Taking place from 27-28 April, the fifth annual National Social Value Conference marks a decade of social value as it brings together social value experts and practitioners from all sectors and industries across the UK.
The conference will provide an opportunity to take an in-depth look at the past ten years of social value, taking note of key learnings before looking at what the future holds for the social value movement. Drawing on the collective expertise of the participants, the conference will be seen as a starting point for the next decade and beyond.
Topics on the agenda include an investigation into how social value will support levelling up, embedding social value into planning, a showcase of SME social value success stories, delivering climate justice and introducing social value to beginners.
The line-up of speakers at the two-day hybrid event include:
- Former MP, Professor Chris White, the original architect of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012, and Director at the Institute for Industrial Strategy
- Claire Dove, CBE, VCSE Crown Representative
- Hazel Blears, former MP, Chair of the Labour Party, and key driver in the development of the Social Value Act
- Jane Cumisky, UK Head of Sustainability at Leonardo
- Danny Kruger, MP for Devizes
- Sam Rowbury, Director Commercial Policy, Cabinet Office
- Kelly Beirne, Chief Executive, Cardiff Capital Region
- Paul Antsey, CEO Government – Justice, Defence & Central Government, Sodexo UK & Ireland
- Gary Young, Business Operations Director, UK Public Sector at Fujitsu UK
- Rachel Wolf, Founding Partner, Public First
- Isabelle Parasram OBE, CEO, Social Value UK
Day One of the conference will take place at Church House, Westminster, London, providing networking opportunities and featuring the first ever ‘Giant Social Value Hackathon,’ an event designed to challenge the social value experts at the conference to develop a manifesto for the next decade of social value. For those unable to attend in person, the main sessions will also be streamed online.
The Social Value Awards 2022 The Awards ceremony will take place on the evening of 27 April, recognising organisations who champion social value creation and community wellbeing. The winners will have the opportunity to present their work at the ceremony and will be used as examples of best practice in the coming year.
Acclaimed author, playwright, and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, MBE, has also been announced as the ceremony’s guest speaker. Sissay was the official poet of the 2012 London Olympics and has been chancellor of the University of Manchester since 2015.
Further information and a list of categories can be found here.
Day Two will take a closer look at key focus areas for the social value movement, exploring how different regions, sectors and countries are approaching the opportunities provided by social value. Leaders from England, Scotland and Wales will be invited to share their experiences and learnings as well as discussing their ambitions.
There will be industry specific sessions for the construction, real estate and planning sectors as well as best practice case study stories aimed at suppliers and SME’s looking to win more work from government contracts.
Guy Battle, CEO, Social Value Portal said: “This year’s conference is particularly relevant as we take stock of the social value movement 10 years on and look ahead to where it needs to go. The focus must always be on how organisations across all sectors can work together to help our communities flourish – without compromising on the all-important bottom line.
“I am particularly looking forward to our first ever Social Value Hackathon, accessing the expertise of conference delegates to collaboratively develop a manifesto for the future direction of social value.
“The awards are designed to highlight the positive impact an organisation has on the community in which it operates, no matter the size or sector in which it functions. I hear that the standard of entries this year is very high, so I am very much looking forward to celebrating the positive social impact that has been delivered over the past 12 months.”
The conference and awards are supported by businesses including; Fujitsu, WSP, CHAS, Sodexo, Lyreco, SISK Group, Compass Group, Sunbelt Rentals and Neighbourly.
See the full two-day agenda here.
In acknowledgment of the tough times we are all facing financially, tickets are free for Public Sector and VCSE delegates and private sector companies will receive a 50% discount. Spaces are limited and going fast. All digital only tickets for the two days are free.
