Key Takeaways
- The 9 Themes define what impact areas you commit to delivering on
- The 9 Standards establish how you plan, deliver, measure and report social value
- Audit Categories (from Silver onwards) provide the scoring framework for independently assessing specific standards
- Different standards are assessed at different levels: Silver assesses 5, Gold assesses 7, Platinum assesses all 9
- Understanding how these three elements connect helps you prepare evidence strategically and progress through accreditation levels with confidence
Why Social Value Needs Structure
Social value can seem broad and difficult to pin down, which makes it challenging for commissioners, investors, and buyers to distinguish its genuine impact from what simply looks good on paper. That’s why organisations need a structured approach with clear metrics and transparent reporting to make social values specific, measurable, and credible.
This blog explores how the nine Social Value Themes and nine Standards of the Social Value Quality Mark (SVQM) work together to create a cohesive framework for proving meaningful social value.
How SVQM Works with the Social Value Model
You might be wondering: “If we already work with the Social Value Model, why would we need the nine Social Value Themes or Standards too?”
It’s a fair question. The Social Value Model (PPN06/20) sets out what social value buyers look for in central government procurement, such as the policy outcomes and themes that shape contract decisions. It’s mandatory for central government contracts and widely adopted by local authorities.
The nine Themes and nine Standards translate those expectations into practical guidance your team can actually apply. They show you where to focus your efforts, how to structure evidence, and what credible delivery looks like, all without getting lost in the complexity of government frameworks.
In simple terms: The Social Value Model defines the targets. The SVQM Themes and Standards show you how to reach them in a consistent, audit-ready way that works across all procurement contexts – whether you’re bidding for central government, local authority, or private sector contracts.
Think of it this way:
- Social Value Model = What commissioners want to see
- SVQM Themes = What impact areas you’ll commit to
- SVQM Standards = How you’ll plan, deliver, measure and prove it
The 9 Social Value Themes: Defining the “What”
The 9 Social Value Themes define where your organisation creates social impact: Economic, Environmental, Housing, Health and Wellbeing, Education and Skills, Employment and Volunteering, Social and Community, Crime and Justice, and Innovation.
At Bronze level, you commit to at least six themes. As you progress through Silver, Gold and Platinum, you demonstrate broader and more consistent delivery across your chosen areas.
Explore the 9 Social Value Themes in detail
The 9 Social Value Standards: Establishing the “How”
If the themes define what you’re trying to achieve, the standards establish how you make it real: Plan, Demonstrate, Calculate, Eco System, Report, Performance Manage, Trust, Influence & Leadership, and Culture.
The 9 Standards provide the complete framework, but they’re not all assessed at once. They’re introduced progressively:
Bronze establishes foundations through governance, commitment and planning. There’s no formal audit.
Silver assesses 5 standards: Plan, Demonstrate, Calculate, Report, and Ecosystem.
Gold assesses 7 standards, adding Performance Manage and Trust.
Platinum assesses all 9 standards, adding Culture and Influence & Leadership.
Read more about the 9 Social Value Standards
Audit Categories: The Scoring Framework
Audit categories translate standards into measurable dimensions that auditors score. Each category carries a weighting that reflects its importance at that level.
Standards Assessment by Accreditation Level
| Standard | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| Plan | Foundation | 15% | 10% | 15% |
| Demonstrate | Foundation | 33% | 25% | 20% |
| Calculate | Foundation | 33% | 20% | 27.5% |
| Report | Foundation | 12% | 10% | 10% |
| Ecosystem | Foundation | 7% | 7% | 10% |
| Performance Manage | – | – | 20% | 9% |
| Trust | – | – | 8% | 8% |
| Culture | – | – | – | 8% |
| Influence & Leadership | – | – | – | 18% |
At Silver, the emphasis is on proving outcomes (Demonstrate, 33%) and calculating value (Calculate, 33%). At Gold, Performance Manage carries 20%. At Platinum, Influence & Leadership carries the highest weighting at 18%.
Learn more about the nine audit categories.
How They Work Together
Themes define what you commit to. Standards establish how you deliver and prove it. Audit Categories provide the scoring structure
Example in Practice
Your organisation commits to the Education and Skills theme, pledging to support 20 young people from priority communities into apprenticeships.
