1. Introduction

Efficio has a long-standing commitment to improving the social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of the communities in which we operate. As a leading procurement consultancy, we recognise that our greatest opportunities to generate social value are twofold: through our own operations and workforce practices, and through the advice, guidance, and strategic support we provide to clients across the public and private sectors.
Efficio reviews and refreshes this policy annually to ensure our approach remains aligned with the latest government priorities, industry best practice, and the evolving expectations of the clients we serve. This 2026 update reflects the requirements of Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 002 – The Social Value Model - and aligns with the broader public sector framework established under the Procurement Act, particularly the statutory objectives of delivering Value for Money and maximising Public Benefit. In addition, this policy reflects the priorities set out in the National Procurement Policy Statement (NPPS) and the wider policy objectives adopted across Local Government and the wider public sector. Together, these frameworks ensure that Efficio’s delivery approach supports not only compliance but also the achievement of meaningful social value outcomes for all contracting authorities.
Efficio remains committed to delivering measurable and meaningful social value outcomes, both directly and through the influence we have on wider supply chains.

2. Purpose

This policy sets out Efficio’s approach to creating, supporting, and evaluating social value in alignment with the principles of PPN 002, the National Procurement Policy Statement, and the Procurement Act’s statutory objectives of Value for Money and Public Benefit. It aims to:

  • Ensure that Efficio’s internal operations and procurement practices contribute positively to society and the environment.
  • Maintain a strong commitment to equality, inclusion, and gender balance across our workforce.
  • Embed the Social Value Model across the consultancy work we deliver across the public sector, enabling our clients to comply with the NPPS, meet Procurement Act obligations, and maximise public value through their contracts and supply chains.
  • Strengthen the economic and social fabric of local communities, particularly through our engagement with SMEs, VCSEs, and underrepresented groups.
  • Establish clear expectations for suppliers and partners and define our approach to monitoring and reporting progress.
  • This policy applies to all employees, contractors, and suppliers working with Efficio and is relevant to all business activities, including client-facing engagements, corporate procurement, HR practices, and sustainability initiatives.

3. Scope

The policy applies across all Efficio’s UK operations where social value requirements may be relevant. It covers how we design and deliver procurement strategies for clients, how we conduct supplier evaluation and due diligence, and how we manage our own organisational responsibilities relating to people, environment, and community impact.

4. Alignment with Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 002

Taking account of social value in the award of contracts and the accompanying Guide to using the Social Value Model
PPN 002 requires social value to be considered consistently, proportionately, and transparently in public sector procurement. Efficio has updated this policy and our internal delivery approach to ensure full alignment with these expectations. While PPN 002 applies primarily to central government, Efficio also aligns with the wider social value priorities reflected in the National Procurement Policy Statement, the Procurement Act, and Local Government frameworks, ensuring our approach is suitable for all public sector clients. Efficio has also kept elements of the 2012 model where appropriate.

4.1 Embedding Social Value Throughout Procurement
As a Procurement & Supply Chain consultancy, Efficio plays a critical role in helping clients embed social value into their commercial activity. We incorporate the Model Social Value Question and the associated outcome-based framework into the strategies, tools, templates, and processes we design for clients. Where we run procurements on their behalf, we apply the Social Value Model directly - while also ensuring alignment with the Procurement Act’s objectives and the NPPS - so that requirements, evaluation criteria, and KPIs are proportionate, relevant, non-discriminatory, and reflective of the broader public sector duty to maximise public benefit.

4.2 Minimum Weighting and Outcome-Based Evaluation
Efficio adheres to the requirement that social value carries a minimum weighting of 10% in public sector procurements unless otherwise justified. We support clients in selecting the most relevant outcomes from the Social Value Model-whether focused on fair work, environmental sustainability, community development, supplier diversity, or workforce wellbeing-and ensure that supplier submissions are evaluated robustly and transparently.

