Social value - University of Staffordshire

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The context for the social value procurement policy is the University’s strategic plan which addresses three areas.

Connected communities

We unite communities in inspirational environments, as an intellectual hub for those we serve.
We contribute to the social and economic development of our local and regional communities.
We are connected as a leading digital university.

Innovative and applied learning

Our research and teaching deliver real-world learning in a global context.
Our digitally-led, connected curriculum gives our students the edge to succeed.
Our research and scholarship generate new knowledge for application and impact.

Talented people

We are creative, innovative and inclusive.
We empower our people and celebrate their success.
We transform lives regionally, nationally and globally.
We build social capital through our diverse connections.

To support this strategic plan, we have prepared an engagement plan that addresses:

Commuter Students: Many of our students (55% full-time) commute to the University which presents a range of recognised challenges that the University is actively addressing
Low Participation: 46.9% (of all student groups covered) are drawn from lowest participation neighbourhoods, including 47% of full-time undergraduate students and 45% of our part-time undergraduate students. 25.3% of our students are from the deprivation category: ‘Income deprivation affecting children’.
Mature students: 52.8% (of all student groups covered) are classified as mature on entry, including 36.5% of full-time (compared to 21% nationally) and 90% of part-time students (89% nationally).
Multiple deprivation: 59% (of all student groups covered by this plan) are characterised by two of the above three criteria; and 14% by all three. 20.1% of all students are from 20% of areas identified in the index of Multiple Deprivation.
Black Asian Minority Ethnic (BAME): 17.7% (of all student groups covered) are from a BAME background, including 20% of full-time undergraduates (compared to 21% nationally) and 14% part-time undergraduates (16% nationally).
Students with disabilities: 15.1% (of all student groups covered) have a declared disability, including 18% of full-time undergraduates (compared to 13% nationally) and 8.5% part-time undergraduates (18% nationally). Only 40% are currently registered for a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), a trend that is being actively reviewed.
Care leavers: 1% of full-time students are care leavers. We evaluate the needs of this group.

A process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole life basis in terms of generating benefits not only to the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment. There are additional benefits to the community from a commissioning/procurement process over and above the direct purchasing of goods and services.

Social Value defined, Sustainable Procurement Task Force (UK Government)

As a large consumer of goods and services, the University of Staffordshire is committed to acting in a socially responsible way, by not only meeting legislative obligations but also by considering economic, social and environmental value across the institution. There is a wide range of factors to consider when embedding social value into procurement practice:

compliance with the requirements of Social Value Act 2012 and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015;
improved service delivery;
greater economic growth;
improved community wellbeing and development;

University of Staffordshire will endeavour to: -

optimise the social, environmental and economic well-being of the University and its students, staff and visitors in everything that we do;
think long-term to turn investment into long-lasting outcomes;
play a leading role to deliver the city’s and region’s ambitions and increase higher level skills in the population and the workplace;
work with partners to develop the local economy and in so doing improve the opportunities for our students, staff and regional population;
work together across sectors to provide social value outcomes;
have values incorporating inclusion, openness, honesty, social responsibility;
have a clear and current understanding of how social value can make the University a better place to study and work;
work to measure, evaluate and understand social value, as well as reporting publicly about the social value that we create.

The benefits of introducing Social Value into sustainable procurement are that it:

Minimises damage to the environment and health while maximising social benefits in both production and consumption;
Ensures long-term value for money by adopting whole-life cost analysis, leading to the provision of more durable goods and services;
Demonstrates a commitment to continual environmental improvement and corporate social responsibility;
Enhances reputation and status in the local and wider community;
Ensures compliance with legislation and duty of care requirements.

“Social Value looks beyond price to the collective benefit of a community to include positives such as well-being, equality, employment and environment”.