Across the UK, millions of pounds in promised community benefits — apprenticeships, green spaces, youth programmes, local jobs — are at risk of never materialising because social value in public procurement has become a “wild west” of unverifiable claims and inconsistent standards.
Since new procurement rules came into force last year, social value now accounts for at least 10% of tender scores. However, many organisations are grappling with a maze of competing tools, frameworks and reporting requirements. There is a lack of consensus on what credible, compliant social value looks like.
According to Social Value Business MD Richard Dickins, the lack of consistency is holding the sector back:
“Clients, contractors and supply chains are telling us they are struggling to interpret and adhere to all the guidance. Social value can feel like a ‘wild west’ of dubious claims and misinterpretation, and SMEs find it hard to compete on a level playing field with larger organisations.
“We want to help the sector spend less time on interpretation and more time delivering meaningful change for communities. Without clarity, social value becomes a tick‑box exercise rather than a force for real change.”
To address this, Social Value Business and Social Value Quality Mark CIC will unveil the UK’s first National Social Value Quality Framework (NSVQF) at Procurex England in Liverpool on 18 June.
Unlike existing guidance around measurement, the new framework sets out the first national standards covering the entire social value lifecycle — from planning and delivery to leadership and accountability. Crucially, it aims to:
- Establish the UK standards and a shared common language
- Reduce subjectivity in procurement
- Level the playing field for SMEs and VCSEs
- Reduce the administrative burden on already stretched public bodies
- Ensure communities receive the benefits suppliers commit to
The NSVQF will be free to access and rooted in nationally recognised standards. It draws its standards from the Social Value Quality Mark — the UK’s most rigorous accreditation for social value — which has already helped around 400 organisations evidence their impact.
Richard Dickins adds:
“By putting this into the public domain, we’re making social value best practice transparent and accessible. It’s about fairness — ensuring every pound of public money delivers genuine, measurable benefit for people and communities.”
The framework is backed by Bouygues UK, Cheshire & Merseyside Health & Care Partnership, Laing O’Rourke and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA). Lucy Bridge, LCRCA’s Social Responsibility Lead, says:
“LCRCA is delighted to support the National Social Value Quality Framework. It sets the benchmark for credible, compliant practice, creates clarity for buyers and suppliers, and supports the transformation of public spending for communities.”
Following Procurex, the draft NSVQF will enter sector‑wide consultation before being finalised at a national virtual summit in the autumn. Organisations are also being invited to support or endorse the NSVQF.
For further information, email info@socialvaluebusiness.com.
