At CQS Solutions in Telford, we are seeing a clear shift in how projects are procured and delivered. Social value is no longer a secondary consideration. It is now a central part of how tenders are evaluated, scored and ultimately awarded. For quantity surveyors, this presents both a challenge and a real opportunity to add value beyond traditional cost management.
Social value is now a core procurement requirement
Across public sector procurement, social value commitments are becoming contractually binding. They are monitored throughout project delivery and form part of ongoing performance assessment. This marks a significant change. Social value is not an optional extra. It is a key decision-making factor alongside cost and quality.
For quantity surveyors, this means understanding social value is essential when supporting clients through procurement and contract administration. It also means helping ensure that commitments made at tender stage are realistic, measurable and deliverable.
It starts from within the business
A common misconception is that social value is purely about external community engagement. In reality, it also includes internal business practices. How organisations treat their employees is a key part of the social value narrative.
This includes areas such as enhanced employment benefits, opportunities for volunteering and genuine support for staff wellbeing. Even employee satisfaction can be used as a measurable indicator. For consultancy businesses like CQS Solutions, this is an area where meaningful and authentic social value can be demonstrated.
Standing out in tenders
One of the biggest challenges in bidding is differentiation. Many organisations are now offering similar social value commitments, which can lead to generic responses.
Effective bids should be tailored, concise and clearly aligned with the specific needs of the client or local authority. Overloading submissions with unnecessary attachments or standard statements can be counterproductive.
Instead, successful social value responses should demonstrate a genuine understanding of local challenges and set out practical, achievable actions that will deliver impact.
Looking beyond environmental metrics
While environmental sustainability remains important, it is often assessed separately from social value. For service-based businesses such as quantity surveyors, where carbon reduction opportunities may be limited, social value becomes even more important.
This means focusing on areas such as community engagement, skills development and social impact rather than relying solely on environmental credentials.
Supporting better bid decisions
Another useful concept is the introduction of an opportunity matrix. This helps assess the strategic importance of a project alongside the level of resource required to prepare a bid.
For CQS Solutions, adopting a structured approach to bid and no bid decisions could ensure that time and effort are focused on opportunities where we can genuinely add value and remain competitive.
Engaging with local initiatives and platforms
There are a number of tools and organisations supporting social value delivery and reporting. Platforms such as Social Value Portal and frameworks like TOMs provide structured ways to measure outcomes.
Other useful resources include Thrive and Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, which offer guidance and best practice in procurement.
Locally, initiatives such as the Social Value Swap Shop and engagement with Telford and Wrekin Council present opportunities for collaboration and visibility within the community.
The role of quantity surveyors in driving social value
Quantity surveyors are well placed to influence social value across the project lifecycle. This can include:
- Encouraging contractors to demonstrate clear social value commitments during procurement
- Embedding social value requirements within tender documentation
- Monitoring delivery of commitments throughout the project
- Reporting outcomes back to clients in a structured way
By taking a proactive role, CQS Solutions can help clients achieve their social value objectives while strengthening our own position as a forward-thinking consultancy.
Supporting the future of the industry
One area where CQS Solutions can make a meaningful impact is in promoting careers in construction. Engaging with schools and local communities can help raise awareness of the wide range of roles available, from quantity surveying and project management to design and sustainability.
This not only delivers social value but also helps address the ongoing skills shortage within the industry.
Moving forward
Social value is here to stay and will continue to shape how projects are procured and delivered. For CQS Solutions, this is an opportunity to build on our expertise and play a leading role in delivering positive outcomes for clients, communities and the wider industry.
By embedding social value into our internal practices, our bidding approach and our project delivery, we can ensure that we are not only meeting requirements but creating lasting impact.