Social Value Consultancy and Policy Drafting

Turn your social value commitments into policies, tender answers and results that buyers can score.

Our social value consultancy helps UK suppliers write social value policies and tender responses that meet the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and PPN 002. We learn how your business works, engage your stakeholders, draft a policy that fits your operations and help you track and report what you deliver. Our bid work includes an award on the £1.5bn PB4 framework, where quality made up 75% of the score. Book a free consultation to review your social value approach.

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Our social value policy service

Athena Commercial drafts social value policies that meet legal requirements and fit your operations. We start with a detailed consultation to understand your goals, then engage your stakeholders to gather insights. Our policies follow the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and aim to maximise social, economic and environmental benefits. We also provide ongoing support, including training, monitoring and reviews, so your social value strategy stays effective and relevant.

Social value goes beyond the financial and economic benefits of a project. It covers the wider impact on the community and the environment, and aims to improve the wellbeing of individuals and society as a whole.

Social value policies can strengthen the local economy by creating jobs and supporting sustainable growth. They encourage investment in local businesses and communities, and help partners work together to increase the benefits they deliver.

What is social value?

Social value is the positive impact an organisation has on society, beyond its financial performance. It covers the economic, social and environmental benefits an organisation creates for its stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers and the wider community. By focusing on social value, businesses contribute to the wellbeing of society and the environment, and help create a more sustainable and fair world.

Defining social value

Social value can be defined in different ways depending on the context. At its core, it is about creating positive outcomes for society, such as improving health and wellbeing, reducing inequality and protecting the environment. It means considering the wider impact of business activities and making decisions that benefit the community and the environment, not only the organisation.

Why social value matters in modern business

Social value is becoming more important for organisations every year. Customers, investors and employees expect businesses to contribute to society as well as make a profit. By prioritising social value, organisations can improve their reputation, build trust with stakeholders and support long-term success. It can also lead to stronger customer loyalty, better employee engagement and a stronger brand, all of which support sustainable growth.

Social value in public sector tenders

The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires public bodies to consider how the services they buy can improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their area. Under the Procurement Act 2023, central government buyers now follow PPN 002. It applies to procurements started on or after 1 October 2025 and requires a minimum 10% weighting for social value in the evaluation. Other public bodies, such as councils and NHS trusts, often set their own social value requirements. In practice, a strong social value answer can decide a close tender.

What's included in our social value consultancy

You can use the full service or pick the elements you need.

Understanding your business

We start with a thorough engagement phase to understand how your business works. This involves:

• Initial consultation: we meet your key stakeholders, and public sector customers where relevant, to discuss your goals, procurement practices and the impact you want to make.
• Operational analysis: we analyse your operations to find ways to increase social value and build it into your existing processes.
• Stakeholder engagement: we test our ideas with your suppliers, customers and partners to gather insights and make sure the plan meets their needs.

Drafting customised policies

We draft social value policies that meet legal requirements and strengthen your corporate social responsibility (CSR) profile. Our policies are designed to:

• Support tender compliance: we align your social value policy and responses with your business and with what buyers ask for.
• Fit your operations: the policy works with how you already run your business, so social value initiatives are easier to put in place and manage.
• Maximise impact: we write policies that deliver real social, economic and environmental benefits for your community and stakeholders.

We make sure each policy aligns with national social value frameworks and standards, including the government's Social Value Model.

Social value tender responses

Most public sector tenders now include a scored social value question. We write responses that make specific, measurable commitments linked to the buyer's chosen outcomes, rather than generic statements. We make sure every commitment is one you can deliver and report on. This works alongside our bid management service or as a standalone element.

Commitment tracking and reporting

We help you set up and track your social value commitments so you stay compliant and can show the impact you deliver. Under PPN 002, social value commitments are written into the contract, so buyers expect regular reporting against them.

Ongoing support and review

Our support continues after your policy is delivered. We help you put the policy into practice:

• Training and workshops: sessions to train your team on the new policy and how to use it day to day.
• Monitoring and evaluation: frameworks to track and improve your social initiatives, with a focus on targeted action on key social issues.
• Scheduled policy reviews: regular reviews keep your social value strategy relevant as your business and buyer expectations change.

Not sure where your social value approach falls short? Book a consultation and we will review it with you.

