Dan Corry, CEO of New Philanthropy Capital and Board Member of the What Works Centre for Wellbeing has written a blog on measuring wellbeing and the drive from some to place a financial value on improvements to wellbeing.
You can read the blog on the What Works Centre for Wellbeing website.
This newsletter describes the ongoing work of GMSVN to develop the network and some of the key wider activities currently going on around social value in Greater Manchester.
Please contact us if you have news of interest to other members of the network that should be included in future newsletters.
You can download a PDF version GMSVN newsletter July 2018 or scroll down for all the latest news.
GMSVN Steering Group held an away day in February to assess our achievements, the continuing challenges and future opportunities. Following this we have created a delivery plan to guide our work which will be shared more widely soon. Future planned activities include: developing a short-version training; creating a social value film; developing specialist training for commissioners in how to embed social value into specifications; and holding “show and tell” conferences where organisations and businesses tell each other about what they’re doing.
On Friday 8 June a Social Value event was held that sparked a call out on twitter for people to share examples of how their organisation delivers social value. We’ve decided to keep the hashtag going by encouraging people to share their stories each Friday. Some weeks we’ll have specific themes, others it’s a free for all!
Get involved by sharing how you or others do good business using the hashtag #ThatsSocialValue
Follow the hashtag on twitter to see what has happened in previous weeks or check out a summary on our website https://gmsvn.org.uk/thats-social-value/
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is refreshing the GM Social Value Policy in time to be launched at the National Social Value Task Force being held in Manchester in November (we’ll send out details when we know more).
The updated policy will take account of the Greater Manchester Strategy (Our People, Our Place). The policy will be developed in conjunction with all sectors and partners across GM including the Health and Social Care Partnership and will consider:
Members of the GM Social Value network steering group will play a part in the development of new Social Value Policy.
The Bolton Social Value Partnership was set up in 2017 to explore ways in which partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors across Bolton could come together to develop and embed a social value approach for Bolton which aligns to both the GM social value policy and the Bolton 2030 vision.
It has 3 key functions;
The partnership is coordinated by Bolton CVS and membership includes Bolton Council, Bolton at Home, Seddons, Keoghs, BWCT, The Octagon, Bolton CCG, University of Bolton, Boo Consulting and Urban Outreach.
The Bolton Social Business Collective launched in April, borne out of sparks of conversations between local community and small business leaders with a shared vision to make a difference in the town. The Collective will create a space for sharing ideas and learning, strengthening local connections and will build a foundation for increasing social value. It will also form part of the Bolton Family, a body which brings together some of the major employers in Bolton to work together with the council and voluntary sector in support of the Bolton 2030 Vision.
At the first open gathering in June, 15 small businesses came together, keen to share ideas on what, why and how the collective should work together in the future. The focus was on the benefits of having a collective voice for social business in Bolton and over the next few weeks, we will be working together to write a shared manifesto. Find out more, including the date of the next gathering by following our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SocialBusinessCollective/
BW3 is a business network in Wythenshawe. A group of MBA students from Manchester Business School have recently completed a Social Return on Investment study on behalf of the network. The study evaluates the Aspirational Mentoring and Numbers at Work programmes delivered by the network in support of local schools. Several members of the network attended the GMSVN event that hosted in Wythenshawe a few months ago.
Colette Humphrey from Wythenshawe Community Housing Group (and GMSVN Steering Group) plans to support members of the network in increasing awareness and understanding of social value through the training course available from GMSVN and through further networking events. More information on the BW3 is available at http://www.bw3.org.uk/
The Greater Manchester Housing Providers are working together to engage existing and potential suppliers to the sector in creating more social value. The aim is to increase understanding of the procurement process and in particular in how to respond to questions about social value. An event was held at the end of February with session topics including employment, service providers, using social enterprises and the living wage. The housing providers are working with The Growth Hub to plan further events and training that will take place across Greater Manchester.
