Social value has moved from being a compliance requirement to a decisive element in public and opportunities. Let's consider a £10 million contract where social value accounts for 15% of the total score. Your competitor prices at £10m and achieves a social value score of 12%. You score 10%. Assuming all other factors are equal, you would need to be £200,000 cheaper to offset your competitor's advantage. Alternatively, if you scored the maximum 15%, then you could have beaten the competitor with at a ~£10.2m bid.

The Procurement Act should now be in full force: simplified procedures, transparent pipelines and requirements, better market engagement, stronger emphasis on social value, and so on. For bidders, the challenge is adapting quickly to new formats and award criteria while maintaining compliance and competitiveness. But are these things really happening? The answer is sort of. We're seeing some evidence of the impact of the Act kicking in, but it has been far from transformational.​

TrainingESG expert Laurence Higgens highlights how social value is beginning to merge with ESG criteria, shaping a more integrated and strategic approach to proposals.St

Measuring and reporting social value is crucial for demonstrating your commitment and impact. Laurence Higgens shared his expertise on this topic during a recent briefing to the SP team. This blog provides practical tips for bid and proposal managers on how to effectively measure and report social value.​