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What is Social Value?

Councils buy goods, works and services from a wide variety of businesses and suppliers so that they are able to carry out their duties. Councils have procurement teams to make these purchases and contracts.

Social Value is the wider benefit gained by a local community from these purchases and contracts.

For example, some of the benefits of social value, that can be achieved from the procurement and delivery or a contract or public service, can include:

  • generating jobs opportunities
  • skills and training opportunities for residents
  • reducing carbon emissions
  • supporting local charities, and our local voluntary and community sector

Social Value doesn’t need to be limited or rigid, it can be anything positive for our borough.

Social Value is one of the ways we can fulfil the commitments we have made to our residents in our Bexley Plan, making Bexley even better.

What is Bexley Council's approach to Social Value in procurement?

The Social Value (2012) Act requires Social Value to be considered when we procure services. It states that public authorities must have "regard to economic, social, and environmental well-being''.

Suppliers will be asked to explain how their current practices align with the values and ambitions of the council and to set out the additional benefits they will provide as part of the delivery of the contract.

For suppliers, it provides an opportunity to:

  • differentiate themselves from their competitors
  • build stronger relationships with the local area
  • demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility

Suppliers play a crucial role in delivering Social Value. By incorporating Social Value in their bids, they can demonstrate their commitment to working with us to create a positive impact on our community. The Council considers a supplier's Social Value proposal as part of its overall evaluation of the bid. We’ll ensure that social Value is not off-putting for securing good value for money in our contracts. And we will be mindful that not all bidders will be able to offer the same type and level of Social Value. We will seek social value where it is common sense to do so.

To find out more about our values and our commitments please see the:

For more information email procurement@bexley.gov.uk.