Every pound spent by the public sector has the power to transform communities, but consistency, robust measurement, and proof of impact have often been missing pieces.
Now, the Welsh Government is taking a national step forward. In partnership with Social Value Portal, it’s piloting a consistent, data-led way for every public body to measure and report Social Value using the TOM System for Wales.
We spoke with Faye Moore, Senior Category Manager at the Welsh Government, about why this shift matters, how it connects to Wales’s wider well-being goals, and what success will look like.
What inspired this pilot with Social Value Portal?
We’re building on work that started between 2020 and 2022, when the first TOM System for Wales was developed. That work came from a recognition that we needed to better measure and deliver Social Value, particularly at a local level. It was led at the time by Welsh Local Government.
When we began preparing for the Procurement Act in 2023, there was a natural pause. Then, in 2024, the Welsh Government took the decision to lead on developing an updated TOM System for Wales. That was driven by the growing number of organisations across Wales already using the earlier version, as well as the need to reflect wider economic changes and updates from Social Value Portal, who were developing a new UK TOM System.
We also had to consider new Welsh-specific legislation. The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act places a duty on public sector bodies to deliver and report on socially responsible procurement. This new system gives public bodies a consistent, standardised way to do that.
The Welsh Government is funding a pilot with five organisations to capture and report their Social Value outcomes through Social Value Portal. Right now, most organisations are tracking this through spreadsheets, so the pilot will help us explore the art of the possible and what future developments could look like.
How does this support the Well-being Act and the Social Partnership & Public Procurement Act?
Identifying and capturing Social Value delivery is completely aligned with the seven goals of the Well-being of Future Generations Act. It also reflects the five ways of working set out in that legislation; it’s about delivering real, measurable good for Wales.
The seven goals of the Well-being of Future Generations Act
Under the Social Partnership and Public Procurement Act, there’s a legal duty to report Social Value outcomes – and evidence them properly. That’s where this partnership makes a real difference. It helps both Welsh Government and the pilot organisations to demonstrate how their procurement activity is contributing to social responsibility in a tangible way.
How does the TOM System for Wales reflect Welsh priorities?
It completely reflects them. The system has been developed for Wales based on the four pillars of Welsh sustainability: social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being. Those themes were discussed and shaped by a working group of Social Value representatives drawn from across the wider Welsh public sector, many of whom are already quite advanced in their own Social Value reporting.
Some of those same organisations are involved in the new pilot as well. The outputs of the TOM System have been mapped across the seven well-being goals, and many of the Measures use data specific to local authority regions. That means delivery and reporting of local goals can be captured at a genuinely local level – something that’s really important to us.
What excites you most about the pilot?
Being part of the working group and having the chance to explore Social Value alongside a group of real specialists has been fantastic. Everyone involved is a strong advocate for Social Value and the need to increase its impact through procurement in Wales.
We hear so many examples of great work being done. What’s exciting now is being able to capture the outcomes of that activity, both within Welsh Government and across the wider public sector, and see them validated and reported. That’s going to be a game changer for Social Value in Wales.
Spotlight on Social Value in Wales: Closing the loop with BOF
BOF’s work with the Welsh public sector shows how everyday procurement can deliver far-reaching community and environmental benefits. Their Social Value approach is aligned with the TOM System and focuses on local employment, sustainable supply chains, and meaningful community investment.
Key areas of impact include:
- Diverting waste from landfill
- Distributing refurbished items to charities and public institutions
- Running open donation days
- Supporting foodbanks and local charities
- Sponsoring youth sports teams
- Organising beach cleans and woodland planting initiatives
This work has supported Welsh jobs, expanded skills pathways and strengthened local supply chains.
A single reuse project diverted 27,000 kg of CO₂ from landfill and resulted in 296 items being donated to charity, illustrating the scale of positive impact achieved through circular, community-centred procurement.
“During the pandemic the wellbeing of our staff has been paramount, and your donation has meant we were able to replace worn-out furniture with comfortable, clean seating to improve morale and support wellbeing.”
The Anaesthetic Department, Princess of Wales Hospital
How do you see Social Value measurement evolving in Wales?
Wales is already quite advanced in this space. Some organisations, such as health boards and a number of local authorities, are already very well developed in their approach. I can only see that growing across the wider public sector.
I also see it moving away from the mindset of “let’s see what the supplier can offer us” and towards true partnership working between buyers and suppliers.
There are some brilliant tools emerging, like whatimpact and Match my Project, that can help identify local opportunities for suppliers to add value in their communities. Using solutions like that, alongside this new system, could really take Social Value delivery to the next level.
How is Welsh Government supporting the rollout of the TOM System for Wales?
The Welsh Government has been the main driver in setting up the working group and developing the new measure set for the TOM System for Wales. We’ve secured funding for the pilot with the five organisations, and we’ve also negotiated discounted membership rates for public bodies who want to use Social Value Portal beyond the pilot phase.
We’ll be supporting the pilot organisations them as they begin using the new system, and we’ll be using it ourselves too, so we’re learning alongside them. Through the partnership with Social Value Portal, we can make sure that any additional support or training they need is available.
This has been a genuinely collaborative effort. The working group has been instrumental in shaping the new measure set and ensuring it reflects the needs of public bodies across Wales. Their insight and commitment have made the system stronger and more meaningful, and that shared ownership will be key to its long-term success.
💡Learn more about the TOM System for Wales here.
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