The Social Value Tea 🍵: Week of May 28, 2025

Hello! 👋

Nil here with all the Social Value Tea for the week, hope everyone is having a good week?

 This week’s newsletter brings together some of the most pressing developments across health, public services, and environmental responsibility. We look at the controversy over the privatisation of a Brighton GP surgery, police chiefs’ warning over crime reduction targets and a landmark fine for Thames Water.

We also highlight the growing role of tech in social value through AWS’s new training alliance, and spotlight the true economic and social value of mental health services — with insights from our own MeasureUp framework.

Scroll down for this week’s must-know updates, interesting reads, latest jobs and more.

Enjoy xx

News news!

Stories you might have missed.

• A battle is under way for the soul of a Brighton GP surgery
  The Wellsbourne GP practice in Brighton’s Whitehawk area faces a controversial shift from its not-for-profit model to private management by One Medical Group, sparking community concern over potential impacts on local healthcare services.
  Read more → The Guardian – Opinion 
  
• Police Chiefs Warn of Risks to Crime Reduction Pledges
  Six senior UK police chiefs have cautioned that government crime reduction goals, including halving knife crime and violence against women, are at risk without substantial investment. They highlight a £1.3 billion national funding gap and stress the need for additional resources to meet public safety commitments. 
  Read more → The Times
  
• Thames Water Fined £123 Million for Environmental Breaches
  UK water regulator Ofwat has imposed a record £123 million fine on Thames Water for environmental and operational failures, including unlawful dividend payments and inadequate wastewater infrastructure maintenance. This action reflects increased scrutiny of water companies and their environmental responsibilities.
  Read more → The Guardian
  
• Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill Under Review
  The House of Lords is examining the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which aims to strengthen safeguards for children’s social care, support care leavers, and regulate social worker agencies. The bill also proposes mandatory free breakfast clubs in state primaries and limits on branded school uniforms.
  Read more → Parliament
  
• The gates will close on the Gates Foundation in 20 years
  Bill Gates said he aims to spend approximately US$200bn between now and 2045, the largest amount a private foundation has ever given away, focusing on health and tackling poverty.
  Read more → The Independent
  
• AWS Targets Social Value Through Tech Skills
  Amazon Web Services is scaling up its commitment to social value in the UK public sector, recently announcing a major new initiative to tackle digital skills gaps. The AWS Skills to Jobs Tech Alliance aims to train 100,000 people in AI and cloud technologies by 2030, in partnership with institutions like the University of Exeter and the University of Manchester.
  Read more → AWS

Caught our eye…

Interesting reads worth sharing. 

The Rise of the “S” in ESG — Why Social Value Is No Longer the Silent Partner

Sarah Atkinson highlights the growing importance of the ‘S’ in ESG, emphasising that social value—encompassing fair pay, inclusion, wellbeing, and community engagement—is becoming a strategic priority for businesses. Read more

Inclusive hiring isn’t a gesture. It’s good business for every kind of business.

Inclusive hiring isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s smart business. This article explores how socially responsible recruitment can boost performance and open up new opportunities, especially in public sector procurement. Read more

What’s the true value of a library?

For Libraries Unlimited South West, it turns out to be at least £42.7 million — and counting. In partnership with Impact Reporting, Devon and Torbay’s library network has built a bespoke framework to track and evidence the social impact of its 54 libraries across the region. Read more

Celebrating outcomes

Great examples of social value work worth showcasing

Who’s hiring?

Here’s this week’s latest social value jobs list, published every Friday via our LinkedIn company page. 

