The East Sussex Procurement Hub (ESPH) is committed to delivering Social Value benefits to our local communities and economy wherever possible.
Under the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, “Social Value” means the wider financial, social, and environmental advantages a community gains from a procurement process—going over and above the basic purchase of goods and services.
Since 2021, we have embedded Social Value into the procurement process for the councils we represent: Wealden District Council, Rother District Council, and Hastings Borough Council. We collaborate closely with our suppliers to find creative ways to give back to the community alongside standard contract delivery.
How we deliver Social Value
Social Value can take many different forms, including:
- Creating career opportunities through apprenticeships and work experience placements.
- Investing in education via targeted visits to local schools.
- Supporting local causes through volunteering, donations, and backing community groups or charities.
- Protecting our environment by planting trees and organising litter-picking events.
The following Voluntary organisations have details of projects that may provide suppliers with ideas on how to incorporate Social Value into their bids for projects for the different Councils and their areas:
Wealden District Council:
Rother District Council:
Hastings Borough Council:
As well as Social Value, we are also committed to ensuring a focus on Sustainability. Sustainability in procurement means choosing goods and services in a way that protects the earth, treats people fairly, and supports long-term economic health, aka the three ‘P’s:
- Planet (Environmental Impact): Reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, and minimizing waste through recycling and the 5 R’s (reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, and recover).
- People (Social Responsibility): Vetting suppliers to ensure they adhere to and respect human rights.
- Profit (Economic Value): Delivering long-term financial viability and whole-life cost savings.
A snapshot of some social value and sustainability achievements is shown below:
Our team in action: Our members of the ESPH team also get involved in local community initiatives:
