whatimpact

CIPS Wales Event Embedding Social Value in Procurement and the Supply Chain
2025-12-12
The panel will discuss practical ways to embed social value within procurement frameworks and supply chains. The conversation will highlight how clear processes, technology and collaboration with VCSE organisations can help buyers and suppliers turn policy into measurable community outcomes in line with the Well being of Future Generations Act.

Confirmed panellists
• Christian Sait, ANTZ UK
• Stefan Iles, Transport for Wales
• Tiia Sammallahti, whatimpact, the National Social Value Marketplace®
• Paul Griffiths, Welsh Government Commercial and Procurement Directorate
• Jemma Bridgeman, WISERD

Help to Grow Management Alumni Event
2025-12-03 09:00 - 13:30 UTC
In collaboration with Professor Jane Lynch, Tiia will lead a session on embedding social impact within SME business models. The session will explore how social impact:

• Strengthen organisational purpose and brand value
• Improve relationships with customers and public sector buyers and get more SMEs to bid for government tenders
• Support long term sustainability and transparency
• Prevent social washing through evidence and measurable outcomes

Sessions Outline
Mastering Grants: Writing Winning Bids
Liz Flint from Flint Innovations will introduce you to the landscape of grants, grant funders, and the pros and cons of seeking grant funding for your business. It will then delve into innovation grants from Innovate UK in more detail and will offer hints and tips for writing compelling bids to Innovate UK and beyond.

Embedding Social Impact
Tiia Sammallahti from Whatimpact will demonstrate a 5-6 piece framework for SMEs to build a more strategic approach for delivering impact. Delegates will be offered practical guides to deliver understand how to utilise all this in enhancing business value and gaining more customers – and of course the importance of monitoring the true impact to support further decision making and avoid social washing.

Designing a Sales Strategy
Nigel Griffiths from Tailwind will help you design a robust sales strategy. Imagine if you could scale up faster and smarter. Understand how to maximise growth and increase value. Tailwind help and support ambitious leaders with scaling up. The workshop will introduce a four step approach to sustainable growth.

Taking the ‘difficult’ out of conversations
This 60minute practical workshop is about redefining ‘Nice’ so that we open those important conversations. It is about having the skills to shape our message empathetically, in line with our own values, in a way that preserves dignity, and enables the person to have information crucial to their performance and personal success. It is about what we can do to repair – and even strengthen the relationship – if our message doesn’t land the way we intended it to and we accidentally trigger someone into conflict. It is about being the ‘Nicest’ leader we can be.

Maximising Social Value: Building VCSE Partnerships
2025-11-27 10:00 - 13:00
Gloucestershire County Council has partnered with whatimpact, the National Social Value Marketplace®, to connect local VCSEs with suppliers delivering mandatory social value in the county.
This partnership ensures that supplier resources – including funding, volunteering, and pro bono support – are directed to organisations making a positive local impact. VCSEs in Gloucestershire now have the valuable opportunity to set up a free profile on whatimpact, attend upcoming webinars and training sessions, and begin building partnerships with corporate and public sector suppliers.
Setting up a profile gives your organisation visibility, but the real value comes when you use the platform to connect with suppliers, tell your story, and showcase the difference you make. Being proactive will help ensure your organisation is chosen for new partnerships.
Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance is delighted to host this training session on ‘Maximising Social Value’ :
Session overview:

Hands-on support in setting up and optimising your organisations whatimpact profile.

How to demonstrate best practice in engaging suppliers and maximising partnership opportunities.

Understanding mandatory supplier social value commitments.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:

Create and manage an effective whatimpact profile.

Identify opportunities for partnership with suppliers.

Confidently showcase their work to attract funding, volunteering, and in-kind resources.

Understand how impact reporting works and why it is valuable for both VCSEs and suppliers.

Important information:

Places are fully funded for VCSE organisations delivering services in Gloucestershire.

To enable as many organisations as possible to access this event, we have limited bookings to two per organisation. If you would like to book more than two spaces, please email bookings@glosvcsalliance.org.uk and we will aim to accommodate individual needs where possible.

