Sustainability has long been a core consideration in university catering and procurement – driving decisions around food waste, energy efficiency, and sourcing practices. But in recent years, a broader, more people-focused concept has been rising up the agenda: social value. It’s changing the way universities evaluate tenders, choose service provider partners, and define success.
From carbon to community
While sustainability tends to focus on environmental impact – reducing carbon emissions, cutting food waste, buying local and seasonal, and ensuring ethical supply chains – social value zooms out. It looks at how an organisation contributes to the wider community and society at large.
That could mean offering job opportunities to underrepresented groups, creating student internships and placements, partnering with local charities, or embedding inclusive recruitment policies. In effect, it adds a human dimension to what was previously an environmentally focused conversation.
Universities have always seen themselves as anchor institutions within their cities and towns. But as expectations grow – especially from students who are increasingly socially conscious – they’re being called upon to demonstrate how they give back. Social value offers a tangible way to do just that.
We’re seeing this shift first-hand in the tendering process. More and more, universities are asking not just what a supplier does, but how they do it – and how it contributes to wider goals, such as the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Social value in action: what we’re seeing
It’s no longer enough to simply tick a sustainability box. Suppliers are going to great lengths to demonstrate their social value credentials. From initiatives that offer part-time work to students or mentorship programmes to community projects such as supporting local food banks, volunteering days and charity partnerships – these activities are now key differentiators in competitive tendering.
The beauty of social value initiatives is that they benefit not only the communities they serve, but the universities that support them.
If you’re involved in catering, procurement, or facilities management at a university, now is the time to broaden your lens. We’re helping many universities navigate this evolving landscape – supporting tender strategies that reflect both environmental responsibility and social impact.
If you’d like to hear more about how we can support your tender process, contact us here
The Litmus team