What is Social Value?
Social Value (SV) is the measurable positive impact a business creates for people, communities, and society. It extends beyond financial return and is driven through intentional strategy, responsible operations, and long-term investment.
Social value is a number, a standard, a commitment.
Since the Social Value Act 2012 and the introduction of PPN 06/20, many organisations across the UK rushed to measure and report their social impact. But in the race to win contracts and satisfy ESG investors, two issues emerged:
Over-claiming: Values applied generously, outcomes never verified, communities never consulted
Under-connecting: Strong ESG disclosure with no practical link to project-level delivery and real community outcomes
The result is a growing gap between what organisations say they deliver and what communities and investors can actually verify.