If you’re applying to G-Cloud 15, there’s a whole section dedicated to social value, and it’s something every supplier has to complete. This guide walks you through what social value actually means, how it works under G-Cloud 15, and how to fill in each part on the digital platform without getting stuck.
Let’s keep this simple and walk through it step by step.
What “Social Value” Actually Means
Social value comes from the Social Value Act (2012). In plain terms, it’s all about the extra good you create while delivering a contract. Not just the service itself, but the wider benefits to communities, people or the environment.
Think of it as looking beyond the price tag and showing how your work makes a positive difference.
Social value can cover things like:
- Apprenticeships
- Local jobs or skills programmes
- Volunteering or community support
- Cutting waste or emissions
- Reducing single-use plastics
- Fair, inclusive employment practices
Under G-Cloud 15, buyers must consider social value where it’s proportionate. This simply means:
- If the contract is small or straightforward, the social value requirements should stay light and sensible.
- If the contract is bigger or has more impact, the buyer is expected to include more meaningful social value.
Put simply, buyers shouldn’t overload tiny contracts with big social value expectations, but they also shouldn’t ignore it on larger ones where it could make a real difference.
To keep this consistent, central government uses the Social Value Model, which sits under PPN 06/20 (basically the government’s rulebook for how social value should be included in public sector contracts). This breaks social value down into:
Missions: The big government priorities.
Outcomes: The results buyers want to achieve.
Model Award Criteria: The specific activities suppliers deliver to support those outcomes.
When you apply for G-Cloud 15, you’ll be asked to pick the activities (sub-criteria) you can genuinely deliver, and you’ll be expected to follow through on them if you win work.
Before You Start the Social Value Section
Some fields are mandatory, and the system won’t let you move on until they’re filled in. If you miss anything, it will flag it straight away so you can fix it.
On your Declaration Overview page, you’ll see four social value sections:
- Section A: Understanding Social Value
- Section B: Commitment to Future Delivery
- Section C: Organisational Readiness Process
- Section D: Social Value Operational Readiness
You must complete all four to submit your G-Cloud 15 application.
Section A: Understanding Social Value
This part is pass-fail. You’ll see five statements and simply confirm “Yes” to show you understand the basics of social value and why it matters.
You must confirm all five to continue.
Section B: Commitment to Future Delivery
This is where you choose the specific social value activities your organisation is willing and able to deliver during a contract.
You must pick at least one activity across the whole section.
A few things to remember:
- More ticks doesn’t mean a higher score.
- Only choose activities you can genuinely deliver.
- Buyers will see these commitments later during call-off.
- You can edit this section anytime before submission.
If you don’t select at least one activity, you won’t be able to move forward.
Section C: Organisational Readiness Process
Here you confirm that your organisation is ready to deliver the commitments from Section B.
You must:
- Confirm you will have a CCS Social Value Contact
- Provide their details
This person is responsible for making sure your chosen activities actually happen. If you say “No” to having a contact, your application becomes non-compliant and stops.
Section D: Social Value Operational Readiness
This final section checks that you’re set up to report on and manage your social value delivery.
You’ll be asked to confirm that:
- You will report on the social value you deliver
- You have processes in place to deliver each type of activity you’ve committed to
You must confirm “Yes” to all of these.
Bringing It All Together
To finish your social value submission, you must:
- Understand what social value means under this agreement.
- Be prepared, including having a named contact and the right internal processes.
- Commit to the specific activities you can confidently deliver.
Once all four sections are complete, you’ll be fully compliant with the G-Cloud 15 social value requirements.
