Social Value Commitments (SVCs) present a massive opportunity to drive digital inclusion. For procurers, they are a great source of funding. For suppliers, they provide a natural fit for a huge range of bids. Properly planned and implemented, they deliver genuine impact as well as a wealth of benefits to both sides of the relationship.
What we offer
We work with clients to plan, deliver SVC projects based around digital inclusion (DI).
We support suppliers and procurers to understand:
- How the SVC bidding structure works and how DI-based projects fit into it.
- The range and breadth of opportunities.
- How to evaluate the impact of projects with a framework designed to measure the often hard-to-measure outputs of DI projects.
And we work as partners to:
- Run SVC projects on the ground.
- Grow and evolve SVC projects for maximum benefit for everyone in involved.
What are Social Value Commitments?
SVCs are legal requirements in UK public sector tendering.
- When government bodies - including central departments, the NHS and local authorities - purchase goods and services, the suppliers must commit some of the budget (usually around 10%) to projects that bring wider social, economic or environmental benefits.
- For example, a telecoms company bidding for an NHS project might include a commitment to delivering digital skills training via a range of mechanisms to a range of beneficiaries.
- There is a strict structure and complicated framework around SVCs, including the criteria they must meet, how that's measured and how it's evaluated when the overall bid is considered (another legal requirement). There's more on the detail of evaluating bids here.
Public sector procurement is worth around £434bn a year. So SVCs can make a huge difference if leveraged correctly and understanding what they are and how they are evaluated is crucial.
How do SVCs fit with digital inclusion?
- SVCs must map to the Government's five core missions (which cover areas like growth, opportunity and the NHS). We think digital inclusion should be considered in all social value bids – as a basic strategic requirement, because you can’t meet any of the missions if citizens aren't digitally included. More pragmatically, so many people in so many areas need help with digital skills that suppliers can match it to a huge range of bids.
- They can be delivered in multiple ways - from the simple to the complex. For example, with digital skills, some local authorities use SVCs as a straightforward way to fund membership of the Digital Champions Network or use staff from the supplier as volunteer Champions. Some connect across several areas of the council including data as devices as part of their commitment (as VMO2 do in Manchester, more on this in our report below).Others working with trusted partners (like us) to set up and run DI networks and training.
- When it works best - for both suppliers and procurers - is when it is more than a one-off funded project and is aligned with wider CSR/ ESG goals and a long term DI commitment. It brings new connections, perspectives and opportunities to both sides, from the bottom to the top of the organisation.
There's more on the cumulative value of combining CSR and ESG and SVCs goals here.
SVCs in Action: Let's Get Digital
A good practical example of SVCs in action are the three we run for tech consultant Capgemini, under the Let's Get Digital umbrella. Two are for government departments and one for Sellafield Six. They all have slightly different remits (for example one is targeted at increasing skills for work) but run along broadly the same lines. They support each other and the wider, long term commitments Capgemini have made to combat digital exclusion.
How it works: A local co-ordinator helps community organisations understand digital exclusion and provides them with tools to tackle it. Some organisations just want more understanding of the issues and to be networked and connected to resources in their area; some want to put their staff/ volunteers through basic DI training, via our Inspire course. Others want to run Digital Champion projects, via the Digital Champions Network and to weave DI through their offer. As everyone starts at different levels, we aim to increase their digital inclusion maturity wherever they are on the journey.
We work closely with Capgemini to measure the project and consult on how it can grow and improve year on year.
From LGD
LGD started in West Cumbria in 2022 and has since been joined by sister projects in Newcastle and Durham. These pages give an idea of the kind activity going on in each area
From Capgemini
We've been working together for more than 5 years on a growing and evolving programme. This outline from their Head of DI shows how long term commitments can bring great benefits.
From the Home Office
A short case study on LGD, Durham, which is part of a Home Office commitment to tackling economic inequality and promoting equal opportunities.
In-depth resource:
Digital inclusion and social value in detail.
Exploring mechanisms for business and industry to deliver change
This paper grew from something we wrote for the Digital Inclusion Action Committee (an external advisory body that works with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology) on how DI-based SVCs are currently working and could be improved.
This much more in-depth version explains in detail how bids work and are evaluated. It includes long-form interviews with people from Capgemini and VMO2 - two organisations who are making it work in different ways - on their current processes and future plans.
It also looks at the potential for the suppliers of SVCs but it's useful for anyone interested in how SVCs and DI can work together.
Calling Local Authorities!
We have a lot of clients who are local authorities. Some are already using SVCs - but take-up and understanding is patchy and varies widely. As our corporate clients point out, lots of public bodies don't have the time or expertise to ensure SVC bids are structured to their full advantage.
In the second half of 2026, we are going to bring people in the public sector together to share what's working and pull together guidelines for best practice. If you'd like to be involved, share your ideas or find out what's working for other councils, please sign-up below and we'll be in touch.