The GMSVN Chair, Matthew Baqueriza-Jackson is an advisor to the EU Urban Agenda Partnership for Responsible and Innovative Public Procurement. Operating over a three year period, the Partnership is seeking to shift the way in which procurement is undertaken across Europe so that it delivers greater social and environmental benefits. An action plan has been developed, with the Partnership seeking to develop guidance around procurement strategy and a cross-Europe spend analysis tool (amongst other things). The action plan is out for public consultation and can be viewed here: https://ec.europa.eu/futurium/en/public-procurement/public-procurement-draft-action-plan
GMPA have brought together people from across GM, including those with first-hand experience to launch the Greater Manchester Food Poverty Alliance. The aim of the Alliance is to produce a Food Poverty Action Plan that will reduce and prevent food poverty, support communities to plan and adapt to the challenge of food poverty, and address structural issues that underlie food poverty. The Alliance is still in the early stages and GMPA want to encourage new people to participate. If you are interested in joining the Alliance, you can find out more about the project and how to get involved here.
Salford CVS has secured funding through the GM Health and Social Care Transformation Fund to employ a new Social Value Development Worker, Deb Drinkwater. Her new role is to embed social value across the Salford Wellbeing Matters Programme, support local VCSE organisations with their social value measurement, engage with businesses and other local stakeholders to drive forward the 10% Better Campaign and support the ongoing administration of Salford’s Social Value Alliance. Deb can be contacted at socialvalue@salfordcvs.co.uk
Salford Together, the City’s Health and Social Care Integrated Commissioning Organisation, is forging ahead to embed social value into its procurement. Using the 10% Better campaign metrics as a guide, Salford Together is looking to focus its social value into the 11 outcomes identified by the campaign as being those which will really make the most difference for the city and its people.
Salford Royal Foundation Trust is bringing together representatives from across the Northern Care Alliance to develop a Social Value Strategy, which will give a focus to social value for the acute system across Salford, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham.
New branding was launched on 12th June for Salford’s 10% Better Campaign, which invites organisations to consider which of 11 outcomes they already contribute to, and by making a pledge, to improve on that outcome by 10%.
For example Salford Community Leisure have pledged to:
To find out more about existing pledges, campaign updates and Social Value resources go to http://www.salfordsocialvalue.org.uk.
Manchester City Council has developed a toolkit for commissioners to go alongside its Social Value Toolkit for Suppliers. Further information from k.lock@manchester.gov.uk.
The Inclusive Growth Analysis Unit (IGAU) have produced a series of reports on the role of responsible business in inclusive growth.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) are developing a Good Employer Charter to support employers in best practice, help them to grow and provide good jobs. A consultation has been carried out and the charter is being drafted.
Please contact us if you have news of interest to other members of the network that should be included in future newsletters.
Social Enterprise UK commissioned Chris White, the author of the Social Value Act, to review the effect on public sector spending since it came into force in 2013.
The Act requires people who commission public services to securing wider social, economic and environmental benefits form the money that they spend in certain, limited circumstances.
Chris White’s 5 recommendations are:
Download Our Money, our Future from the Social Enterprise UK website.
The Salford Social Value Alliance
We believe that social value can be used to improve the lives of people across Salford. We want to use it as a way to tackle poverty and inequality in our city. We can all work together to use social value – in procurement, in business, in community activity, in development and growth, and in public services – to make our city a better place.
The Salford Social Value Alliance wants to use social value to make a 10% improvement across 11 social, environmental and economic outcomes for the benefit of Salford and its people.
Together, our aim is that by 2021 there will be:
* 4,690 MORE people volunteering in Salford
* At least 25 MORE formerly NEET 16 and 17 year olds from Salford going into employment, education and training every year
* 19,000 Salford adults aged 16 and over saying that they feel MORE satisfied with their life than they did last year
* 42 kg LESS waste generated by each Salford household every year
* 3,450 tonnes MORE Salford waste recycled
* 2,280 MORE people out of their cars and using green methods of transport to work
* 6,300 FEWER inactive people in Salford
* At least 1,570 MORE Salford people paid the LW Foundation Living Wage
* 780 MORE people from vulnerable groups in Salford accessing new jobs, apprenticeships, training and work experience placements
* 1,130 FEWER Salford households living in fuel poverty
AND with local companies having local supply chains, we want to INCREASE the GVA / head for Salford people by 10% – that’s £2,353.
In these times of austerity, we need to maximise the benefit from all money invested in Salford.
Achieving this will involve commitment from the many private sector businesses, public sector organisations, as well as voluntary and community groups and social enterprises, so we will use the 10% Better campaign as a way to focus effort into those areas which will have maximum impact. It will mean embedding a social value approach into every organisation no matter what its size or sector.
