Major council contractors focus on social value
Three major contractors who carry out work on behalf of Telford & Wrekin Council have embedded social value into everything they do, says a new report.
Balfour Beatty, Idverde and Veolia can clearly measure and report on the social value that their contracts with the council deliver.
A report to the council’s cabinet – which meets on September 12 – which also provides an update on what the council plans to procure over the next six months, includes an emphasis on further increasing the council’s approach to social value – typified by recycling contractor Veolia, highways contractor Balfour Beatty and grounds and cleansing contractor Idverde.
This approach shows how contractors need to look at the wider social and added value needed in our borough when bidding for contracts.
The council has also become a “carer friendly” employer and it working towards becoming a ‘Disability Confident’ employer, so making the workplace more inclusive. They are now looking for their suppliers and providers to follow suite which will also give added social value to the workforce in the borough
Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Finance, Commercial Services and the Borough Economy, said: “We want to lead by example in terms of our approach to ensuring contracts we award generate as much social value within our local Community as possible, and that we spend as much of our money within the local economy as possible.
“Council officers recently presented at a construction event in Shrewsbury which aimed to assist local suppliers with top tips on supporting social value and what they could do to maximise the positive impact on the local community.”
This includes supporting a healthier community by supporting the Eat Well project, assisting them to become a disability and carer-friendly employer and sharing best practice with voluntary or social groups.
