How can Authorities embed equality, diversity and inclusion and social value through procurement?

Public commissioners can secure social value and equality, diversity and inclusion through the procurement of their design teams, and currently use a wide range of methods and processes to achieve this. However, approaches vary considerably in terms of the scale of their ambition and what they achieve.

This Practice Note, based on Matt Ruddy's placement at the Greater London Authority, considers opportunities through the procurement process to identify, embed, assess, delivery, evaluate and feedback social value and equality, diversity and inclusion objectives. It builds on the GLA’s Design Quality Management Process Note 01, exploring the six key principles put forward and proposing tools that could be applied to enhance their effectiveness.

The Practice Note is accompanied by The Social Value Opportunity Identifier tool that addresses Principle 01: Identify – which supports commissioners to identify project benefits for local beneficiaries, and any barriers particular groups of people may face in participating in or accessing a project.