A flurry of recent policy developments has brought sustainability and social value into sharp focus, especially for those within central government supply chains.
The central government social value model and associated procurement policy have created an urgency for organisations, particularly SMEs, to plan and gather evidence and measure performance on sustainability and social value issues.
Infrastructure organisations such as the RSSB have subsequently also launched tools such as the Rail Social Value tool which evaluate performance down to project level.
SMEs are particularly at risk of losing out through relevant qualification and procurement requirements as many don’t employ the back-office specialist staff to help them effectively perform and compete on social value and sustainability.
Step-By-Step Sustainability: helping SMEs unlock social value and sustainability
To combat these challenges and support SMEs Sustainability Sciences has launched Step-by-Step, an assurance and accreditation scheme that simplifies sustainability and social value by looking at the relevant requirements of your industry, market, clients and your own company values.
The scheme helps SMEs formulate relevant and actionable sustainability goals by working closely with Sustainability Sciences consultants to create a realistic and achievable strategy.
Discussing Step-by-Step, Sustainability Sciences Director Adriaan Bekker said: “Our mission at Sustainability Sciences is to provide environment and sustainability solutions for SMEs which are looking to win work and require support with planning and actions.
“Procurement event scoring now includes around 12% for Social Value and Sustainability for pre-qualification and up to 17% for invitations to tender, meaning it is imperative that organisations bidding for work have an understanding of these topics and how their action strategies can be successfully incorporated into the business.
“At Sustainability Sciences, we formulate relevant and actionable sustainability goals and objectives in simple language that are measurable and easy to communicate. We’ll draft your sustainability and social value strategy and action plan.
“Our team will assess and analyse your business and identify a minimum of nine objectives and targets relating to environment, sustainability, governance and social value aspects.”
Adriann added: “The Step-By-Step scheme was borne from rail industry SMEs struggling with complex qualification and procurement questions which requires long term organisational planning and action supported by experts.
“Through the combined power of our membership, we can help SMEs perform and lead on social value and sustainability to ensure they are competitive when bidding against large companies for work. We’re here to help SMEs and we believe our scheme can help them grow, as well as educate them and support them on their sustainability and social value journey.”
Visit www.Step-by-stepsustainability.com for more information and secure your organisation’s future.
Photo credit: Sustainability Sciences
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