Our platform has continued to grow, more organisations than ever have embedded social value into their decision-making, and the wider policy environment has moved at a pace we have not seen for some time. It has also been a year in which we have invested heavily in improving the Social Value Engine platform itself.
With our new AI-assisted report creation and access to a wider proxy base, our platform is becoming more comprehensive, more intuitive and easier to use for anyone producing a social-value assessment. These enhancements stay true to what has shaped the SVE from day one: helping organisations carry out high-quality social value measurements themselves, without relying on external consultants or complex spreadsheet systems.
Throughout the year we have been fortunate to see how our community uses the SVE to evidence long-term public benefit, build stronger business cases and demonstrate the value created for communities. Your feedback has helped shape new features, refine existing ones and ensure we remain focused on making social value reporting rigorous without making it inaccessible. As we look at 2026, our ambition remains the same: to provide a trusted, accredited platform that grows alongside the sector and continues to support organisations in telling a meaningful story about the value they create.
With this in mind, it is worth reflecting on what has been happening across the UK. The wider social value landscape has changed significantly during 2025, and the developments below are shaping how public bodies, charities, and private-sector organisations approach impact measurement.
Key developments in social value in 2025
PPN 002 and the updated Social Value Model
The Cabinet Office published a new procurement framework in 2025, replacing the 2020 Social Value Model and aligning evaluation requirements with the Procurement Act 2023. The framework emphasises clearer outcomes, proportionate evidence and more consistent reporting. From 1 October 2025 it becomes mandatory for in-scope central government procurements.
Updated Charity SORP
Changes to charity accounting were confirmed in 2025, with the revised SORP applying from 1 January 2026. The update introduces a three-tier reporting structure and places greater emphasis on impact reporting, along with environmental, social and governance matters. This marks an important shift towards clearer explanations of outcomes and public benefit within Trustees’ Annual Reports.
Pride in Place
The UK Government launched the Pride in Place strategy in 2025, a long-term programme designed to support almost 250 disadvantaged areas across the UK. Communities will be able to shape how their funding is used, with investment intended to strengthen high streets, community assets, local infrastructure and green spaces. The strategy reinforces the role of social value in local renewal, economic inclusion and place-based development.
Local Government Reorganisation (England)
Government introduced legislation to complete a new patchwork of local authorities across England. At the local level many of the proposals have involved a focus on community engagement, local accountability and prevention. All grist to the Social Value Mill. With Rose Regeneration our sibling consultancy we have been actively engaged in drafting the North, City, South proposal for Leicestershire and Rutland.
Community Wealth Building (Scotland) Bill
Scotland introduced legislation in 2025 to embed community wealth building within local economic development. Public bodies will be required to prepare plans, consider fair work, strengthen local supply chains and support community ownership. This approach places social value at the centre of Scotland’s wellbeing economy.
Growth in social impact investment
Social impact investment continued to expand, highlighted by Better Society Capital’s milestone of exceeding £1 billion invested in social enterprises and charities across the UK. This reflects the maturing of impact-centred financing alongside traditional public and voluntary-sector funding.
Looking ahead to 2026
Procurement regulations, charity reporting requirements and community-led initiatives all now place greater emphasis on demonstrable outcomes rather than activity alone. At the same time, the risks associated with vague or inflated claims have become more visible, reinforcing the need for clear methods and well-evidenced valuations.
The Social Value Engine will continue to evolve to meet these expectations. We are committed to supporting organisations with a platform that is rigorous, accredited and grounded in transparent methodology. The coming year will see us introduce new tools, improved features and greater flexibility, helping you capture and communicate the real value created for communities.
Users will have access to quality assessed financial proxies on a global basis, we will be setting up a new network of key area experts, local to you, and we will be strengthening our ‘Pay as You Go’ offer, providing a one-off assessment facility at a highly competitive rate.
Thank you for your continued trust and collaboration. We look forward to working with you through another year of meaningful, evidence-led social value.
