Tell us about your background – how did you get into Social Value?
My journey started with a Master’s and PhD in Economics – but I realised early on that I didn’t want to pursue a purely academic path. I wanted to find a way to use the principles of economics to do good in a meaningful and measurable way.
That passion eventually led me to the field of Social Value and to my role here at Social Value Portal. It’s an exciting and rapidly evolving area, and with the Social Value TOM System™, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
As Head of Research, my team and I focus on staying ahead of the curve, constantly exploring the next steps in Social Value measurement. It’s about doing work that isn’t just relevant today, but anticipates the needs of tomorrow.
What has your work on the Social Value TOM System™ involved?
Measuring Social Value is a balancing act. On one hand, you aim for accuracy and comprehensiveness; on the other, scalability and accessibility.
Social Value is not as rigidly regulated as some sectors, but demands for standardisation, rigor, and robustness are constantly increasing. For me, this has meant looking at the TOM System™ not just for what it is right now, but how it can evolve. My work has focused on strengthening and expanding our models, creating new ones, and improving usability.
The Social Value TOM System™: Themes, Outcomes and Measures
How have you strengthened the models underpinning the TOM System?
We’ve developed more comprehensive models that focus on the interaction among the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of Social Value. Where appropriate, we’ve also incorporated secondary benefits beyond the direct target groups.
We’ve accomplished this by rigorously applied the ‘theory of change’ approach to analyse the chain of events following an intervention. This method allows us to capture and quantify effects transparently across four key stages:
- Input: The resources, activities, or investments made to deliver an intervention.
- Output: The direct products or services generated, like deliverables or activities completed.
- Outcome: The immediate or short-term effects resulting from the intervention’s outputs.
- Impact: The long-term, broader changes or effects on society, the economy, or the environment.
The work we’ve done has enabled us to shift Measures in the TOM System, where appropriately robust data sources exist, toward capturing true impact. This progression provides an even clearer and more comprehensive picture of the Social Value being delivered over time.
We’ve also enhanced key Measures like employment and local spend:
- Employment: Our updated model captures a broader range of benefits related to employment, offering a more complete picture of the Social Value created.
- Local spend: The updated model incorporates more social components to better reflect the impact of investing in local areas.
How do you keep up with the evolving field of Social Value, and maintain the robustness of the TOM System?
There are two main approaches we take: inside-out and outside-in.
Inside-out: We’re always thinking ahead about the next generation of the TOM System. For example, with the evolving global TOM System, we’re not just looking to replicate what we’ve done – we’re focused on pushing the boundaries. We’re obsessive about quality and we constantly ask: “What can we improve next?”
Outside-in: It’s just as important to listen to the world around us. The TOM System is so widely used that it’s constantly being stress-tested in real-world scenarios, which gives us the opportunity to gather feedback, refine and adapt. We also keep an eye on what others are doing in the space and any changes in the broader environment to make sure we stay ahead.
Social Value leaders from Islington Council, Wates and Mars Wrigley explain why they use the Social Value TOM System™
What excites you most about the new TOM System? And what’s your personal vision of the future of Social Value measurement?
The most exciting thing for me is that the new TOM System is easier to use – which is really important, because it will ultimately lead to more Social Value being generated across all sectors.
As for the future of Social Value measurement – that’s something we’re constantly discussing. I’m hopeful that momentum will continue to grow, not just in the UK, but globally. If you trace Social Value’s roots back to earlier concepts like Corporate Social Responsibility, you can see how far it’s come.
Right now, we’re mainly focused on how things are done, but the next step is to evaluate what is being done. This will push us closer toward a real Social Value Economy, where positive Social Value is just as important as financial value.
When it comes to the TOM System, the goal is to move closer to true impact measurement, with advanced, flexible solutions for the most mature users. However, it must always retain the scalability and usability that made it the gold standard.
What’s your advice for those just getting started with the TOM System™?
The TOM System is a tool, and before you start using it, ask yourself some important questions: What am I using it for? What’s my goal? Is it a mean to an end, or do you truly want to make a difference? Both have their place, but knowing your ‘why’ will help you get the most out of it.
Ultimately, The TOM System is an excellent guide to steer you in the right direction. But it’s important to remember it’s just the beginning of the journey, not the end.
Ready to elevate your Social Value impact?
Join hundreds of organisations already using the TOM System to drive meaningful change. What could you achieve with it? Start exploring now with one of our experts.
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