"We have seen a transformation between the public sector and the private sector in terms of their relationship. We've seen enormous change in this country." - Guy Battle, CEO of Social Value Portal

The U.K. Social Value Act of 2012 requires all public sector buyers to ask suppliers how much their business will contribute to the community if they win the work up for bidding. It has not just become a differentiator among supplier proposals, it has shifted how the government is awarding its contracts.

Contributions to social value are now being included in the award process alongside cost and quality.

Guy Battle is the CEO of the Social Value Portal, and the author of a recent article published in the Journal of Public Procurement: "Social value as a lever for achieving value for money and community outcomes in procurement." He describes social value as a business's answer to the question: How do you contribute to our environment, support the local community, and bolster the local economy?

In this episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Guy discusses social value with Kelly Barner in the context of:

• The longer term corporate social responsibility (CSR) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) movement
• Current regulations, and how they started a shift that has moved beyond compliance
• What has been required to allow social value to build momentum and achieve scale
• How public sector policy can drive change across the private sector supply base

Links:

• Guy Battle on LinkedIn
• JoPP Article: Social value as a lever for achieving value for money and community outcomes in procurement
• Kelly Barner on LinkedIn
• Art of Supply LinkedIn newsletter
• Art of Supply on AOP
• Subscribe to the Art of Procurement Newsletter