommend it includes department heads and influential representatives from different parts of your business.

Social value is the positive impact you create for society. We invite you to make this definition specific to your organisation, in collaboration with your team.

This is your outward-facing statement of your organisation’s role in society, so it should feel impactful. Think beyond your products and services to the difference your organisation makes to people’s lives.

You will need to submit a minimum of 6 pledges, aligned to the mandatory Community Themes. There are also four discretionary themes. You are not required to make a pledge against all of these; focus on the ones where you can make the most impact.

For example: ‘We pledge to support the local economy by sourcing through local SMEs and integrating social enterprise.’

Your KVIs are the targets against which you’ll measure progress against your pledges. These should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-Bound. An example might be:

‘Raise £20,000 for our selected charity partners in 2024’
Or, ‘Provide 12 weeks of work experience for secondary schools in 2024’

You need to provide a 2-page roadmap setting out how you will deliver your social value plans over a 12 month period. This should include statements and milestones around research, consultation, delivery, measurement and reporting.

When you sign up to Bronze, you agree to gather the data necessary to support your pledges. This means you should be ready to report back with evidence and case studies.

Don’t wait until your Bronze award is due to expire; apply for Silver in plenty of time. It builds on Bronze by asking for your 12-month forecast, so it’s a logical next step.