Social value in business is about making sure that what we do creates an overall positive impact on our people and communities. Although this impact goes beyond a businesses’ financial bottom line, it doesn’t mean it’s despite it.
Prioritising Social Value can and does have positive financial impacts for businesses. For example, social value is everywhere in procurement and strategy conversations. The challenge is knowing whether it genuinely delivers business results and turning it into action.
Across Greater Manchester and beyond, organisations of all sizes are already embedding social value in ways that strengthen bids, build workforce resilience and create lasting community impact.
Here are real examples of what they achieved.
A Local SME Securing Public Contracts: Diamond Decorators UK Ltd
Manchester-based Diamond Decorators UK Ltd embedded social value into its operations by focusing on community wellbeing in social housing, supporting charities such as Salford Loaves and Fishes, and adopting sustainable working practices.
With support from the GM Business Growth Hub, the company clarified its social value proposition and strengthened its bid-writing approach. The result was measurable: new public-sector contracts, including the ‘Rochdale Borough Housing Framework’, to increase turnover and expansion into new geographic markets.
For SMEs competing in public procurement, a clearly defined and evidenced social value approach can provide a genuine competitive edge.
A Renewable Energy Manufacturer Investing in Skills: Daikin UK
Operating in the renewable energy sector, Daikin UK opened a dedicated training centre in Trafford Park to upskill and retrain individuals into green energy roles.
This was not a contractual obligation. It was a strategic response to skills shortages and a long-term investment in workforce resilience.
By strengthening the local talent pipeline, the organisation supports sustainable economic growth while protecting its own operational capacity. The outcome is both commercial sustainability and meaningful regional impact.
A Charity Strengthening Corporate Partnerships: Henshaws Society for the Blind
Henshaws has long delivered services supporting people with visual impairments. By developing a clearer understanding of social value frameworks and how corporate partners measure impact, the charity strengthened its ability to collaborate with private businesses.
By mapping its work against recognised frameworks, Henshaws communicated its impact more effectively to corporate funders. This led to increased funding, stronger partnerships and expanded services across Greater Manchester.
For private-sector organisations, partnering with VCSE organisations can make social value delivery more efficient, measurable, and impactful. Businesses can act independently, but collaboration often accelerates results.
A Global Employer Creating Opportunity: Equans
Equans partners with The Skill Mill to provide training and employment opportunities for young people with histories of offending.
By viewing a criminal record as potential rather than a barrier, the organisation helps reduce reoffending while strengthening workforce engagement and reputation.
Responsible employment practices can enhance retention, improve culture and contribute directly to organisational performance.
The Business Benefits, Backed by Data
The economic advantage of social value is increasingly supported by evidence:
• Organisations perceived as socially responsible have recorded returns increased by up to 19%.
• 24% of businesses implementing socially responsible behaviour report improved financial performance.
• Responsible employment practices are linked to stronger staff loyalty and retention.
Social value also forms part of many public sector tender evaluations, making a measurable impact a growing competitive factor.
Your Next Step
You can build social value through your own operations, or work with VCSE partners to deliver it more efficiently and with clearer outcomes.
If you’re unsure where to start, our Social Value Specialists provide Social Value Workshops and tailored one-to-one support to help you embed impact, measure results and strengthen tender submissions.
Social value is already influencing decisions. The question is what you’ll do next.
Get in touch
Please contact us at 0161 3593050 or query below.
Take that first step and we’ll support you with whatever you need to succeed.
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