Policy to Pavement: How Not to Lose a Local Authority Contract
The Procurement Act 2023 has transformed what was previously deemed acceptable in the world of social value. For the first time, supplier commitments are being audited. In 2026, there’s a real threat of debarment. For government suppliers, it can seem like this is a problem that sits only with them.. But what about the other perspectives?
In this panel session, we’ll cover:
What does good look like from a local authority point of view?
What are the real social repercussions of false promises?
What does the incoming council redesign mean for suppliers and their social value commitments?
Why is it so important to use needs analyses to deliver social value where it matters?
And finally, what’s acceptable in the world of validation?
This session serves as a frank and honest reality check on local authority challenges - in assessing local needs, prescribing social value outputs, the repercussions of missed commitments, and why validation exists.
Agenda:
Keynote: Local Authority POV
Cllr Gavin Callaghan, the elected Leader of Basildon Borough Council will cover social value from a local authority viewpoint, answering some key questions about prescription and validation in his community. He’ll also discuss the changes to the structure of local authorities and how this will affect suppliers moving forward (20mins)
Session 2: Validating Local Giving
Rob Wolfe, Managing Director CHY will discuss the data that underpins social value prescription and the human application.
Jethro Borthwick, Director of Data & AI, will discuss how collection of needs at source and classification of good causes can help organisations . (20mins)
Session 3: Microsoft + Social Value
How are Microsoft supporting the Social Value agenda? (20 mins)
Panel Discussion: How do we deliver social value as a collective?
In this session chaired by Neighbourly CEO Steve Butterworth and including Rob Wolfe, Managing Director CHY Consultancy & Gavin Callaghan, Basildon Council, we ask, how can we best work together? (40 mins + 20 mins Q&A)