We only accept bookings from individuals attending the event and are unable to accept multiple bookings in one name.

Our events are often over-subscribed and we will activate our wait list process if this happens. We advise anyone interested in booking to book a place asap.

Please ensure that you read our Terms & Conditions of Booking before you book your place: Terms & Conditions of Booking

If you book a place and cannot attend for any reason, please email bookings@glosvcsalliance.org.uk asap so that we can allocate your place to someone else.

If you have any enquiries about this event, please email bookings@glosvcsalliance.org.uk and a member of our team will get back to you.
We look forward to welcoming you on 27 November.

Webinar: Embedding VCSEs and Raising Social Value Standards in Local Procurement
2025-11-26 10:00 - 10:15 | Online
With the new Procurement Act now in force, councils and housing associations have a major opportunity to set a new benchmark for social value delivery. But unlocking that potential requires collaboration – not just compliance.

This webinar brings together Social Value Quality Mark (SVQM) and whatimpact – the National Social Value Marketplace® to show how local authorities can embed social value principles, forge high-impact partnerships, and evidence real outcomes through data, accreditation, and digital tools.

Together, we’ll explore how to:

Integrate social value principles across procurement frameworks.
Build trusted partnerships with VCSEs and local suppliers.
Measure, evidence, and report meaningful outcomes aligned with the Procurement Act’s intent.

Why Attend
This isn’t another policy update. It’s a practical session built around real examples of councils that are raising standards, improving partnerships, and creating measurable community outcomes.
You’ll leave with a clear picture of what “better” looks like – and how to make it happen in your own authority.

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:00 – 11:15 (UTC+00:00) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London

We look forward to having you attend the event!

CSR-Accrediation & whatimpact joint webinar
2025-11-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
details to follow

Webinar: A New Era for Volunteering Management: whatimpact's new Volunteering HUB
2025-11-11 13:00 - 14:00
Join the Social Value Think Tank and National Social Value Marketplace by whatimpact for our exclusive Volunteering Webinar on Tuesday 11th November 1pm.

We’ll showcase the new HUB features and discuss why targeted volunteering management is key to maximising both employee engagement and social impact.

Social Value Think Tank and National Social Value Marketplace
2025-11-11 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Join Our Upcoming Webinar
Join the Social Value Think Tank and National Social Value Marketplace by whatimpact for our exclusive Volunteering Webinar on Tuesday 11th November 1pm.
We’ll showcase the new HUB features and discuss why targeted volunteering management is key to maximising both employee engagement and social impact.

Register here

Procurex Wales 2025
2025-11-04 | ICC Wales
whatimpact, the National Social Value Marketplace®, connects public sector suppliers with verified charities, social enterprises, and community groups to deliver meaningful, measurable social value.
Our platform makes it simple to find local VCSE partners, align activity with the Social Value Model and TOM System™, and evidence outcomes through automated reporting tools.
Trusted by councils and suppliers across the UK, whatimpact helps organisations turn social value commitments into real community impact.
Learn how we’re simplifying social value delivery at Procurex Wales 2025.

The Social Value Conference 2025
2025-10-22 | Online
In a world navigating profound social, economic, and environmental challenges, the Social Value Conference 2025 gives you the tools and connections to become part of the solution.
This year’s theme:
Mission Critical
Reflecting the urgency of the moment, there is a pressing need to unlock the full potential of social value to empower our communities.
Three days of unmissable events
Across three insight-packed days, you’ll join hundreds of organisations from the public, private, and impact sectors.
Why attend this year’s conference?
Whatever your expertise, this is your moment to learn, network, and help shape the future of Social Value.
Voices from every sector are welcome, from grassroots organisations to national leaders.

