Social Value People: An interview with Waltham Forest's Adrian Williams

The London Borough of Waltham Forest has embraced the concept of Social value as a key driver for its economic, environmental and community development. By following the Social Value TOM System™ (Themes, Outcomes, and Measures), the council aims to create long-term positive impacts for residents.

We recently interviewed Adrian Williams, Social Investment Lead, is the one of the key people leading the charge on Social Value at the council. We spoke to him about Social Value in action, his top tips for starting out in Social Value, and what is next for Waltham Forest.

What does Social Value look like at Waltham Forest?

 We are a very small team - only three of us are working on Social Value within Waltham Forest. We currently have over 300,000 residents and to ensure we are providing targeted support, we want to maximise additional benefits from Social Value.

We have over 6,000 suppliers and need to ensure that they are delivering at the right time. We have one person that monitors the contract, then myself looking at new programs within the borough, and then a head of service that makes sure that we're doing that work. It's come a long way in the last few years, from only one person doing it.

Waltham Forest is very eager to ensure that Social Value is delivered for all contracts - it's for us, especially within the procurement process.

Why did you choose Social Value Portal as your partner?

I've been working with Social Value Portal for the last three years. One thing - the advisors are really helpful. But for us as a local authority, it's that third person verification.

Social Value has been of those things that everyone likes to say they're doing. We've seen a lot of suppliers saying they will do Social Value. And I've worked on other contracts like Section 106 and SEAL, where people put numbers down, but no one is verifying it.

To have that third party verification, to say 'Hey, you put the wrong information on' really helps us ensure that they're doing the right thing. 

How have you benefited from the Local Needs Analysis (LNA) Dynamic Data Hub?

I've used a lot of data systems working in government for the last 20 years, so I know what data looks like. To have something just at your fingertips where you can analyse local needs, especially at ward level, really helps us.

Waltham Forest has quite a lot of deprivation, but you'll see affluence in certain pockets of the area. And it gives us more of an opportunity to target the biggest needs.

So when suppliers are saying that they're going to do volunteering, why are they doing volunteering? Is it needed in that area?

Also, as it's linked to the TOM System, we're able to add that to our procurement process when contracts come up and ensure that we are supporting the biggest needs in our local area.

To have something just at your fingertips where you can analyse the local needs, especially at ward level, really helps us. Also, as it's linked to the TOM System, we're able to kind of add that to our procurement process when contracts come up and ensure that we are supporting the most needed within our local area.

Adrian Williams, Social Value Investment Lead, Waltham Forest

What's your advice for organisations just starting out in Social Value?

I would say speak to your staff. Your staff are more than likely doing something to do with Social Value, but not knowing that they're doing it - especially with a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME).

Speak to your staff and see what they're doing and what they want to achieve within the local community - especially if you win a tender. What are you able to achieve, rather than what you what you think you have to achieve? Your staff is your backbone of your company and will have more of the answers than you.

Also, work closely with your local authority - most will be open to collaboration and connect you with charitable organisations as well.

What's next for Waltham Forest and Social Value?

I think it's the continuous support for the biggest local needs, and being very strict about what contracts have Social Value, and how we deliver. Also, looking at ways to improve our work across different sectors.

We're looking to do a social investment fund where we can grow funding to dedicate for the community.

Learn how Waltham Forest is responding to local priorities 

Waltham Forest is using a Local Needs Analysis (LNA) Dynamic Data Hub to help suppliers and stakeholders understand local social, economic, and environmental needs - check it out here here.