Top tips - writing your social value delivery plan

Social value refers to social, environmental and economic benefits bidders can provide outside the contract specification. In addition to describing commitments within a social value delivery plan, bidders are often required to outline:

• Methods for liaising with stakeholders, such as local third sector organisations or further education institutions, to form potential partnerships for delivery.
• A nominated point of contact, occasionally known as a social value champion, with ultimate responsibility for resource allocation and delivery of social value commitments.
• Evidence of capability to identify, source, deliver and report on each of the social value targets which are set.
• Measuring, monitoring and reporting progress against your social value commitments, often in the form of periodic formal reports to the buyer.

Remember, social value can sometimes comprise up to 25% of the overall weighting for a bid. As such, it is crucial your bid writing for a social value delivery plan is as strong as possible.

Identify commitments in your social value delivery plan

All social value commitments should always have a specific number or percentage to allow comparison against targets and evaluation against social value themes – for example, the Social Value Portal’s TOMS calculator.

• ‘… X number of new jobs will be created per £200,000 of revenue received over the framework term…’
• ‘… The strength of our carbon reduction measures will result in XX% reduction of CO²e over the contract term, aligning with the authority’s target of zero emissions by 2050…’
• ‘… A minimum of XX% of supply chain spend will be allocated to small and medium-sized businesses, ensuring the contract spend is circulated across the community…’
• ‘… Operatives will deliver X two-hour careers talks per annum in local colleges and sixth forms, giving insight into potential career opportunities for students and graduates…’

Normally, the contracting authority will identify their preferred commitments within the tender documents. Be mindful of any ‘double counting’ or commitments overlapping, which could result in your marks being limited at evaluation stage.

Demonstrate your research into potential partners

A social value delivery plan should reflect the local area you are bidding into, rather than a generic document, tailoring commitments to schools, organisations, businesses and charities, in addition to emphasising the seriousness of your commitment.

Although this can take time and diligence, an additional level of detail may be the difference between gaining and missing out on full marks.

Great ways of including desktop research for potential partners include naming the following:

• Local job centres and ‘back to work’ schemes where you can advertise vacancies and attract suitable candidates.
• Further and higher education institutions to source apprenticeships, work experience placements and careers talks/fairs.
• Charities and third sector organisations for volunteering – for example, food banks – or donations/in-kind contributions, supporting those most in need.
• Makes and models of hybrid or electric vehicles, strengthening the credibility and research into transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet.

Including practical examples of potential delivery partners already identified is a persuasive and evidence-based way to demonstrate your research into the opportunity, and that you are serious about your social value proposals.

Outline contingency measures for non-delivery

As with any other contractual obligation, non-delivery of social value commitments could result in repercussions from the authority, even resulting in termination of the contract.

Often, authorities will expect annual reports or summaries reporting progress against commitments. Occasionally, these are even a mandatory requirement at monthly contract management meetings.

As part of the social value delivery plan, you should outline measures for correcting non-compliance with commitment, including timescales. For example, if emissions targets are tracking below your level of commitment, you should produce a plan for how you will meet the target – such as reallocating budget from other parts of the business to invest in additional electric vehicles.

Emphasise the benefits to the local community

Crucial to a strong social value delivery plan is effectively demonstrating how the wider community will benefit from your appointment to the contract. Like any bid response, you must not only demonstrate the what and how, but also the why.

• Investing in sustainable careers and skills through stable employment offerings and work placements for residents of the local area.
• Supporting local small businesses by integrating them into supply chains – either as subcontracting partners or using them to source parts, materials and equipment.
• Enhancing communal spaces through volunteer hours or financial contributions – this could be a litter pick organised by a charity, or refurbishing a park or local green area.

A social value delivery plan will allow you to lean into the persuasive element of a submission, in addition to showing the authority where you can meaningfully add value outside the contract term.