4.3 Supporting SMEs and Local Organisations
Efficio recognises the Social Value Model’s emphasis on removing unnecessary barriers for SMEs and VCSEs. Efficio reflects this by advising clients on proportionate requirements, simplifying documentation where possible, and ensuring that evaluation criteria do not disadvantage smaller organisations. As a business, we apply the same principles to our own supply chain.

4.4 Capability Building
Efficio continuously develops the capability of our teams to understand, implement, and evaluate social value. This includes regular training on PPN 002 requirements, reviewing lessons learned from client engagements, and integrating social value considerations into our delivery methodologies and thought leadership.

5. Delivering Social Value Through Our Consultancy Work

Efficio’s primary impact comes from the work we deliver for clients. Through procurement strategy, category design, supplier evaluation frameworks, contract management, and commercial transformation, we influence how billions of pounds of public and private sector spend can generate wider societal benefits.

Efficio supports clients by:

  • Designing procurement processes that incorporate relevant social value outcomes.
  • Developing evaluation frameworks that ensure suppliers commit to measurable and meaningful social value delivery.
  • Establishing contract management mechanisms to track performance against social value KPIs.
  • Providing market insight into suppliers’ social value capabilities, emerging standards, and industry benchmarks.
  • Advising clients on supply chain interventions that promote fair work, ethical trade, carbon reduction, and SME participation.
  • This dual focus-our own operations and our advisory role-ensures that Efficio contributes to social value far beyond our immediate corporate footprint.

6. Efficio’s Corporate Commitments to Social Value

Alongside the value we create through client advisory work, Efficio maintains strong internal commitments across the core areas of the Social Value Model.

6.1 Fair Work and Equal Opportunity
Efficio is committed to maintaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We conduct regular pay and progression audits, strengthen our gender equality practices, and maintain transparent recruitment, promotion, and reward processes. Mandatory training on unconscious bias supports fair and inclusive hiring.
We provide equal access to training, development, and progression opportunities, ensuring that all employees-regardless of gender, background, or identity-can thrive within the organisation.

6.2 Strengthening Communities
Efficio supports local communities through structured volunteering, partnerships with schools and charities, and pro bono consulting support where appropriate. Our focus areas include employability, financial literacy, and capacity building for third-sector organisations.
As a business with a global footprint, we encourage our offices to respond to the needs of their local communities, ensuring that our contributions remain relevant and locally informed.

6.3 Environmental Sustainability
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and supporting our clients to do the same. Efficio continues to implement carbon reduction measures across our operations, including the reduction of travel emissions, the use of sustainable office materials, and the adoption of energy-efficient practices.

6.4 Ethical and Responsible Supply Chains
Efficio upholds high ethical standards across all procurement activity. Our supplier due diligence processes seek to ensure that suppliers adhere to fair labour practices, respect human rights, and maintain transparent and responsible business operations. This extends to the work we undertake for clients, where we support them in establishing ethical supply chain requirements and monitoring compliance.

6.5 Employment, Skills, and Growth
We invest in developing our people through structured training programmes, leadership development, mentoring, and performance management processes. We also provide opportunities for apprentices, interns, and graduates to enter the profession and build long-term careers within procurement and consulting.

6.6 Health, Wellbeing, and Productivity
Efficio recognises the importance of wellbeing in maintaining a productive workforce. Our wellbeing framework includes access to mental health support, employee assistance services, flexible working arrangements, and initiatives that encourage healthy lifestyles. We strive to cultivate an environment where employees feel supported, valued, and able to perform at their best.

7. Monitoring, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

Social value commitments are monitored through a combination of internal governance, contract-level KPIs, and annual reporting. For client engagements, we support the development of contracts that clearly define how social value will be measured and provide tools to track delivery across the contract lifecycle.
As a business, Efficio publishes an annual summary of its social value achievements, highlighting progress, case studies, and areas for improvement. We remain committed to continuous development, regularly reviewing our practices, learning from client engagements, and adapting to new government policy and industry standards.