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Social Value Examples

Knowing where to start on social value can often seem like a challenge, however, it is very likely that you are already creating Social Value, simply by: 

  • Buying locally
  • Employing locally
  • Offering training and apprenticeships
  • Volunteering
  • Reducing carbon emissions

Click on the 1-minute video below to see ideas of what Social Value could look like in your organisation.

 

See examples by initiatives

  • ECC16 Supporting young people into work: providing 1 to 1 advice, for example: mock interviews, careers guidance, or delivering support in small groups for example: CV and cover letter writing 
  • ECC17 Offering meaningful unpaid work experience 
  • ECC18 Offering paid work placements   
  • ECC19 Visiting schools and or colleges to deliver career talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks, etc 

 

Case Studies

 

Employment for disadvantaged groups of residents in Essex

  • ECC3a - Hired or retained armed forces veterans
  • ECC5 - Hired local people who are rehabilitating young offenders 
  • ECC6 - Jobs created for local people with disabilities
  • ECC7 - Hired local young people who are care leavers

Tackling barriers for entering employment 

  • ECC4 - hired or support those who are unemployed, or who are not in education, or training
  • ECC9 - Offering training opportunities (BTEC, City & Guilds, NVQ, HNC) in Essex
  • ECC10 - Offering apprenticeships in Essex
  • ECC31a - Offering digital skills training to disadvantaged people in Essex
  • ECC41 - Specific initiatives for members of an ethnic minority group in Essex
  • ECC28 : Equality, diversity and inclusion training provided for contractors and subcontractors

Case Studies

Initiatives to engage people from Essex communities

ECC14: health interventions (for example: stop smoking, obesity, alcoholism, drugs, etc.) 

ECC15: wellbeing initiatives focused on mental health for Essex communities (adults and/ or children) 

ECC20: to support older, disabled and vulnerable people to build stronger community networks (for example: befriending schemes, digital inclusion clubs)

ECC27a: providing access to employees to comprehensive and multidimensional wellbeing programmes

ECC13 : Initiatives supporting tackling homelessness 

ECC29 : supporting Initiatives aimed at reducing crime (for example: support for local youth groups, lighting for public spaces, private security, etc.)

ECC32: In-kind contributions to local community projects 

ECC33: Volunteering time provided to support local community projects

 

 

Case Study

 

Reducing greenhouse gases

  • ECC47: Hard to recycle waste diverted from landfill or incineration through specific recycling partnerships (for example Terracycle or equivalent)
  • ECC50: Support for suppliers to demonstrate climate change and carbon reduction training for all staff - e.g. SDGs Academy courses, Supply Chain Sustainability School bronze or higher or equivalent
  • ECC21: Savings in CO2e emissions on contract achieved through de-carbonisation (for example: a reduction of the carbon intensity of processes and operations, specify how these are to be achieved) against a specific benchmark
  • ECC23a:Car miles saved on the project as a result of a green transport programme or equivalent (for example: cycle to work programmes, public transport or car pooling programmes, etc.) 
  • ECC51: Fleet emissions monitoring programme on the contract, including data collection (for example: miles, type of vehicle, engine type, emission standard)

Reducing waste

  • ECC26a:Total volume of reduced plastics against a relevant benchmark
  • ECC49: Reduce waste through reuse of products and materials
  • ECC46: Support provided internally and to SMEs or VCSEs within the supply chain to adopt Circular Economy solutions (for example: business case and leadership for circular economy)

Strengthening climate resilience

  • ECC45: Activities to influence staff, suppliers, customers and communities to support environmental protection and improvement

 

Case Studies:

Birch Airfield Composting Services Ltd: is an Essex-based Bio-Waste Treatment. Birch Airfield Composting services partner with Helena Hospice in North East Essex to collect and composts Christmas trees for free, generating donations for the charity. 

Resources

  • The Essex Climate Action Commission has put together a Business Advice Pack that has been specifically developed to help small and medium-sized businesses across Essex access the most relevant information in relation to climate change and sustainability, with tips and ideas throughout to help your business to thrive whilst keeping its impact on the environment low. 
  • Laptop Recycling Scheme (PDF, 129KB): A scheme in which used and old laptops are recycled and donated to young people within Essex so they are able to utilise the technology. 
  • Library of Things: find out at how to support communities through this Circular Economy initiative.

 

For  Small and Medium Enterprises and Voluntary sector organisations based in Essex

ECC11:Total amount (£) spent in local supply chain 

ECC12 :Total amount (£) spent through the contract with local SMEs 

ECC28 : Equality, diversity and inclusion training provided for contractors and subcontractors

ECC30: Voluntary hours donated to support local charities 

ECC38: Total amount (£) spent with VCSEs within your supply chain

ECC39: Provision of expert business advice to VCSEs and SMEs (for example, financial advice, legal advice, HR advice / HSE)

ECC40: Equipment or resources donated to VCSEs 

ECC48: Initiatives taken throughout the local and global supply chain to strengthen the identification, monitoring and reduction of risks of modern slavery and unethical work practices occurring in relation to the contract.

Case Studies:

ENS Recruitment Ltd is an Essex-based organisation which provides domiciliary care to Essex residents. ENS Recruitment staff members partnered with Age Concern to volunteer at local charity premises, and provide weekly support to senior adults to feel confident when using digital devises.

 

social.value@essex.gov.uk .

Last updated: 13/01/2025