Community Benefits (Integration of Social Clauses)

This intervention relates to the CCT case level indicator, “Community Benefits (Integration of Social Clauses)”. 

A meeting was also held with the University’s procurement team to discuss the integration of social clauses when developing contracts with suppliers. The following summary was made: 

“It is University practice that all procurements above 25k must consider positive procurement requirements appropriate and proportionate to the tender. By positive procurement we mean Sustainable, ethical and socially beneficial sourcing. Social value and community benefits requirements are required to be included in procurement process (formally >25k). The purpose of the commitment is to improve and highlight this process, contribute to the method for assignment and allocation of community benefits with the aim of more formally aligning it to University strategy. 

So in short, higher level spend and call offs from existing university approved suppliers should include community benefits and social value contributions. The process for applying these to lower value purchases is less clearly defined but recommended by the Welsh government community benefits policy. Through this commitment we are keen to make this process more visible and contribute to the alignment of the benefits to university strategy.” 

This was put in to action with our most recent procurement exercise, the CYTREC building tender. As part of their application to the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework 2020, John Weaver Contractors (JWC) Ltd (the eventual winners of the contract) were asked to submit their Sustainable Procurement Plan and Community Benefits Method Statement setting out how they could deliver societal benefits and environmental initiatives through the contract.  

Both of these documents clearly show how JWC contribute to the community/societal benefits outlined by Welsh Government -Procurement: social value / community benefits | GOV.WALES : 

…with particular emphasis on the following: 

Training and recruitment of economically inactive people  

Creating new opportunities such as apprenticeships or providing hands on training weeks for current apprentices; intermediate training or work experience opportunities such as Traineeships; Work Trials or ‘sandwich’ placements for in-study work experience. 

Supply chain initiatives and Working with the 3rd Sector 

Promotion of open and accessible supply chains that provide opportunities, for Wales based businesses - especially those who form part of our Foundational Economy and SMEs - to bid for work; promote engagement with social enterprises and supported businesses; promotion of fair work and prompt and fair payment terms down supply chains. 

Educational initiatives 

Contributions to education in Wales through engagement with school, college and university curriculums focused on supporting STEM learning. 

Environmental initiatives 

Taking opportunities to further minimise the environmental impact of the contract and to promote environmental benefits especially where these objectives cannot be made part of the specification.