How we work

Our social value process follows five steps. Each step has a clear output, so you always know where things stand.

1. Consult and understand. We meet your key stakeholders to understand your goals, your customers and the tenders you target. Output: summary of goals and buyer requirements.
2. Analyse your operations. We review what you already do and find practical ways to add social value that fit your business. Output: list of social value opportunities.
3. Engage stakeholders. We test our ideas with your suppliers, customers and partners. Output: agreed priorities and commitments.
4. Draft the policy and tender content. We write your social value policy, measures and reusable tender content. Output: final policy, measures and response library.
5. Train, monitor and review. We train your team, set up tracking and review the policy on a schedule. Output: reporting framework and review plan.

Policy scope and purpose

A social value policy is a statement of your organisation's commitment to creating positive social value. It gives you a framework for decisions and guides how your organisation acts. With a clear policy, you can make sure your efforts match your values and goals, and that they make a real difference.

Objectives of a social value policy

The main objectives of a social value policy are to:

• define your organisation's social value goals and objectives
• identify your key stakeholders and their interests
• set out the strategies and actions for creating social value
• set metrics and benchmarks for measuring social value outcomes
• make social value reporting transparent and accountable.

These objectives help you approach social value in a structured way, so your efforts are targeted, measurable and effective.

Aligning with business goals

Your social value policy should support your overall business goals and strategy. When social value is built into your core operations, it can give you a competitive advantage and encourage new ideas.

For public services, social value policies help organisations deliver the most benefit to local communities, support growth and achieve cost savings. Public sector organisations that prioritise social value also build trust with stakeholders and deliver better outcomes for society.

In the supply chain, social value policies help organisations promote responsible sourcing, reduce environmental impact and support local economies. Engaging with stakeholders and reporting on outcomes shows your commitment to creating positive social value.

Overall, a social value policy is essential for any organisation that wants to create positive outcomes for society, build long-term success and earn the trust of its stakeholders.

Proof: results from our bid and framework work

Social value is scored as part of the quality evaluation in public tenders. These results show our track record on quality-led public sector submissions.

Award on the £1.5bn PB4 Public Buildings framework

A house builder and construction company needed a place on LHC Procurement Group's PB4 framework, used by local authorities, NHS trusts, housing associations and central government. Evaluation was weighted 75% quality and 25% price. We led the application strategy, response drafting, compliance management and submission. - Result: successful award on the £1.5bn framework. - Read the PB4 framework case study

£50m in public sector contracts enabled for Connect Fibre

Connect Fibre had no experience of public sector bidding. Over 18 months we ran pre-bid engagement with Building Digital UK (BDUK), completed a complex DPS registration where competitors had failed, and drafted bid responses in advance. - Result: two bid awards of £33.4m and £16.5m. - Read the Connect Fibre case study

More public sector results

• Two NHS framework registrations for My Heart Care.
• £2m in bid awards for a facilities management client, including a central bid knowledge database with policies and reusable content.
• Supply chain strategy that supported a £150m investment for Broadway Partners.

Our own framework credentials

We bid for public sector work ourselves, so we write social value commitments for our own submissions too. - G-Cloud 14 – Athena secures a place on G-Cloud 14 - DOS 7 (Digital Outcomes and Specialists), Lots 1 and 3 – Athena awarded a place on DOS 7

Sectors we support

Defence

Defence and security contracts awarded by the Ministry of Defence sit outside PPN 002, but many defence buyers and prime contractors still ask suppliers about their social value and supply chain commitments. Our team holds Security Check (SC) clearance. Read our guide to UK MoD procurement.

NHS and health

NHS buyers often score social value alongside quality, data protection and accreditation requirements. Common themes include local employment, health and wellbeing, and reducing carbon. Read how to win NHS contracts.

Construction

Construction contracts often carry social value commitments on local jobs, apprenticeships, local spend and environmental impact. We secured a place on the £1.5bn PB4 framework for a construction client, where quality counted for 75% of the score. Our carbon reduction service can support your environmental commitments.

Technology

IT and cyber security suppliers bidding through frameworks such as G-Cloud and DOS face social value questions at call-off stage. We help technology suppliers make commitments they can deliver, such as skills, digital inclusion and fair work.