social value
Unlocking true social value through partnership
Regional Director for Equans UK & Ireland Paul Bingham explains why its partnership with youth homelessness charity in the West Midlands St Basils has been such a rousing success.
Time for a fightback
Political parties think the general public doesn’t care about councils, which is why, electorally, they are not on the agenda – but they’re wrong, says Sarah Longlands.
Moving from social value to community wealth building
Steve Wilson looks at how adopting a new community wealth model can provide opportunities to put your local communities at the forefront of your recruitment strategy.
Public sector procurement – social value
A look at how Crown Commercial Service (CCS) is working with local government to build social value into procurement.
The problem with Best Value
The Government’s new Best Value draft guidance targets the right issues, but in too many areas it suggests a search for quantifiable answers to qualitative questions, says Barry Quirk.
Effective collaboration can help rising costs
Qwest is a joint venture between Equans and Cheshire West & Chester Council that allows an innovative vehicle to make changes quickly, delivering continuous improvements and savings for the council, says Ben Cummins.
A great leveller
With round three of the Levelling Up Fund due to launch, a new guide from APSE and CLES is aimed at helping councils maximise impact. Leah Milthorne explains.
Serving up a food strategy
Local authorities are increasingly playing a more prominent role in creating healthy, sustainable food systems, says Leticija Petrovic.
National issues on a local scale: tackling the cost of living crisis
Local authorities are working with partners in a variety of creative and resourceful ways in response to the cost of living crisis, as Stephen Gaskell explains.
Delivering social value needs radical collaboration
The private sector, councils and the third sector must now collaborate on a more radical level if we are to move social value forwards, says Guy Battle.
Is it time for insourcing by default?
Is it time for a new era of public service value? Mo Baines looks at the value of insourcing and service integration.
Don’t undervalue the power of social value in decarbonisation
To be a true partner to the public sector on the road to net zero the private sector needs to make use of social value as a way of seeking meaningful solutions, says head of social value strategy at EQUANS UK & Ireland Chrissy Galerakis.
Future Forum: Social value can survive austerity
Securing social value in contracts is made more difficult in times of austerity but is still achievable, The MJ’s Future Forum has heard.
Facing up to a challenged planet
A mural hanging in Norwich City Council chamber is a vivid portrayal of the challenges posed by climate change and its impacts in the past, the present, and the future, says Cllr Alan Waters.
Give councils the core role in local public accounts committees
If the aims of the Public Procurement Bill are to become a reality, isn't it time to give local councils a genuine role in holding all local public service providers to account, asks Mo Baines.
Maintaining momentum on social value
Collaboration between public and private sector will be key if we are to maintain progress on social value generation in the next 12 months, says Alison Ramsey.
It’s payback time Dudley style
Shaun Keasey outlines how Dudley MBC is getting community payback following the introduction of its social value policy. He says the approach is making a massive impact locally.
How to be sure when you procure
David Bemrose highlights the key aspects of the Crown Commercial Service’s new Contract Management Pioneer Programme to boost contract management capability across the public sector.
Social value can unlock billions to help communities flourish
A new report from Social Enterprise UK has highlighted a huge opportunity to realise £56bn a year through better public sector procurement, says Chris White.
Consistent craving
Ministerial decisions to upend long-term policy commitments are the enemy of local economic planning and public service reform, writes Jonathan Werran.