Community Well-Being Benefits

Welcome to our Social Values newsletter page, where we highlight projects and community well-being benefits delivered by contractors who successfully won business with the Council(s), evidencing the additional value that can be achieved for our communities through the procurement and contracting process.

Why It’s Important Business’ Grasp the ‘Community Well-being Benefits’ Opportunity

 Ardal, Senior Strategy and Development Officer, David Portman, outlines why Community Well-being Benefits are so important and what Ardal expects of its suppliers in delivering it within local communities.  

Wales is leading the way when it comes to ‘Community Well-being!’  

Yes, you read that correctly! Wales is at the forefront, with a clear policy framework and the necessary tools in place, the delivery of Community Well-being Benefits (CWB), also known as ‘Social Value/Impact,’ can be effectively delivered. This will lead to lasting, positive change within communities. However, businesses must seize this opportunity and actively participate to maximise the impact. 

The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 set a precedent by requiring public bodies in Wales to consider the long-term impact of their decisions. This Act encourages public bodies to collaborate with people, communities, and each other to address persistent issues such as poverty, health inequalities, and climate change. Building on this, the Welsh Government introduced the Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023, which aims to enhance sustainable development through social partnership that promotes fair work and encourages socially responsible procurement. 

 It’s therefore important for businesses wanting to work with the Public Sector to recognise and embrace the importance of Community Well-being Benefits. Public sector organisations will increasingly be asking those tendering for larger value contracts to set out their Community Well-being Benefits offer as part of their tender submission.  For the winning tenderer(s) this will become a contractual commitment.   

 Ultimately, why would a business not want to deliver Community Well-being Benefits right?  

 Aside from supporting the communities in which you operate, and I truly believe every business wants to ‘do good,’ Community-Well-being Benefits done well means huge opportunities for business growth through winning new bids and tenders. It gives business the greatest opportunity to recruit and hold onto the best staff, improves staff morale, can strengthen links to a business’ supply chain, and can help bring forth new investment when needed, to name just a few examples.  It also provides opportunities to enhance an organisations’ reputation with the communities they are working within, their peers and across the public sector. 

 At Ardal we have taken Community-Well-being Benefits very seriously from the word go. Our Community Well-Being Benefits (CWB) team have supported suppliers to connect with communities. This includes providing 121 support and establishing a tailored task force group who can support with CWB delivery that will help maximise the benefits to the local area. This includes providing employment pathways with the Onsite Construction Academy who work with and support individuals to ensure employment opportunities are sustainable. Many of the contracts offer funds through CWB commitments. These are delivered to many local charities, including Cwtch Baby, Fareshare and foodbanks, YMCA, Sea Scouts and more. There is also a comprehensive school provision across all 4 Local Authorities who align CWB commitments with the syllabus.  

 With our Social Levy delivered through SEWSCAP and SEWH frameworks, Ardal has supported charities such as StreetGames, School of Hard Knocks, the Welsh Refugee Council, and many others to deliver impactful, powerful work within communities and schools across South East Wales. Our aim is to leave a lasting, tangible legacy in areas across the region, and it is a regional approach we are looking to drive forward. This doesn’t mean a ‘one size fits all’ strategy! Every community is different, has varying needs and wants, and that is why we work closely with charities and community groups to understand a community’s specific needs. 

 We expect our contractors to show the same level of commitment! To engage with Ardal, charities and community groups and listen to what they have to say. Consider what is needed to deliver a lasting impact, a legacy that you can be proud of. Community Well-being Benefits is about people, everyone is different, we encourage our contractors to get to understand the people within the communities in which they operate in.  

 We have a chance to do so much good, and Ardal is up for the challenge and promises to keep its end of the bargain. Our call to action is for business, our contractors, to do the same!