Moving the Needle: Leading the Charge in Delivering Social Value Outcomes.

As the world navigates the challenges of rebuilding post-Covid-19, the imperative for organisations – both public and private – to create strategies that deliver social value has never been more pronounced. Social value, already gaining traction before the pandemic, has surged to the forefront of organisational agendas due to its profound impact on health, wellbeing, and societal and environmental welfare.

Social value encompasses a wide array of initiatives across three primary categories: social, economic, and environmental. From volunteering and community events to employing local workers and reducing carbon emissions, organisations have numerous avenues through which they can create positive change and contribute to broader societal goals.

In the UK, the Public Services (Social Value) Act of 2013 mandates that those commissioning public services must consider how to secure wider social, economic, and environmental benefits. This legislation serves as a catalyst for reimagining procurement processes, encouraging commissioners to explore innovative solutions that deliver tangible benefits to communities and stakeholders.

Building on this foundation, in June 2018, the UK Government announced its intention to evaluate social value explicitly when awarding major contracts. Departments are now expected to report on the social impact of their contracts, underscoring a commitment to fostering positive societal outcomes. The development of a Social Value Model provides a standardised approach for evaluating social value in procurement, ensuring consistency and transparency in decision-making processes.

A key aspect of this model is its focus on environmental sustainability and the adoption of clean and green technologies. Recognising the urgent need to address climate change, the model emphasises the importance of driving innovation and promoting the use of disruptive technologies to deliver lower-cost, higher-quality goods and services. Activities such as habitat creation, green space development, and initiatives to improve air quality are highlighted as ways to deliver additional environmental benefits.

Moreover, the model underscores the role of collaboration in achieving environmental objectives, emphasising the importance of engaging with suppliers, communities, and other stakeholders. By fostering partnerships and promoting awareness of environmental issues, organisations can inspire meaningful change and support efforts to protect and enhance the natural environment.

In essence, the integration of social value principles into public sector procurement represents a paradigm shift in how organisations approach their responsibilities to society and the environment. By prioritising social value and embracing clean and green technologies, public sector commissioners can drive positive change, create lasting impact, and pave the way for a more sustainable future.

How can manufacturers of clean technologies to help move the Social Value Needle?

Manufacturers and designers of green technologies play a pivotal role in facilitating the adoption of these technologies and are driving clear social value benefits. However, the sector has often been slow to demonstrate to range of stakeholders about the social value they are already delivering in the various sectors from Highways to Construction. In most cases, clean technologies (often helping to remove legacy polluting systems like diesel generators) are already contributing significantly to the improvement in the environment and helping to reduce Co2e emissions in a range of applications.

What steps can manufacturers take?

Measure your Impact: There are many organisations and tools, Social Value Portal among them, which can assist and automate the capture of the data you generate to demonstrate the social value outcomes you are producing.

Innovation and Research: Continuously invest in research and development to innovate new green technologies and improve existing ones. This includes exploring novel materials, designs, and manufacturing processes to enhance the performance, efficiency, and affordability of green technologies.

Accessibility and Affordability: Strive to make green technologies accessible and affordable for a wide range of users.

User-Friendly Design: Design green technologies with user-friendliness in mind, making them intuitive and easy to install, operate, and maintain. Clear instructions, user manuals, and customer support can help users overcome any barriers to adoption and ensure a positive experience with the technology.

Integration and Compatibility: Ensure that green technologies are compatible with existing infrastructure and systems to facilitate seamless integration into various applications and industries. This may require collaboration with other stakeholders, such as utilities, building contractors, or transportation authorities, to ensure interoperability and smooth implementation.

Performance and Reliability: Focus on delivering reliable performance and high-quality products that meet or exceed industry standards and regulatory requirements. Building trust and confidence in the reliability and effectiveness of green technologies is essential for widespread adoption.

Education and Awareness: Invest in education and awareness initiatives to inform consumers, businesses, and policymakers about the benefits of green technologies and their role in addressing environmental challenges. This may involve providing training programmes, workshops, webinars, or educational materials to raise awareness and build capacity.

Partnerships and Collaboration: Foster partnerships and collaboration with other stakeholders, including government agencies, research institutions, non-profit organisations, and industry associations. By working together, stakeholders can leverage their collective expertise, resources, and networks to accelerate the adoption of green technologies and drive systemic change.

Continuous Improvement: Commit to continuous improvement and feedback loops based on real-world usage and feedback from users. By listening to customer needs and incorporating feedback into product design and development processes, manufacturers and designers can ensure that green technologies evolve to meet evolving market demands and societal needs.

Ultimately, manufacturers of clean technologies have a critical role to play in advancing social value and driving the adoption of green technologies. While the sector has made significant strides in delivering social value benefits, there remains a need to effectively communicate and demonstrate the positive impacts of these technologies across various sectors. By implementing these strategies, manufacturers can maximise their impact and contribute to a more sustainable future, built around creating value for all.