Social Value
Social value is not just a nice-to-have for businesses – it is an integral part of your strategy and culture.
The main indicator of ‘value’ is often seen as monetary, but in reality it is the impact you have on your employees and the local community.
By implementing social value into your everyday decision-making, you are pro-actively making a difference.
Not just as a feelgood factor and improving element in staff satisfaction, but also to your reputation, which may gain you a competitive edge over those not seen to participate.
It’s a holistic approach to business success, where financial returns are balanced with social impact.


We can help you implement a range of social value projects, fully flexible to your needs, existing business strategies, and budget.
We have over 35 years’ experience of working with East Midlands businesses of all sizes. Previous social value support include:
- Developing social value policies and strategies
- Embedding social value in procurement
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) projects in local environment
- Introducing projects promoting health, wellbeing, and social inclusion
- Creating job opportunities that build local skills and pathways into work
- Grant management into funder-specified community projects, reinvesting locally
- Corporate volunteering
- Sustainable Business support
We provide clear reporting, including impact data, stories, and metrics to help you demonstrate how your investment delivers against social value priorities.
Case study: Broxtowe Borough Council
We were recently invited by Broxtowe Borough Council to support and develop a Social Value Policy to help achieve greater local community impacts from its public procurement of goods and services.
The Council also wished to focus their social value principles on employment and training opportunities for hard to reach and access group (NEET adults, ex-offenders and ex-military), in line with their Recruitment Policy and Housing Strategy.
We proposed a flexible framework designed around several key pillars to focus the Council’s efforts to create tangible, measurable outcomes that reflect their vision.
Our Executive Director Penny Halewood and Programmes’ Director Darryl Plummer hosted a full-day training session for key stakeholders for various Council departments. They highlighted the purpose and importance of Social Value and gained valuable insight into what tangible outcomes could look like for each department and local communities.
Based on these visions and ideas, we are drafting a detailed Social Value Policy, outlining clear objectives, and measurable targets, for maximum local impact to be considered and adopted across the Council.


2024-25 Impact Report
Read how we have supported people and communities throughout the year, including our team at work, our project successes, beneficiary stories, partnerships, and much more.
READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY?
By partnering with Groundwork Five Counties, you’ll be supporting your local community and making a difference where it really matters – close to home.
Whether you already know exactly what you want to improve your social value, or need our help to identify suitable projects, we are here to help.
If you are interested in corporate volunteering, click here for more information and to enquire about bookings.
Get in touch via the enquiry form below!