We have formally adopted a new approach to procurement that puts social value at its heart. This will ensure that every pound spent brings lasting benefits to the local community.
Under the new ‘Our Community Can’ initiative, all contracts awarded by the council will be assessed not just on cost and quality, but also on the social, economic, and environmental value they create for people living across the district.
Currently, 17 active contracts include social value commitments worth a combined £3.2 million.
One example is contractor Cawarden, which recycled 99% of materials from the demolition of the Birmingham Road multi-storey car park. The company has also made generous contributions to local causes, including Lichfield Foodbank, and sponsored the Elite Academy of Performing Arts, helping its students attend an international competition.
Construction firm Stepnell, responsible for building Lichfield’s new leisure centre, is creating social value through local employment opportunities. The company is sourcing building materials from local suppliers and recently collaborated with students from Chase Terrace Academy on a four-week project to design a housing development.
Embedding social value into contracts supports the council’s long-term vision, outlined in the Lichfield 2050 Strategy, which aims to build confident, prosperous, active, and environmentally sustainable communities.
The council is actively encouraging innovative ideas from suppliers to ensure each project leaves a positive, lasting legacy.
A spokesperson for Lichfield District Council said:
“We’re thrilled to officially embed social value into all our procurement processes. This approach ensures that every project not only improves our infrastructure and services but also delivers meaningful benefits to our residents.
"By prioritising social value, we’re investing in a more sustainable and vibrant future for our district.”