Social Value at Westminster City Council
Social value is one of many ways we deliver a socioeconomic and environmental benefit for residents.
For all council contracts over £100,000, suppliers are encouraged to demonstrate how they will deliver social good in relation to the council’s key priorities set out in our Fairer Westminster strategy. You can browse projects within the Community Investment Portfolio to gain more information on Westminster’s priority themes.
There are a number of events scheduled over the next few months which will provide suppliers with the opportunity to meet officers from both the social value and procurement teams. To find out how to attend, please contact: [email protected]
For ongoing updates on local need and community projects please fill out our form 'Join the Responsible Business Network' (airtable.com) and you will receive our bi-monthly bulletins, invitations to network events and a place in the online network directory.
What is Social Value?
Nationally
Social value is defined through the Public Services (Social Value) Act (2012) which requires all public sector organisations and their suppliers to look beyond the financial cost of a contract to consider how the services they commission and procure can improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of an area.
Westminster
In February 2022, the council increased the mandatory requirement from a minimum of 5% to a minimum of between 10% to 20% weighting in tenders for responsible procurement (including social value). This covers all contracts above £100,000 and the percentage weighting attributed depends on the nature of the contract (the sector, likely leverage, level of spend etc.)
In December 2022, an intention of working towards an increase of a minimum of 20 to 30% by 2025/26 was endorsed by Cabinet.
The social value includes helping local communities recover from the impact of the cost of living crisis, creating new jobs and skills, fighting climate change, driving equal opportunity, improving health and wellbeing and community integration.
Social Value Year End Report
Our Social Value Impact Report for 2022/23 brings together the noteworthy contributions made by property developers and the council's suppliers through programmes that directly benefit local communities. These include employment opportunities, skill development initiatives, and environmental improvements.
Social Value team
Soyful Alom, Social Value Manager
Soyful is the first point of contact on any matters relating to social value, including developing a social value plan, introduction to relevant organisations and support with delivering social value outcomes.
Shima Nessa-Dudas, Social Value Manager
Shima works with the council’s highest spending suppliers to deliver social value in the community and to create a Fairer Westminster.
Daren Townsend, Social Value and Sustainability Manager (Housing)
Daren collaborates with council contractors to identify and deliver social value spanning economic, social and environmental benefits – with a particular emphasis on fostering engagement, creating employment and training opportunities and co-creating community development initiatives.
Darrell Stenering, Social Value Coordinator
Darrell focuses on facilitating the business-to-business support and mentoring from large organisations to SMEs, mission-led and diverse-led businesses. He can also help to discuss and develop social value strategies and help your organisation align its outcomes with ours. With the Supplier Readiness Programme, Darrell can connect organisations with others who are looking to share information, network or supply chain opportunities.
Contact us
Please get in touch with our social value team if you have questions or want to find out more about our service.