How to use the Social Value Quality Mark® as evidence

The UK’s national standard in social value

When considering social value evidence within tenders, it can be a challenge for both suppliers and procurement teams.

The Social Value Quality Mark® is the UK’s national standard. It assesses organisations on their social value behaviours, processes and delivery, providing independent assurance. It provides suppliers with a mark of distinction that they can use as evidence.

Accreditation is awarded based on an organisation’s social value maturity at four levels. These broadly align to procurement descriptors as shown:

Bronze – The organisation has made a meaningful commitment to social value. It has defined what social value means to its organisation and stakeholders. The organisation has established a series of measurable pledges together with the governance and action plans to support delivery.

Bronze developing

Silver – The organisation is making significant progress against its initial commitments. It has established a clear strategy based on insights from clients, staff, service users and communities in terms of what they need and value. The organisation has legitimate measurement methods through which to measure progress and is reporting its impact transparently within the public domain.

Silver Mature

Gold – The Gold award recognises true best practice, including a mature social value strategy and comprehensive measurement over a period of at least 12 months. At this level, social value is a differentiator for the organisation, who will typically be generating impressive impact.

Gold Leader

Platinum – Platinum is the SVQM’s highest award. 
The organisation will have a demonstrable track record of delivery measured over at least 2 years. Having embedded social value through every part of the business, Platinum awardees are now spreading this innovation and influence outwards.

Platinum innovator

How does the SVQM align with the Act?

Let’s look at how the Social Value Quality Mark provides assurance against the requirements of the government’s new Public Procurement Act and Social Value Model:

The new model requires contracts to be awarded based on Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) – giving equal weight to social value alongside economic factors. Organisations holding the SVQM have been independently assured for their commitment to communities and socially responsible business.

The updated model emphasises greater transparency in how social value is measured and reported, particularly for tenders above £5m. SVQM awardees have established measurable KVIs against which to track delivery. They have committed to, or are actively reporting, their social impact (negative and positive) into the public domain.

Suppliers are encouraged to demonstrate greater engagement to ensure that social value initiatives are relevant and impactful. Awardees at Silver and above have conducted extensive engagement with suppliers, communities, and employees. They can demonstrate that their strategic initiatives are based on genuine need.

Accredited organisations have implemented best practice social value governance. This includes an Executive Sponsor, Social Value Lead and a Development Group responsible for delivering, measuring and monitoring progress against the commitments.

The SVQM provides a standardised framework for measuring and reporting social value, making it easier for organisations to demonstrate compliance in a consistent and transparent manner.

The SVQM aligns with the new Public Procurement Act, all existing Public Procurement Notices, the central government Social Value Model and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
why apply