Q&A with Karan Peer, Social Impact Lead at GIST Impact’s Research and Innovation Lab

Q: What is the UK Social Value Act (2012)?

A: The UK Social Value Act (2012) is a piece of legislation that requires central government departments in England, Wales, and Scotland to consider the social, economic, and environmental benefits of their procurement decisions.

Q: What are the five strategic themes of the Social Value Model?

A: The five strategic themes of the Social Value Model are:

• Supporting COVID-19 recovery
• Tackling economic inequality
• Fighting climate change and reducing waste
• Driving equal opportunity
• Improving health and wellbeing and community integration

Q: When did the UK Social Value Model come into force?

A: The UK Social Value Model came into force on 1st January 2021.

Q:What are Model Award Criteria in the UK Social Value Model?

A: MACs, or Model Award Criteria, are the six strategic themes that are used to assess the social value of a procurement decision in the UK Social Value Model. The six MACs are:

• Jobs and skills
• Diversity and inclusion
• Health and well-being
• Environment
• Local economy
• Community cohesion

Each MAC is further divided into a number of sub-criteria, which provide more specific guidance on how to assess the social value of a procurement decision. For example, the MAC for “Jobs and skills” includes the following sub-criteria:

• Creation of new jobs
• Upskilling and reskilling of the workforce
• Opportunities for apprentices and trainees
• Support for people with disabilities
• Employment of people from disadvantaged backgrounds

The MACs are a valuable tool for contracting authorities that are looking to deliver social value through their procurement decisions. The MACs provide a clear and systematic way to assess the social value of a procurement decision, and they can help to ensure that social value is considered alongside other factors, such as price and quality.

The Social Value Act (2012) requires contracting authorities to consider the social value of their procurement decisions, and the MACs provide a framework for doing so. Contracting authorities can use the MACs to identify the social value deliverable that is most relevant to their procurement decision, and then they can use the sub-criteria to assess the social value of the different bids.

Q: Is the Social Value Model a voluntary tool?

A: Yes, the Social Value Model is a voluntary tool. However, it is increasingly being used by central government departments in England, Wales, and Scotland.

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Reach out to learn more about how GIST Impact can help measure and report the social value created in line with UK Social Value Model Act (2020).