Public procurement has a significant impact in the UK. Although it might sound complicated to outsiders, at its core, it’s the process governments and public sector organisations use to purchase goods, services, and works.
Government departments, councils, hospitals, and schools are funded by taxpayers, making it essential for them to adhere to strict regulations and ensure cost-effective spending.
Central to this approach is the concept of ‘social value’ in procurement, a principle that encourages public sector organisations to consider the broader impact of their purchasing decisions.
Increasingly, contracts include social and environmental benefits, such as reducing carbon emissions or hiring people in the local area.
There are various types of public procurement, including:
- Open Tendering – Often the most competitive process, as anyone can apply. This is the main process that we look to assist with at whatimpact.
- Restricted Tendering – Only pre-selected suppliers can apply.
- Direct Award – In special cases, contracts can be given without competition.
- Framework Agreements – A list of pre-approved suppliers is set up for repeated purchases.
The Role of Social Value in Procurement
Integrating social value into procurement involves assessing how a contract can deliver additional benefits beyond its main services or products. This could include creating local employment opportunities, improving the local environment, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), or encouraging the development of a community.
The goal is to ensure that public spending contributes positively to society, aligning procurement strategies with broader governmental objectives.
With our National Social Value Marketplace, we make it easier to find contract-specific and relevant VCSE partners.
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) play a crucial role in public procurement by helping deliver social value while providing essential services. Unlike traditional businesses, VCSEs focus on social, environmental, or community-driven goals rather than just making a profit. They can ensure that public money is spent in a way that benefits local communities, vulnerable groups, and the environment.
Challenges in this Process
Several challenges persist in effectively integrating social value into procurement practices. One common difficulty is the struggle government suppliers often encounter in identifying and engaging with suitable VCSEs that reflect their contract-specific social value objectives. With our new National Social Value Marketplace, we make this process much easier.
In the past, the lack of a centralised platform or comprehensive database made it challenging to match procurement needs with suitable suppliers. This results in missed opportunities to deliver meaningful social benefits in the operating authorities’ local area.
Introducing whatimpact’s National Social Value Marketplace
Addressing these challenges head-on, whatimpact has launched the new National Social Value Marketplace, an open-access platform designed to revolutionise how businesses, government bodies, and VCSEs collaborate to deliver social value.
Launched in 2025, our innovative platform offers a comprehensive solution to streamline cross-sector partnerships and enhance the social impact of procurement activities.
Key Features and Benefits:
Comprehensive VCSE Database
Our marketplace features profiles of over 260,000 UK charities, social enterprises, and community groups. This extensive database is accessible via an interactive map, allowing users to identify and connect with organisations that align with their social value goals.
The platform’s advanced search and filtering capabilities enable precise matchmaking, ensuring that procurement needs are met with the most suitable partners.
Streamlined Collaboration
By providing a centralised hub for information and communication, our platform simplifies the process of forming partnerships between the public sector and VCSEs.
It makes it easier to encourage greater participation from smaller organisations, developing a more inclusive procurement landscape. With our user-friendly interface, you can reduce the amount of admin needed, making it more feasible for SMEs and VCSEs to engage in public contracts.
Flexible Solutions for Businesses
Recognising that organisations have varying needs, whatimpact offers flexible packages to support social value delivery.
Options range from pay-as-you-go plans for short-term projects to annual subscriptions for ongoing support across multiple tenders. whatimpact’s solutions are designed to accommodate different scales of operation, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can effectively manage and report on their social value initiatives.
Enhanced Impact Reporting
Transparency and accountability are crucial in demonstrating the effectiveness of social value initiatives.
Our innovative platform provides the tools for efficient coordination of projects, management of volunteering efforts, and generation of audit-ready impact reports. These features enable organisations to track their contributions accurately and showcase the tangible benefits delivered to communities.
Empowering Public Sector Buyers
For public sector procurement professionals, the National Social Value Marketplace serves as a valuable resource to meet the requirements set forth by the Procurement Act 2023 and related policies.
Our platform’s comprehensive data and matchmaking capabilities make it easier to find suitable VCSE partners.
This ensures that social value considerations are seamlessly integrated into procurement processes. By leveraging this tool, public bodies can enhance the social impact of their spending, contributing to broader societal goals while fulfilling legislative mandates.
Find out more about how we can assist social value in procurement.
