Regenerating communities, protecting the environment, and creating sustainable opportunities.
Today (02 October) at the Junction, Dungannon, the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA) hosted a focused event on embedding social value into council procurement, public contracts, and wider service delivery.
With strengthened guidance from the Department of Finance (DoF) and the Strategic Investment Board (SIB) and inspired by examples from organisations such as Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), the event brought together key stakeholders to share best practice and identify future opportunities.
Attendees heard from experts, including the DoF, Social Enterprise NI, Social Value Engine, and GLL, which operates 16 leisure centres for Belfast City Council. Member councils, including Belfast City Council and Mid Ulster District Council, presented case studies showcasing practical, impactful approaches to embedding social value in their work.
Finance Minister John O’Dowd, said: “I believe public procurement should be leveraged to support government outcomes, and as such, social value and its implementation is at the heart of public procurement policy.
“Delivering social value is a shared responsibility. The revised Policy requires departments to develop a Social Value strategy, to align social value objectives to their procurement pipelines and to look for other opportunities to improve economic, social and environmental outcomes. By aligning procurement with strategic outcomes, we can ensure that public spending drives meaningful and lasting benefits for communities.”
Speaking at the event, Cllr Alison Bennington, NILGA Vice President, said: “Social value is not a luxury or a nice to do, it’s an essential component of modern public procurement. By ensuring that contracts deliver not just goods or services, but also wider social value, councils can play a central role in regenerating communities, protecting the environment, and creating sustainable opportunities for everyone.”
Gareth Kirk, Regional Director, GLL, said: "Celebrating a decade of partnership with Belfast City Council, GLL is proud to have transformed leisure services across the city. As a social enterprise and co-operative, our purpose goes beyond profit. We’ve reinvested in facilities, created jobs and supported community wellbeing, generating a £35m social return to the community in the last year. This commitment to social value has made a real difference to the physical and mental health of Belfast residents, and we remain dedicated to building healthier, more connected communities for years to come.”
In closing, Cllr Bennington added, “Enhanced social value practice across councils promises wider benefits for all our communities and citizens. This event marks another step forward in advancing a more inclusive, outcomes-focused approach to public sector delivery across NI.
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