Social value - businesses and bidders

How we deliver social value

We recognise the significance of social value in everything we do, including procurement. We work with suppliers to ensure they are delivering both financial and social value.

Considering social value in decision making does not replace evaluating financial returns or service quality. Instead, it helps the council maximise social benefits from its economic role in the city.

How can a business help

Businesses can create social value by contributing positively to society.

Businesses can:

• support local employment by hiring local people
• create employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups that include care leavers, ex-offenders, domestic violence survivors and armed forces personnel
• introduce apprenticeships, internships and work experience opportunities
• offer training and development programs to upskill employees and improve their career prospects
• partner with local schools and colleges to provide resources, support, mentor and give career advice to students
• implement sustainable practices such as reducing waste, using renewable energy, promoting recycling and contribute to carbon reduction
• source produce and materials from small, minority owned or women owned businesses and source locally wherever possible
• provide safe working conditions and promote health and wellness programs to the workforce
• engage with the community by participating in or sponsoring local community events and engage with local stakeholders to understand their needs
• donate time and money to local community schemes
• pay Leeds staff the real living wage
• support projects in Leeds that are contributing to the city

Voluntary, community and social enterprises and small and medium sized enterprises

Leeds City Council is committed to supporting local voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). As these are grounded in their communities and work to deliver social change, investment in these organisations provides social value over and above the services they provide.

Supporting a VCSE or SME

We encourage bidders to prioritise investment with VCSEs or SMEs when designing their social value commitments.

As a bidder you may wish to consider:

• supporting VCSEs and SMEs work through either direct financial investment or through partnering with an expert independent grant maker
• investing staff time in the VCSEs through a volunteering programme
• developing VCSEs and SMEs role in the supply chain. Some examples include:
  • subcontracting to organisations that provide employment for people that face labour market barriers
  • purchasing employment and recruitment services targeted at people that face labour market barriers
  • purchasing health and wellbeing services for staff
  • purchasing meeting space and catering services