Dear Reader,
Everyone at whatimpact is excited to start 2025 with transformative news that will redefine how VCSE partnerships are formed and how social value is managed in the UK.
Over the past twelve months, we’ve had countless conversations with public sector organisations, housing associations, and procurement agencies. A consistent theme is predominant: the challenge of efficiently facilitating meaningful matches between suppliers and VCSEs (Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprises) within specific geographical or industry areas.
This challenge affects suppliers who struggle to plan impactful, compliant social value activities for tenders, as well as how to deliver on those commitments once contracts are secured.
The problem we have solved
Operating nationwide, our hyper-local matchmaking platform, could have developed to execute bespoke systems for individual councils, NHS trusts, housing associations, and procurement agencies.
However, such an approach would have created unnecessary overlap, leading to inefficiencies:
- Duplication of costs: Multiple contracting authorities in the same region paying for the same tool essentially.
- User inconvenience: Suppliers and VCSEs would need to navigate multiple systems and request access to separate platforms, wasting valuable time.
We recognised that this model didn’t make sense, financially or operationally. So, we at whatimpact.com have decided to take a bold step.
Introducing the National Social Value Marketplace
whatimpact has evoleved into the National Social Value Marketplace, an open-access platform that offers comprehensive VCSE data and matchmaking capabilities to everyone, free of charge.
We have 260,000 VCSE organisations published on an interactive map, with an advanced search and filtering system to find exactly the VCSE and their projects to match social value requirements.
Our new open-access model ensures that:
- No investment in bespoke solutions: Public sector organisations, housing associations, and procurement agencies no longer need to develop or procure their own matchmaking platforms.
- Free access for suppliers and VCSEs: All users can access detailed VCSE data and initial matchmaking services at no cost, ensuring compliance and ease during the procurement bidding process.
- Streamlined partnerships: VCSEs can actively apply for partnerships based on social value criteria set by contracting public authorities, creating a seamless and efficient matching process.
Premium Features for Suppliers
For suppliers, we offer optional premium features designed to enhance efficiency and impact, including:
- Verified matches for greater confidence in partnerships.
- Impact reporting tools for tracking and showcasing delivery.
- Systems for managing volunteering activities and social value data.
These features are available through flexible pay-as-you-go options or comprehensive annual subscriptions, making them ideal for organisations managing multiple government and public sector contracts whilst prioritising social value delivery.
Collaborating with Public Sector Partners
We are committed to working with public sector bodies, housing associations, and procurement agencies to activate and empower the VCSE sector in every local area in the UK. This includes educating VCSEs to use our outcome-driven impact reporting system, validated by whatimpact.com, to provide robust and reliable evidence of their social value delivery work.
If you represent a public sector organisation, housing association, or procurement agency, we’d love to explore a non-commercial partnership with you to maximise the potential of the National Social Value Marketplace.
Let’s Connect
To learn more about our initiative and how we can support your organisation, please get in touch:
- Email Philip@whatimpact.com to request a brochure of the National Social Value Marketplace.
- Book a discovery call to explore opportunities for collaboration and learn more about how this approach can benefit your community and supply chain.
We look forward to partnering with you in this new era of social value delivery.
