Community Benefit Clauses
Description
Just as consumers are increasingly aware that they can achieve more for their money by investing ethically or purchasing fair trade products, so public bodies must engage in strategic procurement to add value for the communities they serve. By examining ‘value for people’ rather than just value for money, they can achieve added value through purchasing decisions.
By changing existing public spending practices and shifting the onus onto locally focussed businesses with wider social and environmental aims, longer term financial gains can be achieved.Substantial social benefit can also result where, for example, a local business with social aims purchases, for social benefit, from local ethical suppliers; in turn creating more local employment. Focusing on added value procurement policy can be a genuine agent for change.
The Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition sees Community Benefit clauses as key to embedding social enterprises in public service delivery. We welcome Glasgow City Council’s adoption of Community Benefit clauses in its 2014 Commonwealth Games infrastructure procurement process. We have been further encouraged by the Council’s commitment to see Community Benefit clauses spread across the rest of the Council’s procurement delivery. Other procurement agencies have followed the example set by the Council and the recent contract for the South Glasgow Hospitals Project (£840m) identifies community benefits, including social enterprise engagement.
› We believe all levels of Government must embed Community Benefit clauses in their own procurement programmes.
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Updates
East End canteen serves up social enterprise jobs →
Posted on 22 June 2010
