Supercharging Your Social Value

• Sally Bogg, from NHS England, explored the role of social value in public sector healthcare, stressing the need for socially responsible procurement and service delivery.

• Katie Welch-May, from Action for Children, brought the discussion to life with real-world examples of social value making a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families.

Each speaker built on the notion that social value is an essential for organisations to remain competitive and future-focused. Improving employee engagement, driving innovation, and opening doors to new opportunities; social value must be at the heart of every business strategy.

What We Learnt About Social Value

Social value, as defined at the event, is the positive impact an organisation creates for society and the environment, beyond just financial outcomes.

As Jonathan Sheldrake explained, it’s about embedding purpose into every aspect of an organisation. Aligning operations with social value goals such as sustainability, inclusivity, and community engagement is key to long-term success.
Gemma Skelley echoed these sentiments by sharing how DTP has implemented social value initiatives, particularly in relation to fostering diversity within the workforce and supporting local communities through charity initiatives. She emphasised how those that prioritise social value are more likely to thrive, particularly as consumer and employee expectations evolve.

Why Social Value Matters Now More Than Ever

Several compelling statistics were shared throughout the event, making the case for why businesses need to take social value seriously:

• 70% of employees would not work for a company without a strong sense of purpose.

• 44% of millennials and 49% of Gen Zs make career decisions based on their personal values.

Social value not only enhances brand reputation but also strengthens employee engagement and opens up new opportunities for innovation. Rachel McElroy highlighted how purpose-driven marketing efforts can create deep customer connections, while Gemma Skelley illustrated how embedding social value into internal culture reduces turnover and improves productivity.

Boycott Your Bed

The workshop concluded with a spotlight on the Boycott Your Bed campaign, introduced by Howard Hall. This annual initiative, now in its 27th year, has raised over £13.9 million for Action for Children. The campaign calls on participants to sleep outside for one night to raise funds and awareness for vulnerable children. With Howard’s appeal, attendees were encouraged to get involved and support this meaningful cause.

In addition to this, Howard is a board member of the ‘This Is Me’ initiative, which focuses on breaking the stigma around mental health in the workplace and encouraging more inclusive conversations. Through both Boycott Your Bed and This Is Me, Howard has actively championed social value by highlighting the need for businesses to not only contribute financially but also foster environments that support mental health and social well-being.

His dual involvement in these impactful programs reflects his commitment to ensuring that DTP leads by example when it comes to corporate social responsibility. Howard’s appeal was not only about raising money but also engaging organisations to think holistically about the communities they serve and the social issues they can address.