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Social value and value for money? Julian Blake, Partner, Bates Wells Braithwaite Malcolm Williamson, Head of Enterprise Support Services, Inspire2Enterprise
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Strategic Sourcing: new approaches to deliver successSocial Value & Value For Money
Julian Blake, Head Charity & Social Enterprise and Education Group
Bates Wells Braithwaite London LLP
J.blake@bwbllp.com
020 7551 7746 (Direct)
www.bwbllp.com
Malcolm Williamson, Director of Enterprise
Inspire2Enterprise CIC
malcolmw@inspire2enterprise.org
01707 398029 (Direct)
www.inspire2enterprise.org
4th February 2014
Status of Social Value in commissioning
• BWB - charity/social enterprise specialists; universities - public authorities (for procurement)/charitable social enterprises.
• New emphasis on SV: UK Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012; EU Public Procurement Directive 2014, to be implemented in UK in 2014
• But SV already (underused) within UK Best Value regime and current Public Procurement Regulations
• Public authorities may commission on the basis of price; but appropriately only for undifferentiated goods
• May commission for optimum balance of price, quality and SV -“most economically advantageous tender”
• Must consider (under the 2012 Act); how a procurement “might improve economic, social and environmental well-being” [of relevant area]
Potential meaning of Social Value
• Dismissed as meaningless; not subject to straightforward measurement (like price/ quality); meaning may be recognised
• Added social deliverables may be provided within service; see EU 2010 publication “Buying Social: A Guide to Taking Account of Social Considerations in Public Procurement” e.g. employment opportunities; social inclusion; equal accessibility; ethical trade; environmental best practice.
• Purpose driven (efficient/cost-effective) suppliers may deliver further benefit e.g. by hypothecating retained profit to similar purposes, rather than to shareholder distribution;
• Such suppliers may offer open book/shared profit arrangements, rather than seek to maximise own profit.
• Commissioners may compile lists of SV objectives; consider the potential each procurement has in relation to each objective; request SV in specifications; invite creative SV offers
• Longer term cost saving may be factored into purchasing, with payments linked to impact results; or the value of impacts (including to other public services), may be given weight.
Practical meaning of Social Value
• Promotion of SV is stimulus to smart thinking by commissioners/suppliers and proactive use of procurement; in environment where process can tend to obscure purpose.
• Direct application to public services (e.g. education delivery), where public benefit and SV are central; also applicable to general service procurement.
• Linked to impact measurement/assessment methodologies; considered in - Measuring Social Impact in Social Enterprise: The state of thought and practice in the UK” – Baker Tilly/CAN Invest/Big Society Capital 27/2/13, published by E3M - www.socialbusinessint.com
• Similar to approaches to: programme impact assessment; social investment; payment by results contracts; and social impact bonds, as promoted by Government.
• EU Social Business Initiative promotes SV (including through procurement reform) to reinvigorate social economy; similar ideas part of Government’s “Big Society” ideas.
Application to Universities
• A university is public benefit organisation with procurement power that may leverage SV benefits.
• This may extend to collaboration, particularly as community organisation, with SV delivery to other educational institutions and wider public benefit.
• SV meaningful with application/planning/consultation; what does the university and/or its students and/or its community need? how may applying SV assist in meeting such need?
• Examples: employment opportunities for students; research opportunities; collaborative linkage to university-based enterprises/social enterprises; collaborative profit share; sustainability in university estate.
Application to Universities continued
• SV opens perspective on: social enterprise; benefits that can be delivered by social enterprises (as universities are); and opportunities/benefits from alignment of public benefit purposes (see MW’s following comments on SE).
• Application to SV can also require more of private sector suppliers by obliging them to compete on SV as well as price and quality.
Further Information
• BWB’s “The Social Value Act Quick Guide” with Unity Trust Bank published by Pioneers Post - www.publications@pioneerspost.com
• BWB’s “Bold Commissioning & Procurement for Best and Social Value” workshops/ seminars in association with: University of Northampton; E3M member social enterprises; and I2E – J.Blake@bwbllp.com
• An example: “Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council Procurement Strategy 2012-14” – www.knowsley.gov.uk/pdf/procurement-strategy-2012-2014.pdf
The UK Social Enterprise Sector
What is a Social Enterprise?
A business that trades for a social and/or environmental purpose
Has a clear ‘social mission’ – exists to make a social difference
Aims to generate income through trading, not via grants/donations
Reinvests its profits to support the continuing social mission
Creates a social impact (and social value) by way of its activities
Operates democratically, is accountable and transparent
The UK Social Enterprise Sector
Key Statistics*:
68,000 social enterprises in UK employing c800,000 people
Sector contributes c£24bn to the UK economy
38% work in 20% of the most deprived UK communities (12% SMEs)
56% developed a new product/service (43% SMEs)
82% reinvest profits back into the communities where they earned
Procurement policies cited as greatest barrier to sustainability
*Social Enterprise UK: State of Social Enterprise Survey 2013
Social Value & Value For Money
Is Social Enterprise the answer?
A supplier channel that demonstrably “makes a difference”
Contract delivery value with equal focus on social impact and benefit
Creates training/employment for the excluded/disadvantaged/NEETs
The challenges of contract timescales, delivery complexity and scale
Part of a broader supply chain collaborating with private contractors
Supports Government strategy (SV Act, public sector “spin-outs”)
Social Value & Value For Money
A collaborative procurement process:
Supporting procurers to embed social value creation into contracts
Establishing contract social impact outcome and value criteria
Identifying potential SEs/consortia suppliers for specific contracts
Working with SEs throughout UK & Ireland to get ‘fit to tender/deliver’
Supporting SEs in bid proposals that meet contract needs/add value
Reporting measurement of social impact outcomes and values
Social Value & Value For Money
Example: The University of Northampton Innovation Centre
Working with the procurement team to scope contract tender
Guidance/support to all contract bidders in embedding social value
Working with successful contractor to maximise social impact/value
Researching SE clients /market to identify potential supply chain
Supporting the SE bid/proposal process and impact outcome values
Identifying student experience/employability opportunities
Social Value & Value For Money
Social innovation is the answer…
Social enterprise is just one way of delivering social innovation
New solutions that meet a social need (e.g. reduce re-offending)
Opportunities for LEP EU funds (match): 20% social inclusion/impact
Also student involvement, high impact research and PR
Key question: “how can we do ‘good stuff’ when we….?”
Social innovation
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