Scotland ranks as one of the top performers in the latest Social Value Insights Report

A groundbreaking new report by the Social Value Portal has revealed the impressive strides being made in the UK towards delivering meaningful change to local communities through Social Value initiatives. The report, which draws on data dating back to 2016 and input from 800 Social Value experts, highlights the key players in the movement and their impact.

Since the implementation of the Public Services (Social Value) Act in 2012, the public sector has been a driving force behind the Social Value movement, with Scotland emerging as a standout performer, delivering an average of £5.3m in Social Value per project between 2016 and 2023.

The report identifies key success factors in Social Value initiatives, including using local businesses, employing locally, cutting emissions, donating to community projects, and offering apprenticeships. It also notes a significant growth in Social Value delivery, with Real Estate leading the charge with a 2,239% increase from 2020 to 2023.

Interestingly, the report reveals that small businesses are outperforming larger organizations in Social Value delivery, with those employing 51-200 people taking the top spot by delivering an average of £10.2m per project.

Guy Battle, CEO of Social Value Portal, expressed optimism about the findings, noting that organizations are exceeding their Social Value commitments and emphasizing the importance of collaboration in building a fairer, greener, and more prosperous society.

With a goal of delivering £100bn in Social Value by 2026, the Social Value Portal is working with a diverse range of members, including public sector organizations and well-known companies like Compass Group, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, Bouygues UK, and Mars, to drive positive change in communities across the UK.