Why Social Value is important to us

Social Value is the additional benefit from a commissioning/procurement process that enhances the wellbeing of the local community. This is over and above the direct purchasing of the goods and services themselves.

The Social Value Act 2012 requires Brighton and Hove City Council, as a local authority, to think about economic, social and environmental well-being in connection with public services contracts.

Our Social Value ambitions go beyond the legal requirement. They reflect our vision - of being a city to be proud of, and a healthy, fair and inclusive city where everyone thrives.

We approach Social Value as a way of driving every Council supplier to help us deliver that vision.

"In Brighton and Hove, we're committed to building a city to be proud of, where everyone feels that they can thrive. Social Value is a key part of this vision. By working with suppliers who share our values and meaningfully align their own vision to our priorities of social justice, equality and fairness, we can ensure that our city grows in a way that creates a positive impact on our local economy, environment, and communities."

Cllr Tristram Burden

How this translates into our procurement activities

To make sure Social Value is delivered as part of our contracts, beyond just the goods and services procured, we ask our bidders to engage with their local community. We want them to join the dots between the services they offer and how they can contribute to improving social, economic and environmental wellbeing in Brighton and Hove.

We do this through:

  • designs and specifications
  • tender questions
  • key performance indicators
  • contract terms

We also encourage all suppliers that do business with us to become Real Living Wage employers. The Real Living Wage is different from the government-based minimum living wage. It is based on the cost of living and meets everyday needs. The council is a Real Living Wage employer and has made it a priority for all contracted employees working in the city to be paid a minimum of the Real Living Wage too. 

Find out more about our campaign.

Some local authorities regard carbon emissions reduction as an element of Social Value. In Brighton & Hove, we take a different approach. We treat the enhancement of biodiversity, promoting environmental education and skills as contributions to Social Value. However, we believe reducing carbon emissions and addressing the climate crisis is everyone's responsibility and must be regarded as business as usual, rather than as an added benefit. We therefore evaluate our suppliers’ efforts in reducing their carbon emissions separately from Social Value. 

For more information about our expectations in this area, please see our Environmentally Sustainable procurement policy.