The University of Northampton welcomes Government review of the Social Value Act

​​The University of Northampton welcomes the Government’s plan to review and potentially extend the Social Value Act to cover contracts for goods and works as well as services.

The review has been launched by the Cabinet Office and the PM’s Advisor on Enterprise Lord Young.

The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 requires public bodies in England and Wales to consider how the services they commission and procure might improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of an area.

The University of Northampton’s £1bn Challenge campaign is a great example of Social Value Act in action. The campaign encourages UK universities to spend at least £1bn of their combined annual procurement budget of over £7bn with suppliers that can deliver social impact. They can either buy direct from social ventures, or work with private sector partners to ensure they embed social value into their supply chain. For example, the procurement process for the construction of the University Of Northampton’s new campus has social value clauses included.

Professor Nick Petford, Vice Chancellor of the University of Northampton and Chair of Procurement UK, commented: “The Government’s latest commitment to social value is very encouraging. The proposed review of the Social Value Act is a real step forward and we hope it leads to the strengthening and extension of this vital piece of legislation.
“The University of Northampton has been campaigning hard to persuade all types of organisation, as well as other universities, to embed social value into their procurement practices and supply chains. We will continue to lobby for the UK’s vast spending power to deliver social impact for the benefit of all.”​

Find out more about the Social Value Act ​