Impact in Action: Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance: Introducing whatimpact
2025-10-16 13:00 - 14:00
Gloucestershire County Council has partnered with whatimpact, the National Social Value Marketplace®, to connect local VCSEs with suppliers delivering mandatory social value in the county.
This partnership ensures that supplier resources – including funding, volunteering, and pro bono support – are directed to organisations making a positive local impact. VCSEs in Gloucestershire now have the valuable opportunity to set up a free profile on whatimpact, attend upcoming webinars and training sessions, and begin building partnerships with corporate and public sector suppliers.
Setting up a profile gives your organisation visibility, but the real value comes when you use the platform to connect with suppliers, tell your story, and showcase the difference you make. Being proactive will help ensure your organisation is chosen for new partnerships.
Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance is delighted to host this “Introduction to whatimpact” webinar, which will cover the following programme.
Programme:

Welcome & introduction

Demo: setting up a profile on whatimpact

Guidance: how to proactively connect with suppliers

Q&A

Booking information
To enable as many groups & organisations to access this course, we limit bookings to two per organisation. If you would like to book more than two spaces, please email bookings@glosvcsalliance.org.uk and we will aim to accomodate individual needs where possible.
Our courses are often oversubscribed and we therefore have a waiting list system in place for each course. If this course is fully booked, you can add yourself to the waiting list and we will let you know as soon as a place becomes available.
If you book a place and cannot attend for any reason, please email bookings@glosvcsalliance.org.uk asap so that we can allocate your place to someone else.
If you have any enquiries about this course, please email bookings@glosvcsalliance.org.uk and a member of our team will get back to you.
We look forward to welcoming you on 16 October.
Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance team

Impact in Action: Social Value Made Simple for Gloucestershire Suppliers
2025-10-15 13:00 - 14:00
Gloucestershire County Council has partnered with whatimpact to strengthen how social value is delivered across the council.

This partnership creates direct pathways for companies and suppliers to work with local VCSEs (charities, social enterprises, and community groups), ensuring social value delivery is impactful, compliant, and measurable.

Our Impact in Action session will show suppliers how to connect with VCSEs, deliver measurable impact, and meet social value requirements with confidence.

What You’ll Learn
How Gloucestershire County Council’s partnership with whatimpact helps suppliers meet procurement requirements
How to find and connect with verified local VCSEs for impactful collaborations
How automated impact measurement and reporting tools make compliance simple
Practical steps to post opportunities, manage applications, and evidence outcomes on the whatimpact platform

Who Should Attend
Companies and suppliers delivering services in Gloucestershire
Organisations aiming to improve their tender performance, ESG delivery, and local impact
Join Us
📅 Date: Wednesday 15th October
🕒 Time: 1-2pm

Procurement Act Live Expo
2025-10-14 | Excel London, London

Shaping Social Value Through VCSE Collaboration
2025-09-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
In this webinar, we’ll explore how suppliers, VCSEs and contracting authorities can collaborate earlier in the procurement process to create tangible, contract-specific plans that back up KPIs with measurable actions.
Delivering meaningful Social Value requires more than set targets. Many commitments rely on, and are strengthened by, partnerships between suppliers and VCSEs. Strong relationships, transparent delivery processes, and credible reporting pathways are essential to achieving genuine, lasting impact through contracts.
Yet in practice, challenges persist. VCSE partners can be difficult to identify during fast-paced bidding processes, leaving suppliers to make assumptions. Contracting authorities often struggle to evaluate vague delivery plans and to distinguish realistic, achievable bids. They frequently lack insight into the true outcomes their procurement generates.
This webinar, hosted by Social Value Portal and whatimpact, will introduce a practical, end-to-end approach to overcoming these challenges. Together, we’ll explore how suppliers, VCSEs, and contracting authorities can collaborate earlier in the process to create tangible, contract-specific plans that back up KPIs with measurable actions. The discussion will also highlight how this partnership enables Social Value to be both deliverable and demonstrably measurable.
The session will include:

An end-to-end approach: how earlier and stronger collaboration improves outcomes
Panel discussion: perspectives from VCSEs and procurement/bidding organisations
Audience Q&A: your opportunity to ask questions and explore how these approaches can be applied in practice

Speakers:
Melissa Milner, Director of External Affairs and Partnerships, Catch22
Alison Watson, Founder & CEO, Class of Your Own
Tiia Sammallahti, CEO, whatimpact
Anna McChesney-Gordon, Chief Strategy Officer, Social Value Portal
