News

Social value is often considered through the lens of what an organisation delivers. The COMMONS Approach invites us to widen that view.

The COMMONS Approach has been developed by the University of Liverpool, with input from various ISV members, asking how organisations can think more holistically about social value and the conditions that shape lasting change.

Rather than focusing only on delivery, the approach encourages organisations to consider the wider context in which social value is created. This includes the decisions organisations make, the conditions they operate within, their organisational priorities, the markets they participate in and the way they interact with others.

Together, these factors can influence what happens beyond an individual project or intervention. They can shape whether change is sustained, how different organisations contribute to shared outcomes and how people and places are ultimately affected.

Asking broader questions

At the heart of the COMMONS Approach is an invitation to broaden the questions we ask about social value.

What conditions are shaping the outcomes we are seeing? How do organisational priorities influence the value being created? What happens when we look beyond an individual organisation and consider the wider relationships, markets and systems around it?

These questions matter because social value does not exist in isolation. Organisations operate alongside others, contribute to shared environments and influence outcomes that cannot always be understood by looking at one activity alone.

The COMMONS Approach proposes core areas for attention and ways of navigating social value with the aim of supporting more lasting change. In doing so, it offers a way to consider social value beyond individual commitments and towards a broader understanding of how organisations, people and places interact.

A collaborative piece of work

The report has been developed through engagement events with social value professionals from a wide range of organisations. This collaborative element is an important part of the work, bringing different experiences and perspectives into the development of the approach.

For ISV, the work has also been an opportunity to contribute to the conversation around how the social value field continues to develop. ISV provided the foreword to the report, alongside involvement from numerous ISV members and other partners.

Our CEO described the COMMONS Approach as an important piece of work that challenges us to think more holistically about social value, particularly by considering how decisions, conditions, priorities and interactions with others combine to influence lasting change.

The intention is not simply to introduce another framework, but to support reflection and encourage practitioners to consider how the approach can help us take shared impacts into account and work together to help people and places flourish.

Continuing the conversation

The launch of the report is the beginning of the conversation rather than the end of it.

Further events are planned for this winter, with dates to be confirmed, providing opportunities for social value professionals to reflect on the COMMONS Approach and consider how it can be used in practice. ISV will be involved in this ongoing activity and will share further information as plans develop.

For a field that continues to evolve, creating space to ask broader questions can be just as important as finding new answers. The COMMONS Approach adds to that conversation by encouraging us to look at the wider conditions in which social value takes shape and to consider how our collective actions can contribute to lasting change.

Read the COMMONS report →

The UK Government has published Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 026: The Social Value Model, introducing a revised framework for considering social value within in-scope central government procurement. The policy sets out the updated Social Value Model, minimum evaluation weighting requirements, implementation arrangements and expectations for contract management. It will apply to procurements commencing on or after 1 January 2027.

For organisations involved in public procurement, the publication of PPN 026 provides an opportunity to understand the updated model and begin preparing for its implementation.

A More Focused Social Value Model

One of the most significant changes introduced through PPN 026 is a more focused Social Value Model.

The updated model is centred on two outcomes:

• Good Jobs
• Skills

These outcomes are supported by policy outcomes and award criteria relating to creating good quality jobs, increasing opportunities for people facing barriers to employment, developing skills and investing in workforce capability.

The policy explains that these outcomes align with the Government Missions and are intended to support procurement activity that contributes towards those priorities.

Taken together, the revised model places a clearer emphasis on employment and skills within central government procurement, providing a more focused framework for how social value will be evaluated in these procurements.

Evaluation Weightings

PPN 026 also introduces minimum expectations for the weighting of social value during procurement evaluation.

For in-scope procurements with an estimated value between £1 million and £5 million, contracting authorities should apply a minimum 10% weighting for social value.

For procurements with an estimated value of £5 million or above, the minimum weighting increases to 20%.

The policy also sets out circumstances in which departments may depart from these minimum weightings, subject to appropriate governance and approval.

These revised weightings provide greater clarity about the role social value will play within central government procurement evaluations.

A Stronger Focus on Delivery

Alongside procurement evaluation, PPN 026 places greater emphasis on contract management and the delivery of social value commitments.

For contracts valued at £5 million or above, departments are expected to include at least three social value Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within their contract management arrangements. These KPIs are intended to monitor the delivery of suppliers' social value commitments throughout the life of the contract.

The policy also encourages contracting authorities to consider monitoring arrangements for lower-value contracts where appropriate.

Together, these measures reinforce the importance of evidencing and monitoring delivery once contracts have been awarded.

Preparing for Implementation

Although PPN 026 was published in August 2026, the revised Social Value Model will apply to procurements commencing from 1 January 2027.

The policy notes that further supporting guidance, including metrics and practitioner guidance, will be published ahead of implementation to assist departments and suppliers in applying the revised model.

In the meantime, organisations may wish to familiarise themselves with the revised outcomes, award criteria and evaluation requirements as part of their preparation for the new approach.

Social Value Beyond Central Government Procurement

While PPN 026 introduces a revised Social Value Model for central government procurement, it does not change the wider application of social value beyond these procurements.

As the policy makes clear, the revised model applies to in-scope central government procurements from January 2027. Other sectors and frameworks continue to operate outside these requirements.

For organisations working across different parts of the public, private and voluntary sectors, understanding where PPN 026 applies, and where broader approaches to social value continue to be relevant, will remain important.

How the Institute for Social Value Can Help

As organisations prepare for the implementation of PPN 026, attention is likely to move from understanding the revised model towards delivering and evidencing social value commitments in practice.

At the Institute for Social Value, we are committed to supporting organisations and practitioners through learning, professional development and resources that help build confidence in delivering social value with rigour, integrity and meaningful evidence.

As further guidance and supporting metrics are published, we will continue to share practical learning and resources to help organisations understand the evolving requirements of PPN 026 while continuing to support good social value practice more broadly.

The VCSE Summit 2026 is a large-scale, fully pro bono initiative designed to support and strengthen the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. The event brings together Crown Commercial Service, the Cabinet Office, NCVO and a wide range of other organisations, all contributing their time and expertise on a voluntary basis.

All technology and marketing costs for the summit are being covered by the organisers. This approach enables the event to focus on access, collaboration and practical value for participating organisations. The summit is aiming to attract at least 1,000 VCSE organisations for a dedicated day of shared learning, discussion and sector-focused support.

The programme is expected to explore a range of themes relevant to VCSE organisations, including policy context, operational challenges and opportunities for collaboration. Sessions are intended to offer insight into current developments while creating space for exchange between organisations working across different parts of the sector.

For organisations such as the Institute, the summit provides a structured opportunity to engage with VCSE organisations at scale. It also offers a platform to share work, increase visibility within the sector and connect with organisations that may be interested in membership or future collaboration. In addition, the summit presents the option for organisations to contribute to the programme, supporting sector-wide discussion through practical experience and knowledge sharing.

Further details on the VCSE Summit 2026, including opportunities to participate and contribute, can be found here: https://whatimpact.com/vcse-summit/

We’re pleased to welcome Jacob Hill as ISV’s Interim CEO.