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Social value is about to get serious: are you ready?

From October 1st, every public sector contract in the UK will have to take account of social value in the award process. That’s thanks to the updated Social Value Model under Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 002.

Sounds niche? It’s not. If you supply to the public sector (whether you’re a multinational or a small business) this change could affect you.

Until now, social value in procurement has been a nice-to-have. A box to tick. From October, it’s mandatory. Buyers will have to score your bid not just on cost and quality, but also on the social impact you bring.

What counts as social value?

Think:

● Are you supporting your local community?

● Are you creating jobs and skills?

If you can prove it, you’re in a stronger position to win. If you can’t, you could lose out – even if your price is competitive.

Why SMEs and supply chains should care

You might think: “We’re only a small business, this doesn’t apply to us.” But public sector procurement isn’t just about billion-pound contracts. Councils, NHS trusts, schools, and local authorities buy from SMEs every single day.

And here’s the kicker: if you’re in the supply chain of a bigger company that bids for public contracts, they’ll soon be asking you for evidence of your social value too.

So whether you’re front and centre on a tender, or part of someone else’s supply chain, you need to be ready.

How do you prove your social value?

It’s not enough to say you do good things. From October, buyers will want measurable outcomes. The Social Value Model sets out five key themes:

1. COVID-19 recovery

2. Tackling economic inequality

3. Fighting climate change

4. Equal opportunity

5. Wellbeing

If you can show practical action in these areas (and put numbers against them), you’ll stand out.

How to measure and report social value

The good news? This doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right platform (hello, IIC), you can log, measure, and report your impact in a way that buyers trust. Whether you’re planting trees, volunteering hours, or making donations, you’ll have the data to back it up.

What to do next

Don’t wait until October to figure this out. Start embedding social value measurement into your business now – before your competitors do. Because when the new rules land, the companies that can show proof will have the edge. And those who can’t? They’ll be left scratching their heads, wondering why they didn’t get the contract.

Social value belongs in every boardroom and every bid. Whether you’re a maincontractor or part of a supply chain, the message is the same: prove your impact, or prepare to lose out. At IIC, we help businesses of all sizes turn giving into growth.

A new way for businesses to support charities and drive lasting impact

At Investors in Community, we know businesses want to make a real difference but traditional corporate giving often stops with donations and volunteer days. What if businesses could help charities grow stronger, more sustainable, and more impactful in the long run?

That’s exactly what the Transformation & Charity Support Programme is designed to do. By providing coaching, strategic support, and measurable impact reporting, IIC is taking corporate social responsibility (CSR) to a new level that creates lasting change for charities, businesses, and communities. 

Why this programme? Why now?

Many charities operate on shoestring budgets, relying heavily on fundraising, donations, and volunteer support and without the right strategic foundations, long-term growth can be difficult. At the same time, businesses want to invest in communities in ways that align with their values, but they often struggle to see the direct impact of their contributions.

This programme, led by expert coaches Jo Thackwray & Lyn Page, bridges that gap. By working through the IIC platform businesses can now invest in charities in a structured way, ensuring their contributions result in real, measurable, and sustainable change.

How does this programme help charities thrive?

Charities taking part in the Transformation & Charity Support Programme receive structured, expert-led support to help them grow, increase their impact, and plan for long-term sustainability.

Through six interactive sessions, charities get practical guidance on defining their mission, measuring impact and demonstrating the value of their work. Leadership and people management are key areas of focus, helping charities build a strong team culture, improve volunteer engagement, and reduce the risk of burnout.

Charities also gain essential financial skills, learning how to budget, develop fundraising strategies, and plan for sustainable growth. This gives them the confidence to secure funding and manage their resources effectively.

The programme helps charities think beyond the day-to-day, with strategies to scale, diversify income, and build long-term resilience. By the final session, each organisation leaves with a clear, practical roadmap for growth, ensuring they can continue making a lasting impact in their communities.

A smarter way for businesses to make a real impact

Businesses want to make a real impact, but finding the right approach can be challenging. This programme provides a structured way for businesses to contribute meaningfully, with measurable results that drive lasting change.

Businesses using the IIC platform can make a measurable difference by supporting a charity’s long-term growth. They’ll receive:

✅ Impact reports that clearly show how their contributions are making a difference.
✅ Stronger connections with charities, building meaningful, long-term partnerships.
✅ Full visibility of CSR efforts, aligning with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals.
✅ Employee engagement opportunities, allowing staff to contribute in a way that delivers real results.

This programme helps businesses move from short-term giving to lasting change, creating real benefits for companies and communities.

Why Investors in Community?

At IIC, we make corporate social responsibility clear, measurable, and sustainable. This programme takes it a step further by helping businesses and charities build lasting partnerships rather than focusing on short-term giving. By connecting charities, businesses, and expert coaches we’re facilitating long-term social impact and ensuring every contribution leads to meaningful change.

Join the movement

If your business wants to create real, long-term impact, this programme provides a clear way to make a difference. It helps charities grow and become more sustainable while strengthening your CSR strategy with measurable results. Through the IIC platform, you can track and report on your social impact and build meaningful connections with the charities you support. Take the next step in corporate social responsibility and be part of something that creates lasting change.