Social Value Quality Mark® Gold Award

‘Perform’

The coveted Gold award recognises true best practice. You’ve collected evidence for a full 12 months and are now ready to evaluate your impact and demonstrate the gold standard. You will have existing and robust social value practices in place and will likely have a mature social value strategy.

SVQM Gold award

During the accreditation process, your organisation will:

  • Consolidate evidence collected over a 1-year period to demonstrate your commitments in action – from case studies to management information.
  • Build a detailed understanding of how internal and external stakeholders perceive your social impact.
  • Receive an independent evaluation of the impact you are creating for society.
  • Demonstrate a clear strategy for moving onwards and upwards.
  • Use insights to make decisions about how you performance manage, invest time and develop your supply chain.
  • A benchmark position against your peers and competitors

The benefits to you

  • Provide impressive, credible evidence in response to social value tender questions.
  • Win business across sectors, based on your leadership in social value.
  • Build significant reputation and loyalty with customers, clients, stakeholders and investors.
  • Differentiate your organisation with employees and future talent – as an ethical, sustainable business that is brilliant to work for.
  • Showcase your award externally – a Gold Award celebrates demonstrable social impact.
  • NISV logoGain entry into the National Index of Social Value

Validity: 2 years Cost: From £1,695 + audit time

The process

Gold accreditation is tested through a comprehensive audit process. You will be sent a series of audit questions that test for compliance against the following review areas and weightings. You will be asked to prepare evidence to support your application.

Kier

“This accolade provides recognition of our positive journey over the last couple of years to truly embed social value in our business.  We’ve fostered an approach to diversity and inclusion that prioritises our people, whilst also sharing best practice with our supply chain.”

Donna Howard, Head of Social Sustainability, Kier Transportation
Netcompany
“Gold accreditation recognises the extensive progress we’ve made to grow our impact against the pledges we set ourselves. In the process, we’ve developed a richer understanding of how to measure, develop and maximise the ‘Netcompany pound’ to support our people, planet and small businesses.”
Richard Davies, UK Country Manager

Guided & Supported Accreditation

Accreditation is an involving process – but you don’t have to ‘go it alone’. We offer two options for guided and supported accreditation. These give you the best chance to advance your position and make the grade, while building your tools, strategy and understanding.

SVQM Gold accreditation

Social Value Quality Mark Gold Award
and fully guided accreditation

(5 workshops + mentoring)

SVB logo
SVQM Gold award

‘Pioneer’

Gold aligned support package

Dramatically shift your social value position with everything you need to achieve and maintain Gold.

Review Areas and Weightings

Each of the review areas is weighted based on the priority and level of influence they have on the overall outcome, transparency and legitimacy of claims.

Plan

Focuses on your approach to the measurement of social value within your organisation.

10%

Demonstrate

Focuses on how you’ve gathered data and information to evidence your progress against your social value pledges and Key Value Indicators.

25%

Trust

Focuses on how your organisation demonstrates fairness, integrity and quality, to create a strong social contract.

8%

Calculate

Focuses on the process of using your data and information to calculate the direct, indirect and hidden value.

20%

Eco System

Focuses on the extent to which your social value approach has influenced and benefitted your supply chain and partners.

7%

Report

Focuses on the transparency and legitimacy of your reporting against your social value pledges and key value indicators.

10%

Performance Manage

Focuses on the extent to which social value insights inform strategic decision-making, leading to positive outcomes.

20%

Award Threshold

You will receive a set of audit questions which test compliance with the Review Areas, above. Each question will be scored and weighted. To be awarded the Social Value Quality Mark® Gold Award, you must achieve a minimum weighted threshold score of 80%.

Pre-Audit Option

If you’re unsure whether your organisation is likely to achieve Silver, you can apply for a pre-audit. This identifies gaps in your evidence, management, understanding and processes ahead of an official audit. You’ll also receive an action plan based on the findings, to give you a greater chance of success.