Let’s Talk Social Value - Season 3, Episode 8
Lorraine Cox, Director of STAR Procurement and Chair of the National Social Value Taskforce.
Lorraine is the Director of STAR Procurement and the Chair of the National Social Value Taskforce.
Governed through a Joint Committee, STAR is the shared procurement service between Knowsley, Rochdale, St Helens, Stockport, Tameside, and Trafford Councils, along with a number of other customers. STAR provides a high-quality responsible procurement and consultancy service that delivers on tangible transformation and improvements. They continue to deliver on five core objectives; deliver commerciality; supporting communities; build collaboration; provide confidence; be courageous.
The National Social Value Taskforce was founded in 2016 to establish a good practice framework to integrate the Public Services (Social Value Act) 2012 into the UK public sector and business community. It is an open network and welcomes any organisation that wishes to get involved and build collective knowledge on how to best support communities by working together through the effective implementation of the Act.
Listen in to find out…
In this episode, Sarah talks to Lorraine about the work of STAR Procurement and the role of the National Social Value Task Force. They discuss the role social value has within procurement and the power it gives businesses to make their bid stand out.
Lorraine talks about the upcoming implementation of the new Procurement Act and whether that will mean any changes to the importance placed on social value, or the way it is delivered.
“Ultimately, this is about impact. And I think unless social value is truly delivering impact to our residents and our businesses within our regions, then actually, you've got to question why you're doing it.” – Lorraine Cox
Find out more….
Making Social Value a Key Element
Through STAR, the local authorities they work on behalf of consistently return a weighting of mainly 20% for social value across all procurement above £25,000. This works to ensure businesses and bidders are really offering added value throughout the procurement process.
The opportunity social value presents to business
Public sector organisations have a purpose-based role to deliver good for communities. Social value is the differentiator that offers businesses the opportunity to really demonstrate that their goals and values also align with the public purpose.
Demonstrate you:
· Are socially responsible and ethical
· Have good employment methods
· Are committed to net zero
The new Procurement Act
The new Procurement Act changes the way the winner will be determined in public sector procurement exercises from the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT) to the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT).
This widens the approach, making it less prescriptive, especially on price. This should give the market the opportunity to be innovative and creative on how they're going to deliver the contract, as public sector organisations have the freedom to take other factors such as around social value and sustainability, into account.
Conclusion
Lorraine Cox talks about the importance a social value offering plays for businesses bidding on public sector tenders. Demonstrating your business ethics and goals align with public purpose and the added value you can offer is key when securing a contract.
If you're a contracting authority or supplier seeking to improve your social value practices, Samtaler is here to help. With experienced professionals and a deep understanding of social value implementation, Samtaler offers tailored solutions to navigate complexities and maximise impact.
Take the first step towards sustainable and socially responsible procurement. Contact Samtaler today to benefit your organisation and contribute to a better society. To find out how we can help send an email to hello@samtaler.co.uk
Visit STAR Procurement’s website here.
Visit the National Social Value Taskforce’s website here.
Here is an overview of this episode:
Understanding Social Value and Its Role in Procurement
Lorraine explains that social value isn’t just an added bonus or a compliance requirement. Instead, it’s a crucial factor that determines how public funds are spent to achieve broader societal benefits. For Lorraine, social value is about aligning every decision with the public purpose, ensuring that spending truly delivers for local residents and businesses.
STAR Procurement: A Model for Social Value Integration
STAR Procurement, a collaborative procurement service across multiple councils in Greater Manchester and Liverpool City regions, is leading the way in integrating social value into public sector contracts. Lorraine reveals how STAR incorporates a 20% social value weighting for contracts over £25,000, ensuring that every procurement decision contributes to a greater social, economic, and environmental impact.
The National Social Value Taskforce: Driving Change
Lorraine describes the National Social Value Taskforce as a "coalition of the willing" — a group of public, private, and third-sector organisations committed to enhancing social value practices. The taskforce explores innovative ways to measure and maximise social impact, ensuring that social value initiatives are truly delivering meaningful outcomes for communities.
What's Changing with the New Procurement Bill?
Lorraine discusses the upcoming Procurement Bill and how it will shift the focus from the ‘Most Economically Advantageous Tender’ (MEAT) to the ‘Most Advantageous Tender’ (MAT), allowing for more innovative and impactful contract delivery. The new legislation aims to enhance social value, reduce barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and promote sustainability in procurement processes.
Key Takeaways:
Discover the Crucial Role of Social Value: Learn how social value is reshaping public procurement and how it can elevate your business bids.
Understand the Impact of the New Procurement Bill: Find out how the shift to MAT will create opportunities for businesses and encourage more sustainable practices.
Real-World Success Stories: Hear about the tangible impacts STAR Procurement has achieved, like implementing a 20% social value weighting on contracts.
At Samtaler, we specialise in procurement strategies that maximise social value and community impact. Our team of experts is here to help you navigate the complexities of social value in public procurement, offering tailored support that aligns with your organisation's goals and needs. Whether you're a public body, a supplier, or a third-sector organisation, we can help you develop innovative approaches that truly make a difference.
To find out how we can help send an email to hello@samtaler.co.uk
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