• Social Impact Manager at Formula 1: https://lnkd.in/epqET-32
• Senior Social Value Officer at Matrix: https://lnkd.in/e3xrRSxu
• Head of Social Value at Rolls-Royce: https://lnkd.in/eZbEfZpk
• ATD – Social Value at Arcadis: https://lnkd.in/e2bqcaU3
• Social Value Manager at GXO Logistics, Inc.: https://lnkd.in/eAZQskZD
• Social Value Global Services Lead at Mace: https://lnkd.in/ex4ReYGH
• Economic Development & Social Value Manager at East West Railway Company: https://lnkd.in/eD9PPsDr
• Senior Social Value Manager at BAM UK & Ireland: https://lnkd.in/e2hp65G2
• Social Value Coordinator at Ameresco: https://lnkd.in/eSif3Xe5
• Social Value Manager at Morgan Sindall Infrastructure: https://lnkd.in/eiqY4Dxj
• Social Value and Engagement Manager at LanguageLine Solutions: https://lnkd.in/eUZXKT8V
• Social Value Coordinator at Pinnacle Group Limited: https://lnkd.in/e2Ut5RX3
• Social Value Coordinator at Stericycle: https://lnkd.in/er_CdVZK
• Social Value Executive at Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield: https://lnkd.in/eE2UciNy
• Senior Volunteer & Social Value Coordinator at Kent and Medway NHS & Social Care Partnership Trust: https://lnkd.in/eB497neH
• Social Value Coordinator at Sureserve: https://lnkd.in/eNZTgUzD
• Social Impact Product Coordinator at TikTok: https://lnkd.in/eh759tvR
• Social Impact Coordinator at Balfour Beatty plc: https://lnkd.in/eSXhJAF4
• Account Director – Sustainability & Social Impact at Burson: https://lnkd.in/eDzWc6jh
• Senior Ethical Trade Social Impact Measurement Analyst at Primark: https://lnkd.in/eGbKFcDc
• Head of Social Impact at RS UK & Ireland: https://lnkd.in/epCC2SQU
• Global Head of Social Impact and D&I at Simply Business: https://lnkd.in/eNbVVtQx
• ESG Data Reporting Manager at Debenhams Group: https://lnkd.in/eRSvQQm7
• ESG Manager at Reiss: https://lnkd.in/eHJnTwti
• ESG Manager at M&G plc: https://lnkd.in/e6E8dBe8
• Social Value Manager at Lee Marley Group: https://lnkd.in/eKd_EaVv
• Head of Corporate & Community Affairs at KFC UK & Ireland: https://lnkd.in/eG8tAsfN4

Report, Podcasts and Webinars

🧠 Spotlight: Mental Health Support

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 (13–19 May) focused on the power of community in supporting our wellbeing — a timely theme, given rising concern about access to services.

New NHS plans will see dedicated mental health A&E units rolled out across England to help people in crisis get the right support, faster. And research from Lancaster University suggests that cutting waiting times for mental health treatment could save the UK economy over £1 billion a year.

At Impact Reporting, our free MeasureUp framework helps quantify why this matters. Two key outcomes:

• Service provision for mental health: Every year of effective support creates a social value of £7,600 per person.
• Improved mental health: Helping someone move from poor to good mental health is worth £30,700 in total social value.

Opportunity Index Interactive Map

The Sutton Trust’s newly released Opportunity Index reveals stark regional disparities in social mobility across England. All top 20 constituencies for disadvantaged young people are in London, while areas like Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West rank lowest, with significant gaps in GCSE attainment and future earnings.

Explore the interactive map to see how your area compares.

On demand webinar: how can social value drive business success?

In our latest webinar – now available on demand – Malin Cunningham is joined by tech-for-good serial entrepreneur Matt Haworth. The co-founder of Impact Reporting and MeasureUp explores the evolving landscape of social value and impact reporting.

Together they unpack best practices for meaningful social value implementation and how to avoid common pitfalls such as ‘purpose-washing’.

Whether you’re crafting your next bid or shaping your brand’s purpose, this on-demand webinar is packed with ideas to help you make a genuine impact – and grow your business in the process.

Where to be

Upcoming events, awards deadlines and networking opportunities 

• B Corp Fest 2025 is June 5
• The Global Sustainability Partnership Network GSPN is June 4-5 in London
• London Construction Awards now open, deadline is June 6
• Edie Net Zero awards now open, deadline is June 11
• Better Places Together Conference: Rethinking Engagement and Social Value is June 12th in Liverpool
• Global Sustainable Development Congress 2025 in June 16-19 in Turkey
• London Climate Action Week is June 21-29
• Reset Connect London 2025 will take place on 24-25 June at Excel London

What we’re loving outside of work…

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