Win a Job with a Social Value Tool

Robbie Blackhurst founded Black Capital Group in 2017 after working for main contractor Kier for ten years.

“It was interesting being on the other side of the fence, watching different clients drive social value,” he says. “There were so many different approaches that it could be frustrating.”

This then became a key moment when Black Capital subsequently founded Compliance Chain in
2020 to help standardize processes for clients and enable industry firms to improve profitability through more efficient project management.

This was a timely decision as social value was increasingly coming into focus.

From February next year, when the Procurement Act 2023 comes into force, public sector bodies will be able to use a wider range of factors when deciding who to work with.

Instead of choosing the most “cost effective” proposal, purchasing organizations will be able to select the proposal that best meets their own selection criteria. And under existing laws and policies, this must include the impact on society.

“Ultimately, contractors will not be able to get jobs in the public sector unless they are committed to delivering and demonstrating social value,” says Blackhurst.

This is where the Compliance Chain social value management tool comes into play. This dynamic software allows project managers to set effective goals, track progress, and collaborate to achieve positive change.

“Contractors will not win work in a race to the bottom. They need to show that they do more than others and are not just the cheapest option,” says Blackhurst. “What would differentiate one general contractor from another when proposing a £20 million school? It won’t be the price or the approach to health and safety – it will all come down to social and environmental value. How can you be sure that you will win this battle?”

While there are other platforms on the market to help with this process, Compliance Chain believes its offering is the most “intuitive and intelligent.”

According to Blackhurst, the social value management tool is often used jointly between contractors and clients. For procurement authorities, the software enables real-time performance tracking and simplifies reporting to funders, stakeholders and regulators. For construction companies bidding, it presents a menu of social value options.

“There are 200 offers, divided into five categories,” says Blackhurst. “You could, for example, choose that you hire two apprentices and get a proxy value out of that for the community. The formulas are built in and you can create a plan to show the client what you have to offer.”

Both parties can then track implementation, leaving behind a fully verifiable trail of social impact.

“You can monitor progress and see what has already been achieved or what remains to be done. And then create a practical example in PDF format. It moves away from the glorified spreadsheets in the market,” says Blackhurst.

“The client can firmly hold the winning bidder to their promises, while the contractor can use the system to plan and achieve effective real value at virtually no cost. Otherwise, you may get to the end of the job and panic and pull out your checkbook to hit your targets.”

Contractors can also look for work completed in other sectors and regions to confirm how they have created social value in the past.

“This is a real commercial benefit,” says Blackhurst. “Last year the platform assessed the social value of projects worth £1.5 billion. It’s competitively priced with other platforms, but does more – once you see it, the benefits are clear. It’s actually not difficult.”

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