Local baseline
Source, geography, affected group, existing provision and what partners say is useful.
Company volunteering & social value
Company volunteering that creates evidence—not theatre
A practical route for employers and public-sector suppliers to contribute skills, time and resources to community needs with safe delivery, partner confirmation, performance data and transparent carbon accounting.
Volunteering is not a universal procurement requirement
UK companies are not generally required to volunteer. In public procurement, however, a buyer may evaluate and manage relevant social-value commitments. For in-scope central-government procurements commenced from 1 October 2025, PPN 002 provides the Social Value Model. Other authorities may use their own lawful, proportionate approach.
A credible contribution is linked to a real need, relevant to the contract where it is tendered, additional to ordinary delivery, feasible for the community partner and evidenced through the contract lifecycle. Generic volunteer-hour promises should not be inserted into every bid.
From contribution to evidence
An eight-part delivery record
The record is useful for CSR reporting and, where contractually relevant, for social-value mobilisation and performance review.
Capability match
Volunteer skills, role, boundaries, time, supervision and exclusions.
Mutual confirmation
Named partner, capacity, safeguarding, costs, data roles and escalation.
Owned delivery
Milestones, resources, dependencies, quality, accessibility and stop triggers.
Activity evidence
Attendance, completed work, quality checks and partner acceptance.
Meaningful change
Baseline, follow-up, participant voice, limitations and attribution.
Transparent estimate
Travel and purchased-resource activity multiplied by the named current UK factor.
Variance and learning
Delivered, missed, corrected, double-counting check and next decision.
Performance record
Report what happened, who confirmed it and what remains uncertain.
| Measure | Minimum evidence | Integrity check |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer participation | Unique people, role, date and consented attendance | Do not count registrations as participation |
| Skilled hours | Delivered time by role, excluding travel unless stated | Do not multiply hours by unsupported social values |
| Beneficiary output | Completed support accepted by the partner | Deduplicate repeat participants |
| Outcome | Baseline and follow-up defined before delivery | Do not claim causation from feedback alone |
| Partner confirmation | Named authorised reviewer, date and limitations | Preserve disagreement and variance |
| Carbon estimate | Activity data × named 2026 UK factor | State boundaries, assumptions and factor version |
Safeguarding and fairness
Community benefit must not depend on avoidable harm.
- Community partners can decline an unsuitable or burdensome offer.
- Volunteer roles do not replace paid jobs or professional services that should be funded.
- Children, vulnerable adults and sensitive settings require appropriate checks, supervision and information controls.
- Volunteer expenses, insurance, health and safety, accessibility and incident routes are agreed before activity.
- Photos, case studies, contact details and personal outcomes require separate lawful permission.
- A tender commitment cannot be counted again as unrelated corporate philanthropy without explaining the overlap.
- Market Accord confirmation records the stated contribution; it is not certification or buyer acceptance.
Government Social Value Model
Use the current PPN 002 scope, criteria, metrics and guide; ensure relevance, proportionality and contract management.
Open official guidanceProcurement Act framework
Check the applicable procurement, policy statement and authority-specific approach rather than assuming one universal rule.
Open official guidance2026 carbon factors
Use current government factors with recorded activity data and method; do not present a rough estimate as audited carbon impact.
Open official factorsPut useful company capability into the community.
Describe the skill, people, geography, time, safeguards and evidence your company can contribute. Market Accord will assess fit with a real community need and available supervision.