Procuring for Broader Social and Economic Value
Earlier this month the Major Projects Association held a virtual webinar, chaired by G&T partner Martin Rowark, to demonstrate the approaches taken by a selection of major UK projects to embed societal, environmental and economic benefits into their projects.
The webinar explored the different methodologies used by major projects in the UK to drive value throughout their supply chains and examples of how societal value benefits are being embedded into procurement.
In addition, the webinar included an overview of the potential outcomes of the Green Paper: Transforming Public Procurement which recognises the UK's new international status and gives an opportunity to adapt our public sector procurement approach to enable a greater focus on promoting transparency, local industry and society.
"I was delighted to be invited to chair such a significant event, with so much societal change at this time it is vital that procurement methods remain relevant to our needs. Our speakers were at the forefront of addressing this challenge."Martin Rowark
G&T Partner
Speakers at the event included Megan Carter, Regeneration Manager for Portsmouth City Council, Paul Dyson, CEO of Crossrail International, Emma-Jane Houghton, Commercial Director of the New Hospitals Programme, Robin Lapish, Supply Chain Manager HS2 and Jane Jenkins, Partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer who all presented on ways in which projects are tackling the challenges of embedding social value as a measurable outcome.
The presentations firmly reinforced the view that project priorities are increasingly focused upon outcomes other than cost, including the significant social and economic benefits which can be generated by major infrastructure investments. These priorities are being championed by national and local government buyers who are determined to shift the horizon from lowest cost to greatest social value.
Download the notes from the webinar here.