Pledge what you can to make Salford 10% better. It doesn’t sound much, but if all businesses, schools, hospitals, councils, community groups, etc. committed to do just one thing, then together we can make a real difference.
Make a pledge and find out more at www.salfordsocialvalue.org.uk
Russell Hargrave from Power to Change has written an article published in The Guardian on Tuesday 15 August about the changes that need to be made to the Social Value Act; according to small charities and community businesses.
Read the full article on The Guardian website.
The Business Growth Hub have recently won a national environmental award. Their Director for Low Carbon, Todd Holden, is a member of the GMSVN steering group.
The Manchester-based Business Growth Hub, which helps to support the growth of businesses in Greater Manchester, is celebrating after winning a prestigious national environmental award.
The organisation beat the National Trust and Environment Agency to Sustainability Impact of the Year at the ENDS Report Awards at a ceremony in London on Thursday 4 May.
The award recognises the role of the Business Growth Hub’s low carbon sector and environmental business advisors in supporting sustainable business in Greater Manchester.
‘Ground-breaking approach’
The Hub’s environmental business advisors help companies to identify, quantify and implement environmental measures that cut costs, improve productivity and reduce emissions. This in turn stimulates demand for local suppliers of low carbon goods and services, such as energy efficient heating and lighting, and these businesses are supported by the Hub’s low carbon sector specialists.
The judges described the support as a “ground-breaking approach in driving forward the transition to a low carbon economy”.
Since January 2015, the project has helped SMEs achieve annually recurring savings of £2.2 million by improving environmental performance, as well as generating £7.3 million in sales for local companies in the low carbon sector.
‘Completely unique’
Sam Nicholson, head of low carbon and manufacturing at the Hub, said: “We’re very proud to receive this award from such a respected organisation as ENDS, particularly as we were shortlisted alongside The National Trust for their renewable energy investment programme and the Environment Agency for their work to reduce supply chain emissions.
“This win speaks volumes about the strength of our environmental business support. We took on the challenge of creating and delivering an effective programme for Greater Manchester that aligned to the city’s climate change objectives and the economic development objectives of our public funders, while also helping SMEs seize the growth potential of a low carbon economy. The results we’ve achieved since 2015 demonstrate that we’ve done just that.
“We are completely unique in providing fully-funded, advisor-led business support that boosts both the supply of, and demand for, low carbon goods and services within a major city region and it’s great that this work has been recognised.”
For more information on Business Growth Hub’s environmental business support, click here.
Anne Lythgoe writes a blog for the Social Audit Network on a worrying trend that we’re starting to overlook the environment when considering social impact.
Read the article in full on the SAN website.
Tomorrow Greater Manchester will elect its first ever Mayor.
Greater Manchester Poverty Action have developed a newsletter containing a series of short articles written especially for the successful candidate’s attention.
Read the newsletter on their website.
Greater Manchester attracts and already has a significant amount of wealth which does not always reach the right places – social value* is a means through which the benefits of this wealth can be reallocated and realised for all.
The Greater Manchester Social Value Network (GMSVN) seeks to ensure that social value is at the forefront of everything that public, commercial and social sector organisations do in Greater Manchester. This includes in their strategies, their spending, their recruitment practices, their delivery of projects, and in their relationship with Greater Manchester as a place and its residents.
*Social value considers more than just the financial transaction and includes: happiness; wellbeing; health; inclusion; empowerment; poverty; environment.
GMSVN’s members, including local authorities, housing organisations, and voluntary and community sector organisations, would expect the GM Mayor to also adopt such principles to ensure that social value is at the heart of their approach.
Specifically, GMSVN would expect…
Moving forward, GMSVN can assist in realising this and support the GM Mayor through continuing to collect information and evidence of social value; support organisations to deliver social value; and influence behaviour of key organisations around their approach to social value. All of this would redirect Greater Manchester’s wealth to where it’s needed.
Nick Temple, Deputy Chief Exec of Social Enterprise UK, shares his thoughts on an inclusive industrial strategy.
Read the full article online.
On 1 March CLES and Manchester City Council launched ‘The Power of Procurement II: the policy and practice of Manchester City Council 10 years on’.
Some of the key achievements include:
Read more on the CLES website.
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