Concept Overview
Public-sector procurement represents one of the UK’s largest market opportunities — with over £430 billion spent annually across central and local government. The Procurement Act 2023 introduces new obligations around transparency, SME access, and measurable social value delivery.
However, many suppliers and contracting authorities still struggle to identify, engage, and evidence the right Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) partners at a local level.
Efficient matchmaking between government suppliers and local VCSEs ensures procurement delivers tangible, community-level impact and aligns with national and local policy objectives. whatimpact’s National Social Value Marketplace® is leading this transformation — providing the UK’s first platform purpose-built to match suppliers with verified, local VCSE delivery partners and simplify real social value implementation from procurement to reporting
Why Matchmaking Matters
- Bridging procurement and purpose: whatimpact’s National Social Value Marketplace® ensures that commercial suppliers contribute directly to targeted community outcomes by matching them with verified, mission-aligned VCSEs in the areas where they operate.
- Unlocking social value commitments: The platform simplifies the process of meeting and evidencing social value requirements in tenders.
- Empowering local VCSEs: As an open-access platform, whatimpact creates visibility and access for local organisations to secure long-term, contract-aligned partnerships that strengthen local economies and community wellbeing.
- Reducing administrative burden: Standardised data, templates, and partnership management streamline compliance with frameworks such as the Social Value Model and TOM System™ measures.
Grassroots Impact Data for Frameworks and Local Authorities
Efficient matchmaking isn’t just about introductions — it’s about data-driven transparency and accountability.
Data Collection and Reporting
Each partnership generates impact data on:
- Beneficiaries reached and outcomes achieved
- Jobs created, volunteering hours contributed, and training delivered
- Environmental improvements and community well-being gains
- Locality mapping of beneficiaries and delivery sites
This information is aggregated and standardised, producing consistent evidence across frameworks and contracts.
Benefits for Framework Owners and Local Authorities
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Difficulty tracking supplier social-value outcomes | Centralised, standardised impact-reporting dashboard |
| Inconsistent local engagement | Automated VCSE matchmaking aligned with geography and contract type |
| Limited visibility for audits or evaluations | Real-time, verified community-impact metrics across all projects |
Qualitative Impact Reporting and Verification
In addition to quantitative metrics, qualitative impact reporting for each partnership project is essential. It verifies:
- Deliverables, scale, and reach
- Beneficiary profiles and geographical spread
- The difference made in people’s lives and in the environment
Each report is supported by case studies that bring real-world outcomes to life.
whatimpact Social Impact Reports (SIR) provide this layer of verified insight and are officially accepted as verification for both the Social Value Portal TOM System™ Measures and UK Government Social Value Model outcome targets.
This ensures that every partnership demonstrates not only compliance but authentic community benefit backed by credible, auditable evidence.
Contract-Specific Volunteering Management
Volunteering within public-sector contracts differs fundamentally from generic volunteering programmes.
Contract-aligned volunteering must:
- Deliver contract-specific value tied to measurable outcome targets
- Operate within contract timelines and milestones
- Provide evidence and proof of deliverables
- Identify and verify beneficiaries directly benefiting from the volunteering activity
Through tools such as the Volunteering Hub, suppliers can coordinate these efforts efficiently, ensuring volunteering activity is strategic, documented, and fully integrated into contract performance management.
The Vision
A national social-value ecosystem where:
- Government suppliers efficiently identify credible local VCSE partners through whatimpact’s National Social Value Marketplace®.
- Local authorities and frameworks gain access to live, verified grassroots impact data to inform procurement, evaluation, and policy.
- Procurement evolves from a transactional exercise to a transformational driver of inclusive economic growth and measurable community impact.
Key Takeaway
whatimpact’s National Social Value Marketplace® turns social value from a box-ticking exercise into a verifiable engine of community impact. Efficient matchmaking and verified reporting turn procurement into a strategic tool for social impact.
By combining digital infrastructure, local partnerships, and credible data, the UK public sector can deliver value beyond cost—ensuring every contract contributes meaningfully to people, places, and the planet.
