Social value

Opportunities for businesses and organisations

Group of volunteers with gardening equipment

Social value is the wider economic, social and environmental benefit created through the way an organisation buys, employs, invests and works with communities. It's about looking beyond the basic delivery of a contract and asking what additional, lasting difference can be made for people and places.

As a council we purchase a range of goods and services from other organisations. As part of our contract procurement process, we have a duty to consider how our suppliers add social value to the borough.

How social value helps

For the council, social value helps public spending contribute to borough priorities: better health, stronger skills, good jobs, a resilient local economy, thriving communities and a cleaner environment. For the wider South Yorkshire region, it can strengthen supply chains, support inclusive growth and encourage organisations to collaborate around shared challenges.

For businesses, charities and community organisations, social value can turn everyday activity into measurable local impact. Employing local people, opening up work experience, volunteering expertise, reducing waste, supporting community projects or funding targeted activity can all create benefits while strengthening relationships, reputation and organisational resilience.

Why social value matters

The Procurement Act 2023 and Procurement Regulations 2024 intend to make public procurement simpler, more transparent and more flexible, while improving access for small and medium-sized enterprises and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.

The regulations place an emphasis on delivering wider public benefit and on managing performance throughout the life of a contract.

Building a practical social value approach can help organisations compete for public contracts, manage delivery confidently and demonstrate a credible contribution to Barnsley’s priorities.

What your social value commitments must be

If you're tendering for a contract with us, your social value commitments need to be:

  • relevant to the contract

  • proportionate

  • specific

  • measurable

  • deliverable

Social value commitments should not be general statements about corporate responsibility. As a buyer, we need clear evidence of how your commitments will be delivered, monitored and reported.

Get help to develop your social value approach

Go4Growth provides fully funded support for micro businesses, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations that want to become more confident about public sector work.

Support includes training, templates, events and tailored guidance on procurement, bid development, carbon reduction and how to develop a clear social value narrative. This can help you identify your strengths, select realistic outcomes, and create a proportionate strategy.

Join Go4Growth, explore the community resources online, or contact Go4Growth for more support.

Opportunities for adding social value in the borough

You can find examples of some social value opportunities below, organised by type of activity. These may help you move from a broad intention to 'do social value' to an activity that is useful, achievable and connected to an identified need. The examples aren't an exhaustive list, and you should select activity that fits your capacity and the contract they support.

Barnsley Community and Voluntary Service (Barnsley CVS) and South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau (SYFAB) can also provide support to organisations looking for social value opportunities.

Support from Barnsley Community and Voluntary Services

Barnsley Community and Voluntary Services (Barnsley CVS) is the local infrastructure organisation for the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. Its role is to support and represent the sector as a whole, providing a gateway to local groups and connecting them with businesses and public sector partners.

Through its networks, partnership working and organisational support, Barnsley CVS can help groups identify community needs and develop ideas for social value opportunities to put forward. It can also signpost organisations to relevant support and potential partners, helping businesses direct their time, skills and resources towards locally identified priorities.

Support from South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau

South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau (SYFAB), part of South Yorkshire Community Foundation, helps voluntary and community groups find funding and strengthen their fundraising skills.

Barnsley organisations can access its funding search database, regular funding news and practical guidance on project planning, funding applications and reporting to funders.

SYFAB also offers training and events covering bid writing, funding strategies and business sponsorship, alongside tailored training for organisations. Registration for Funding Search, Funding News and Funding KnowHow is free for groups working in South Yorkshire. Register at SYFAB.

Promote a social value opportunity

If your organisation would like to be included on our social value opportunities webpages, complete our online form. You'll need to tell us about your organisation, the opportunities you'd like to promote, and how businesses could support your work.