Getting the real measure of social value in time for new procurement act – for free

[Manchester, United Kingdom] As new rules governing public procurement come into force on February 24, 2025, a coalition has made the unprecedented move to give organisations full access to previously opaque and proprietary social valuation data and methodologies – free of charge. 

With the launch of this progressive tool, MeasureUp is tackling one of the most difficult challenges around assessing social value head-on: how to value real impact in a meaningful way. 

Partners Impact Reporting, State of Life and PRD have made a meticulously researched and curated social and environmental valuation framework freely available to improve social impact practice – and make it more transparent to support regulations.

Matt Haworth, co-founder of Impact Reporting and MeasureUp, explains:

“Traditionally, you’ll see vendors choose to tuck away valuable public data, research and helpful resources behind expensive paywalls. As a collective, we know how frustrating this can make it for teams to clearly, consistently and transparently report on the value they create. MeasureUp is our answer to tackle this head-on.

“We want to help progress the social value agenda and help organisations move from merely counting outputs to measuring the true outcomes of their initiatives.

The trio of partners has assessed thousands of data points and dug through research to provide an antidote to irrelevant or unsubstantiated claims. As such, MeasureUp helps to protect users from unintentionally ‘purpose-washing’ and allows them to compare ‘apples and oranges’ – moving from estimation to evidence.

For example, the values referenced in the platform show that good mental health is twice as important as physical health; and that volunteering brings half as much of a wellbeing benefit as committing to weekly physical activity. Supporting all of these initiatives is clearly important and the tool now provides companies with a credible means of measuring just how impactful their investments could be, while encouraging participation in less tangible – yet hugely positive activities – that may otherwise be ignored.

The pioneering partners behind the MeasureUp platform are keen to underscore that this is a ‘work in progress’ in an emerging field. Catherine Manning, Head of Impact Practice at Impact Reporting and Programme Director of MeasureUp adds: “Social value valuation practice is still in its infancy. We are immensely proud of what we have so far meticulously gathered and made publicly available, but this is just the beginning. 

“Now that we are ‘live’, we are actively looking for feedback and input from the incredible social value community out there – and the teams that are only just starting on this journey. We are very excited about where we can take this together.”

MeasureUp uses the WELLBY methodology and is aligned to ONS 10 dimensions of wellbeing, the UK government Green Book guidance, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Central Government Social Value Model.

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Notes to editor:

MeasureUp is a free resource for organisations concerned with evidencing the social, environmental and commercial benefits of doing ‘good’ business. 

The platform has been developed by three partners with a long track record in the social value space. Impact Reporting, State of Life and PRD came together to tackle the widespread frustration surrounding oversimplified measurement, valuation and a lack of collective action. 

MeasureUp is a pragmatic solution that prioritises progress over perfection. As broad sustainability reporting and procurement regulations come into force, being able to demonstrate the difference organisations are making to the world we live in, is fast becoming a business imperative. 

For the first time, this technology enables enterprises of all shapes, sizes and social value maturity to capture challenging metrics and carve out a path of continuous improvement. 

By taking the bold step of making the framework completely accessible, the MeasureUp coalition is backing the social value community’s strive for greater transparency and enabling the win-wins that come with transitioning to a purpose-led economy.