Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has embedded social value into its procurement strategy, integrating it holistically rather than treating it as an add-on. Their approach is based on an adapted version of the TOMS framework (the UK standard for Social Value measurement) and aligns workforce development with procurement, ensuring a strong local retrofit workforce.
As the anchor organisation, the Combined Authority leads holistic skills building initiatives, including:
• Labour market analysis and market engagement to assess needs and opportunities.
• Collaboration with colleges to streamline training and avoid course duplication.
• Fair Employment Charter for contractors, promoting decent work conditions.
• ‘Ways to Work’ Programme to engage economically inactive individuals.
• Clear monitoring and data-sharing agreements to ensure compliance.
Most importantly, success is measured not just by the number of installs, but by workforce development and sustainable employment. This approach has strengthened the local skills pipeline, making Liverpool City Region one of the country’s top-performing retrofit regions, demonstrating the long-term value of procurement-driven social impact.
