Government announces Public Procurement Sustainability Review

One of SWM’s 2020 roadmap priorities is around sustainable procurement. We have worked with a number of our members and partners, such as Localise West Midlands, Institute of Social Entrepreneurs, Social Enterprise West Midlands, Birmingham City Council, Buy for Good and Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands to promote good practice. The introduction of the Social Value Act, by West Midlands MP Chris White, has helped to encourage local authorities to include additional environmental and social criteria in their procurement and buying policies.  Over a year on, the Government has announced a review on progress. Lord Young, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Enterprise, will lead the review following its widespread success.  The Social Value Act improves the way taxpayers’ money is spent on public services. They will be looking at experience of the Act to date and considering the benefits of extending it. The Act requires people who commission, or buy, public services to consider securing added economic, social or environmental benefits for their local area. There has been support for service providers and commissioners to implement the Act and put social value at the heart of what they do. The review team will consider a range of evidence and aims to report on findings in early 2015. More information will then be published how to contribute views to the review later in the year. More information on the Social Value Act including information and resources are available here.