New construction framework to include social value

The Scape Group has launched a new regional construction framework, which will measure social value as standard.

The four-year framework, will operate across the Midlands and East of England, and comprises 11 lots for projects valued at up to £5m.

The framework will provide construction services for public sector projects in the Midlands and East of England, covering Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Essex and Hertfordshire.

According to the Scape Group, it will take a strengthened approach to demonstrating value for money, and as standard, now measures social value, via a TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, Measures) method, developed in association with Social Value Portal.

The Scape Group will also continue to monitor project performance via additional Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for local spend and local employment.

The framework will also ensure that at least one social enterprise is engaged on every project.

It will replace the East Midlands Property Alliance (empa) framework, which expires in early 2018.

‘We are tremendously proud of the success of the empa framework, which has offered an excellent profile of contractors to the public sector in the region and has consistently created new opportunities for local SMEs within their supply chain,’ Scape Procure’s managing director, Victoria Brambini.

‘The Regional Construction framework builds upon the empa framework, aiming to generate greater value for money and project success for the public sector across the region.

‘By extending the Regional Construction framework’s reach into the East of England, we will be able to provide public sector organisations with access to a framework that not only delivers high quality and cost effective services from contractors that have demonstrated the right balance of cost and quality, but crucially also has specific social value objectives.

‘We are looking forward to working with our clients and partners, both existing and new, to deliver even greater value for local communities in the period ahead.’

A report published in November by Social Enterprise UK called for the Social Value Act to be strengthened and for social value to be included in devolution deals.

According to the report, the act is ‘only scratching the surface of what is possible’ and currently accounts for around £25bn of public spending.