Mastering Social Value in Health and Social Care Tenders: A Guide for UK Professionals

In the competitive landscape of UK Health and Social Care, demonstrating a commitment to social value within tender applications is not just an advantage—it’s a necessity. Public sector organisations are mandated to evaluate how their suppliers contribute to social value, ensuring a broader positive impact on communities and local people. This emphasis on social value often accounts for 10-15% of the final scoring in tenders, highlighting its significance in securing contracts.

Understanding the Importance of Social Value

Social value refers to the wider benefits a provider brings to its stakeholders, including employees and the community at large. It’s about how services extend beyond the immediate delivery to foster economic, environmental, and social improvements. For instance, every pound spent by local authorities with a focus on social value can amplify up to £4 in value for the local economy. This multiplier effect showcases the profound impact that mindful spending and service provision can have, making it a critical consideration in tender evaluations.

Identifying and Presenting

To effectively communicate your organisation’s social value in tender applications, consider the following strategies:

• Align With Local Objectives: Tailor your response to reflect the commissioner’s specific social value criteria and pledges. Demonstrating alignment with local principles, such as supporting local employment or sustainability efforts, can significantly strengthen your application.
• Showcase Existing and Planned Contributions: Detail actions your organisation is already undertaking, along with realistic future plans to enhance your social value. This includes economic initiatives like local hiring, environmental measures to reduce carbon footprint, and social programs aimed at improving wellbeing and reducing isolation within communities.
• Leverage Partnerships: Highlight collaborations with other organisations, local charities, and suppliers that align with your social value goals. Sharing success stories and data on the impact of these partnerships can further illustrate your commitment and capability.
• Innovate and Lead: Emphasize any innovative practices or leadership in areas of social value. Whether it’s pioneering wellbeing programs for employees or environmental sustainability efforts, showcasing these initiatives can differentiate your proposal.
• Provide Tangible Evidence: Back up your claims with facts and figures. Quantifiable evidence of your social value contributions, such as the number of local hires or the percentage reduction in energy consumption, offers compelling proof of your commitment and effectiveness.

Conclusion

Incorporating social value into your tender responses is not just about meeting a requirement; it’s about showcasing your organisation’s commitment to making a real difference. By aligning your services with the broader objectives of community wellbeing, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability, you position yourself as a valuable partner to the public sector. Remember, it’s about building a narrative that resonates with the goals of health and social care commissioners, demonstrating not just what you deliver, but how you deliver it for the greater good.