As the Games for Everyone we would like our legacy on Social Value to mean that we create and use a Social Value Charter with clear links to the Games’ aims. We want to embed and measure the value and impact of Social Value as a core part of the business and supply chain for the Games and want to be a role model for the use of Social Value.

Social value is the ‘catch-all’ term used to describe the difference the Games can make to Birmingham, the West Midlands, and its people. It includes the benefits and changes for local people around jobs, sustainability, health and well-being, inclusivity, human rights and ensuring local benefit.

From contractors helping us with carbon neutrality to our United By community projects, or from the number of jobs/opportunities created to the number of volunteering hours provided by sponsors, Social Value is embedded across every area of the Games and its Legacy.

A Social Value Charter with clear links to the Games’ aims

The Birmingham 2022 Social Values Charter is a public statement of the OC’s commitment to sustainability, health and well-being, inclusivity, human rights, and local benefit.

For Business

Embed and measure the value and impact of Social Value

Companies seeking to secure contracts for Birmingham 2022 will need to demonstrate a Social Value component. For every contract opportunity between 10%- 20% of the contract weighting is dedicated to Social Value and this a first for any Commonwealth Games. Bidding firms will be rated on how well they bring forward proposals for Social Value, particularly to create realistic opportunities for local people and businesses. A range of measures are helping to embed Social Value into the planning and delivery for the Games. Some examples include:

  • Making use of the Jobs and Skills Academy to draw on an inclusive pool of local talent.

  • Linking local suppliers to contract opportunities.

  • Ensuring the OC workforce and supply chain workforce reflects local and regional communities.

  • Splitting procurements into smaller lots to encourage local Small and Medium Enterprises to bid and deliver contracts.

Measuring Social Value effectively can be a challenge. We want to use a recognised framework to measure how effective our work in this area has been.

Find out more about Business Tender Opportunities

For Individuals 

Early examples of success

Although the Games is still over a year away the Social Value commitments that suppliers and sponsors are committing to are already beginning to add up. Examples include:

  • One of the key measures is whether local firms benefit from procurement opportunities and to date, contracts awarded ‘by value’ to West Midlands companies is around 80%.

  • Official Legal provider Gowling WLG has delivered £1.27 million of pro bono legal advice to charities; 6314 volunteer hours to 749 beneficiaries; and £1.2 million of charitable funding raised.

  • The Host Broadcaster, Sunset and Vine, has committed to delivering 150 paid training placements in broadcasting for young people.

  • IT services provider, NVT Group will provide 23 paid internships to people from the local region.

Case Study - Inclusive Commonwealth Legacy Programme

In 2020 the Inclusive Commonwealth Legacy Programme (ICLP), a new initiative to support Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) owned businesses in bidding for and securing contracts for the Games, was launched.

Over the course of 12 months, 50 BAME businesses, split into two cohorts, will undertake six modules delivered as half-day workshops, and six peer-to-peer mentoring sessions with topics including measuring social value, procurement and bid tendering, and disruptive digital marketing.

The businesses involved will also have fully funded bilateral trade membership to the Commonwealth Chamber, which offers additional support through events, training, and opportunities to export to Commonwealth countries.

The ICLP has been created through partnership and collaboration across the region, including the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP), Aston University, the Organising Committee, Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce, and the Legacy Centre of Excellence Birmingham.