This theme seeks to assess if the housing provider procures responsibly.
Delivering a pioneering approach to social value is a key priority, influencing our contracts and service delivery. Social value is integral to our procurement process, evaluated through:
Assessing suppliers on fair pay, equality, diversity, and net zero planning, aligning with our aim to “Work with the Right Businesses” which reflects the social value generated by supporting businesses with positive CSR practices and policies.
Suppliers commit to specific activities that generate social value, such as donations, local volunteering, job creation, and apprenticeships.
To evaluate and report social value we use an adapted version of the National TOMs (Themes, Outcomes and Measures). This allows us to quantify impact with monetary proxies. While effective, we recognise its limitations, such as oversimplifying complex outcomes. Therefore, we are exploring alternative reporting methods, including case studies and stakeholder feedback.
A social value specialist monitors pledge delivery, collaborating with contract managers and our Community Investment Team to maximise local benefits. Social value extends beyond housing developments; for example, our security supplier Samson donated wellbeing packs to Women’s CHAI project in Oldham, and Sure Maintenance supported career activities in primary schools.
Last year, our social value achievements included:
As an example in December, we launched our annual Cheery Christmas campaign, allocating funds from our supply chain to assist customers struggling to afford Christmas celebrations due to the cost-of-living crisis. This initiative provided supermarket vouchers and funding for meals and activities in our independence and wellbeing schemes and community centres.
The 2023 campaign supported a total of 865 customers, including 316 families who received 151 vouchers, while 549 individuals in 20 of our schemes benefited from funding. This project was funded by suppliers Emmanuel Whittaker, John Southworth, and Moffat & Riley as part of their social value commitments.
Additionally, we hosted a careers day for primary school children at our Didsbury head office, where various departments set up stalls to showcase career opportunities in housing. Suppliers Sure Maintenance and Bowker Sadler also participated, reinforcing their social value contributions.
Throughout the financial year, our supply chain has provided extensive support to our customers and communities, offering not just financial assistance but also time, expertise, and resources.
We incorporate environmental sustainability into our procurement processes, with one of our four social value aims being to ‘Reduce Supply Chain Carbon Footprint.’ While our approach to social sustainability is ambitious and largely effective, we acknowledge the need for improvements in environmental considerations. Our Carbon Management Team is currently reviewing our Carbon Management Strategy to address these areas.
We regularly assess suppliers on their carbon management plans and their willingness to develop one during the contract period. This question is included in all responsible business evaluations, unless it poses a barrier for small to medium sized enterprise (SME) bidders. We also evaluate suppliers based on the percentage of their fleet that consists of electric or hybrid vehicles.
Additionally, we encourage suppliers to commit to training their employees in carbon literacy, which can reduce individual carbon footprints by about 10% and enhance environmental awareness in decision-making.
While we consider environmental factors in procurement specifications, the absence of a dedicated person for environmental sustainability means that it relies on stakeholders to prioritise these aspects for each contract. As part of our sustainability strategy review, we are exploring ways to integrate environmental sustainability more firmly into our procurement processes.
