Despite its rise in awareness and popularity in recent years, catapulted by the Social Value Act 2012, financial and non-financial value-generating activities for the benefit of society are not new. For decades, people and organisations have supported and improved the well-being of current and future generations through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks. In Social Value terms, this happens across three areas:
- Social – for the well-being of individuals and communities.
- Economic – for the well-being of society through economic policies and business practices.
- Environmental – for the well-being of our social and physical environment through sustainable processes.
Why is it needed now more than ever?
Given where we are as a nation post-pandemic and lockdown, and with the recent passing of the Procurement Bill, now the Procurement Act 2023, there is no time more important than now for all communities and sectors to join forces to drive Social Value further up the agenda and create more good.
The pandemic brought to the fore our sense of goodwill and a true spirit of community, especially in championing health & well-being and fighting inequality.
So, with Social Value in need more than ever and being a legal requirement in procurement and increasingly more contracts, now is the perfect time for us all to come together to contribute to delivering societal benefits.
It’s also why I created Howl Back Ltd – to make the ‘coming together’ part for everyone as asy as possible and to enable and facilitate more good projects for society in simple ways.
How can we all do our bit to help?
No matter where we work, our role and area of discipline, and whether we belong to a community organisation, charity, SME, large corporate, education establishment, or public sector organisation, we all have a role to play and can do our bit to help.
The key to creating Social Value is to recognise that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and to start by listening to the needs of society.
With many companies, like Howl Back Ltd, now working collaboratively as part of in-house teams to facilitate & measure Social Value outcomes, it’s easy to join forces with like-minded partners to gain strength and plug gaps to respond purposefully to society’s most pressing needs.
The power of partnerships in social value
A great example is a Tech for Good company I’m working with – LetsLocalise, whose highly dedicated and knowledgeable team works passionately with in-house teams across the UK to enable and facilitate the timely fulfilment of Social Value priorities and initiatives.
The LetsLocalise platform brings together schools, educators, VCSEs, businesses, and local authorities to generate monetary and in-kind donations, climate-change education, employee volunteering, career & upskilling workshops, industry trips, work experience, and more.
The platform empowers businesses to carry out social value interventions cost-effectively with ease. The best part is that no good work is lost because a digital footprint is created, guaranteeing transparent and accountable measurement. You can learn more about LetsLocalise by registering for a discovery call and a webinar in early 2024.
So, to contribute to social, economic, and environmental well-being, you do not need to do everything yourself. For anything you can’t do due to a lack of time and resources, you can partner with a Social Value company to fill the gaps and gain support where you need it most.
Build strength, capacity & resilience in your pack!
Whether you need support with corporate strategies, CSR and ESG plans, or procurement and tendering processes, including bid writing and contract management, Howl Back Ltd uses community and stakeholder insights and intelligence to:
- Plan for social value outcomes.
- Deliver for social value outcomes.
- Amplify social value deliverables.
- Measure Key Value Indicators (KVIs) for success.
- Boost employee well-being in the process.
In true partnership style, Howl Back Ltd strengthens your pack, complements your team’s capacity and resilience, and focuses support where it’s needed most.
Every day, I am inspired by my clients and associates to work meaningfully to do my part and help others to make a difference. I’d love to know what drives you to do your bit at the moment?
If you have ideas for making a positive social impact and need help – let’s connect and discuss ways you can be supported to achieve great things.