Social value for public contract bids

The 2012 Social Value Act, which came into force in 2013, mandates that public bodies must consider how the services they commission and procure can enhance the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the local area. The principle behind social value is to ensure that public spending delivers broader, long-term benefits and drives sustainable outcomes. 

The Crown Commercial Service defines social value in procurement as “ensuring that public spending generates additional economic, social and environmental benefits beyond just the goods or services being procured.” 

In 2025, the Social Value Act was further strengthened to put more emphasis on the importance of social impact for a bid’s success.

In February 2025, the Government introduced a new Social Value Model for Central Government bodies, including executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies, to implement in procurement. The model defines five key missions and eight intended outcomes that social value initiatives should aim to achieve, many of which projects from Wildlife Trusts can support on.  

Various councils have created a social value strategy for potential suppliers to understand how they will consider social value within their procurement decision making. You can find out more on the Local Government Associaton website.  

Yes, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales each have distinct approaches to social value, shaped by their respective regional legislations. 

Across the UK—except for Scotland—social value must account for at least 10% of a procurement’s total award criteria, though contracting authorities have the discretion to increase this weighting. 

Social impact disclosures are also an increasingly important part of corporate operations and Environmental Social and Governmental (ESG) strategies and bring wider business benefits such as employee and customer engagement. Many UK businesses operating in the EU are also obliged to report on the impact of corporate activities on the environment and society, as per the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). 

Since January 2023 in the EU, all large companies and all listed companies must comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and share information about the risks and opportunities they perceive in social and environmental issues, as well as the effects of their activities on people and the environment. Under certain conditions, the CSRD also applies to UK companies operating in the EU.   

The ‘Social’ element of ESG strategies is likely to become a lot more prominent due to legislative requirements in the UK and EU that businesses demonstrate social value. Acting now and partnering with The Wildlife Trusts can help your organisation stay ahead in an evolving policy landscape. Additionally, delivering imact for nature and communities brings new avenues of employee and customer engagement for your business.  

Suppliers to government are being urged to work with VCSEs (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises) like The Wildlife Trusts for their bids. The Wildlife Trusts can support your organisation with expert guidance and tailored resources to meet social value requirements. Drawing on our extensive knowledge and partnerships, we help you address community-specific needs while strengthening your proposal or strategy. 

Our  federated structure combines local expertise with national reach. With a pipeline of impactful, local projects across the country, our partnerships tangible benefits to communities, enhancing its credibility and appeal. 

To further support your success, we provide comprehensive reports, case studies, and other materials that quantify social value. These resources are available early in the process, helping to give your bid a competitive edge.