At Bronze
You establish governance, define success, and create a roadmap. You set key value indicators (KVIs), such as “20 apprenticeships created for young people from priority communities” and “75% of apprentices complete their programme successfully.”
Bronze is about building foundations, and there’s no formal audit at this stage.
At Silver
Your evidence is independently audited across five categories:
- Plan (15%): Your strategy showing how the apprenticeship commitment aligns with organisational values, governance framework demonstrating oversight, and stakeholder engagement plans
- Demonstrate (33%): Evidence that 20 apprenticeships were created, participant testimonials, progression data showing outcomes (e.g., 15 of 20 apprentices completed training, 12 gained employment)
- Calculate (33%): Transparent valuation showing the financial and social value created using recognised methodologies like TOMs, SROI, or MeasureUp
- Report (12%): Published social impact report showing apprenticeship outcomes, accessible to stakeholders
- Ecosystem (7%): Evidence of partnership with training providers, schools, and local employers to deliver the programme
At Gold
Two additional standards are assessed:
- Performance Manage (20%): Board minutes showing apprenticeship outcomes informed strategic decisions, KPI tracking demonstrating programme adaptation
- Trust (8%): Independent feedback from apprentices, training partners, and employers
Gold requires at least 12 months of evidence showing the commitment is embedded in governance.
At Platinum
All 9 standards are assessed:
- Culture (8%): Evidence that apprenticeship delivery involves multiple departments, showing social value is embedded organisation-wide
- Influence & Leadership (18%): Evidence of sector influence – sharing your apprenticeship model with peers, contributing to policy discussions, or collaborating cross-sector
Platinum requires two years of evidence and demonstrates that you’re multiplying social impact beyond your own organisation.
Why Understanding This Framework Matters
Understanding how themes, standards and audit categories connect helps you:
Plan strategically: You’ll know what evidence is needed at each level, so you can work towards accreditation rather than scrambling at audit time.
Focus resources effectively: The weighting system shows where to invest effort. At the Silver level, the categories Demonstrate and Calculate together account for 66% of your total score.
Meet procurement requirements: The Procurement Act 2023 and Social Value Model require evidence-based social value. SVQM’s framework aligns directly with these expectations.
Progress systematically: Each level builds on the last. Bronze establishes foundations, Silver proves delivery, Gold embeds governance, and Platinum demonstrates influence. You learn and develop as you move through the levels.
Start Your Accreditation Journey
Whether you’re preparing for public sector contracts, building stakeholder trust, or embedding measurable social value across your organisation, SVQM provides independent verification of your impact.
Start your accreditation application or contact us to take the next step toward achieving the Social Value Quality Mark.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the 9 Themes and the 9 Standards?
The Themes define where you create social value (employment, wellbeing, environmental sustainability). The Standards establish how you plan, deliver, measure and report that value.
Themes = what you commit to. Standards = how you prove it.
Are all 9 Standards assessed at Bronze level?
No. Bronze focuses on commitment and foundation-building through governance and planning, with no formal audit.
Standards are assessed progressively:
- Silver: 5 standards (Plan, Demonstrate, Calculate, Report, Ecosystem)
- Gold: 7 standards (adds Performance Manage and Trust)
- Platinum: All 9 standards (adds Culture and Influence & Leadership)
Which audit categories carry the most weight at the Silver level?
Demonstrate and Calculate are each weighted at 33%, reflecting the focus on proving outcomes and calculating value. Plan is 15%, Report is 12%, and Ecosystem is 7%.
How do Key Value Indicators (KVIs) tie into the Standards and Audit Categories?
KVIs are measurable commitments linked to your pledges. They run through the framework: defined under Plan, evidenced under Demonstrate, valued under Calculate, and reported under Report.
At Bronze, you establish KVIs. At Silver, you report against them. At Gold and Platinum, you show how KVI data informs strategic decisions.
Can SMEs or smaller organisations achieve accreditation?
Yes. Accreditation is available for organisations of any size. Fees are scaled based on turnover, and evidence requirements are proportionate. Impact is measured relative to your capacity, not an absolute scale.
Bronze is particularly accessible for organisations just starting their social value journey.
What happens if we do not meet the threshold score during an audit?
You’ll receive a detailed auditor’s report explaining where the gaps are and how to improve. Once addressed, you can reapply subject to a 25% reapplication charge. The feedback process is designed to show you exactly what’s needed to achieve accreditation successfully.
