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ESG and Social Value/ Social Value
Business and community representatives discussing a local project together

Social Value · The Social pillar of ESG

Organisational commitments.
Meaningful benefit for society.

We help organisations connect their commitments with the needs of people and communities, turning resources, skills and partnerships into purposeful action.

Purpose before promise

Start with the people,
not the promise.

Social value is about the difference an organisation’s decisions and activities make to society. Within the Social pillar of ESG, it connects organisational priorities with the wellbeing, opportunities and places that matter to people.

A useful starting point is not “What can we offer?” but “What is needed, and where could our contribution make a meaningful difference?”

We help bring those questions together, shaping commitments that are relevant to the community and realistic for the organisation delivering them.

Practical possibilities

Different contributions.
A clear purpose.

Social value can take different forms. The right contribution depends on the need, the people involved and the resources available.

People with the confidence to act

Relevant training can strengthen the way people support colleagues, customers and communities.

When learning becomes practical support

Training can help people recognise concerns, respond appropriately and understand the limits of their role.

For example, In the Field Safeguarding supports technical staff entering homes and community settings. Conflict Resolution and De-escalation, Mental Health First Aid and Suicide First Aid offer other routes, selected around participants’ responsibilities and needs.

The intended benefit should be clear from the outset. Training attendance demonstrates participation; understanding its wider value means looking at how learning is applied and what changes as a result.

Explore Training and Capability

Partnerships shaped around local needs

Bring organisational resources together with the knowledge already held by Education and community organisations.

Build with the community

Educators, community organisations and local groups understand pressures and opportunities that may not be visible from outside.

We help connect that insight with organisations seeking to contribute. The aim is to shape support with the people involved, agree what each partner can offer and establish a realistic basis for working together.

A purposeful partnership starts with a shared need, not a predetermined activity looking for a beneficiary.

From intention to action

Make a commitment
that can be delivered.

A strong commitment connects three things:

A relevant need

Who is intended to benefit, and what would make a difference?

A practical contribution

What will be provided, by whom and within what timescale?

A clear basis for evidence

How will delivery be recorded, and how will the intended benefit be assessed?

Whether a commitment forms part of a tender, a contract or an organisational plan, these questions help turn an intention into something people can act on.

Explore how we work

Look beyond the activity

What happened is not the whole story.

Resources contributed, people trained and projects completed are important records of delivery. They do not, on their own, establish the full benefit to society.

We help distinguish the contribution made, the activity completed and the outcomes that can reasonably be evidenced.

What useful evidence should show

Start with the intended outcome and agree proportionate measures before delivery begins.

Evidence might include delivery records, participant feedback, changes in practice or information about how a space or service is used. The approach should suit the commitment, protect personal information and make limitations clear.

Where independent assurance is needed, a separately scoped review can examine whether agreed commitments have been met and what the supporting evidence demonstrates.

Find your route

What does this mean
for your organisation?

Business

Connect your organisation’s commitments, skills and resources with relevant societal benefit, and demonstrate what you deliver.

Explore support for Business

Start a conversation

What could your commitment make possible?

You may have a commitment to shape, a contribution to offer or a community need that would benefit from the right support.

Tell us what you are working towards. We will help you identify a practical next step.