Over the last few years, Social Value has become a core part of how our public services are designed and delivered. Across the UK, legislation has steadily pushed social impact to the front of procurement decisions, a shift that’s long overdue.

The Social Value Act 2012, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 and the Procurement Reform (Scotland) 2014 act are encouraging contracting authorities to consider economic, social and environmental outcomes when awarding contracts. Prior to this, without clear guidance, Social Value was often being treated as an add-on, not a priority.

That began to change with the government’s 2015 review, which called for greater accountability. The introduction of the National TOMs framework in 2017 helped organisations define and measure outcomes. Then came Policy Procurement Note 06/20, which made Social Value mandatory in central government procurement with a minimum 10% weighting.  

Now, with the Procurement Act 2023, National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS), and PPN 02/23, the message is loud and clear. Social Value is not just a box to tick. It must be built in from the start, with defined priorities, contractual KPIs and a focus on outcomes that genuinely improve lives.

With every pound of public money under scrutiny, it’s no longer enough for projects to just make financial sense. They need to make a real difference. That means helping communities thrive, tackling inequality and protecting the planet. While some suppliers in the public sector see this as a challenge, Insight sees it as an opportunity to build on the impact it has been making for years with its core values, and to deliver even more value to clients and citizens.

Turning Social Value KPIs into real outcomes

Now organisations are being held accountable for how projects are delivered. Social Value KPIs matter, and failing to deliver on them has real consequences. For suppliers, failing to meet these targets could result in exclusion from future tenders.

At Insight, Social Value is built in from day one. It’s treated like any other deliverable. That means going beyond pledges and promises to generate tangible outcomes that matter, whether it's helping young people into employment, addressing digital poverty or supporting ex-offenders in rejoining the workforce.

Every project is shaped by the people and places it’s designed to help – there’s no such thing as one size fits all. That’s why Insight creates tailored Social Value delivery plans for each public sector project we take on. They’re proportionate, practical and built around what’s needed most locally. Most importantly, we show clearly how we’ll go beyond business as usual to deliver meaningful, additional value.

Social Value takes a village

Social Value doesn’t live in boardrooms. It lives in classrooms, job centres, community kitchens and village halls - in the places where support is needed most.

That belief is built into Insight’s public sector strategy from the core. The company has a dedicated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) team, led by Nicola Tiffin, Senior Manager of ESG. She has recently been joined by Esmé Hassell-Thean, an Environmental Specialist, focused on developing sustainability initiatives. They work hand in hand with Nicola Gooch in the Public Sector team, CSR Specialist and Social Value Lead, who has extensive experience. Together they are driving impact-driven social value, putting integrity at the heart of delivery. 

“We don’t view Social Value as just a bid requirement, we see it as a chance to make a real difference,” Nicola Gooch explains. “We’re here to make sure it’s delivered, measured, and meaningful.”

Nicola Tiffin puts it clearly: “We take pride in the positive impact we create and believe in being authentic and accountable, which is why we refrain from making claims we can’t back up.”

“We know environmental and social impact go hand in hand, which is why we take an integrated approach. My role is about making sure our strategies are not only robust but also deliver value that’s meaningful for the communities we support,” adds Esmé Hassell-Thean.

Social Value differs from broader ESG or CSR programmes because it must be project-specific and deliver benefits beyond ‘business as usual’. At Insight, we believe it needs to go beyond traditional KPIs and reflect the real, human impact of those efforts.

That’s why Insight is prioritising more than just the numbers. While data and KPIs matter, they’re not the whole story. “We want to understand what’s changed, really changed, in someone’s life because of a programme we helped deliver,” says Nicola Gooch. “That’s what Social Value means to us.”

Making it real

Delivering this kind of change takes partnership. At Insight, that means working hand-in-hand with local charities, schools and VCSEs (voluntary community and social enterprises) to co-design projects that are shaped by the people they’re designed to support.

From giving young people the confidence to gain digital skills, opening up pathways to employment, or supporting people who’ve been excluded to find new opportunities. The focus is always on meaningful and lasting support to ensure social value is not just performative, but transformative.

Delivering meaningful change

To deliver meaningful Social Value projects, Insight has been working to build a network of partners that can ensure initiatives can be sustained throughout the project lifecycle.

“We build the bridge between corporate funders, grassroots VCSEs and changemakers,” says Nicola Gooch. “These smaller organisations often lack access to funding streams or the resources to navigate the often, complex requirements of funders. We bring the know-how and resources to make them come alive.”

That’s where our partnerships come in. We collaborate with major technology vendors, like Intel and Microsoft, to amplify impact. By aligning with their existing social and digital inclusion initiatives, Insight creates tailored programmes that address key issues such as digital poverty and skills development.

Take our partnership with Oxfordshire Youth Trust. Together, we secured significant funding and training resources from Intel’s ‘Skills for Innovation’ programme to help young people in Oxfordshire who were being left behind digitally. That meant 80-hours of e-learning, activity packs for young people, toolkits for educators and crucially, laptops and tablets to help them build their skills.

As a result, Insight helped bridge the gap between technology leaders and grassroots change-makers. This means that social value programmes aren’t just well-intentioned. Instead, they’re grounded in local knowledge, practical, and making a real difference to people’s lives.

Looking ahead

As public sector procurement continues to evolve, expectations around Social Value will grow, and that’s a good thing. Making Social Value work in the real world takes more than just policy knowledge. It takes heart and people who care. It takes organisations willing to show up, do the work, and be accountable.

At Insight, we’re proud to be doing exactly that. Not just because contracts demand it, but because communities deserve it. With a dedicated team, a clear strategy and a track record of delivery, we are well-positioned to help public sector clients navigate this new landscape.

“We’re not just responding to change, we’re helping shape it,” says Nicola Gooch. “And we’re doing it in a way that delivers real value to our clients and the communities they serve.”

Meet Insight’s CSR team

Nicola Tiffin

Job title: Senior Manager Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)

Years at Insight: 18

Three words that describe social value: Impactful, Transformative, Empowering

What are you proud of at Insight?
I take immense pride in Insight for numerous reasons, particularly our commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance initiatives. , What truly makes Insight a remarkable place to work is our teammates. Their passion for our values and dedication to putting the client first is genuinely inspiring. This commitment, supported by our core values of hunger, heart, and harmony, serves as the foundation of Insight. These values are central to everything we do; they guide our actions and decisions, allowing us to achieve client success while also making a positive impact on our company, our teammates, our partners, and the wider community.

Nicola Gooch

Job title: Corporate Social Responsibility Specialist

Years at Insight: 1 year

Three words that describe social value: Impactful, Deliverable, Exciting

What are you proud of at Insight?
Working for an organisation that values collaboration among teammates has given me the freedom to explore innovative ideas for social value. This supportive environment has enabled me to develop creative initiatives that address some of our most pressing societal challenges. It has been incredibly rewarding to see these initiatives take shape and deliver tangible results for our clients.

Esmé Hassell-Thean

Job title: Environmental Specialist

Years at Insight: I joined Insight, February 2025.

Three words that describe social value: Interconnected, Meaningful, Uplifting

What are you proud of at Insight?
As an Environmental Specialist with a background in sustainability research and environmental regulation, I take pride in being part of an organisation that understands the fundamental connection between environmental and social issues. The establishment of my role within the ESG team not only underscores Insight's commitment to continuously enhancing and consolidating our environmental strategies but also highlights the company’s dedication to an interdisciplinary approach in delivering social value to our clients, partners, teammates, and the communities we serve.