Social Value
Northern Ireland currently spends circa £3 billion annually on public procurement. By spending this money differently government can develop and deliver better social, environmental and economic outcomes for people and communities in Northern Ireland.
The Social Value Unit work with public bodies to design, implement and monitor social value that is included in their contracts, for example, employment opportunities to disadvantaged groups, the use of social enterprises in the supply chain, ethical supply chain requirements and addressing environmental issues. In this way, the contracts can deliver improvements to key quality-of-life indicators including personal well-being, social cohesion and inclusion, equal opportunities and sustainable development.
Established in SIB in 2014 with a mandate from Executive Office ministers, the Social Value Unit works with government departments, councils and arms-length bodies.
In July 2021 the Northern Ireland Executive published Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 01/21 Scoring Social Value. PPN 01/21 mandates that from 1 June 2022 tenders must allocate a minimum of 10% of the total award criteria to social value. The Social Value Unit have developed a range of guidance documents and training which focusses on social value as an award criteria and social value throughout the procurement process.
SIB has led on the implementation of Procurement Policy Note 01/21 and has championed social value across the public sector.
The Social Value Unit has dedicated Social Value Advisers who are able to work with public bodies to provide expert advice on maximising the social value delivered by public procurement.
