The growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) plays a critical role in developing the UK economy. SMEs are the lifeblood of economic growth in the UK supplying public, private, and third sectors while also managing considerable numbers of supply-chain partners.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) reported in 2023 that SMEs accounted for 99.9% of the total number of businesses in the UK – with approximately 5.6 million businesses registered. SMEs account for three-fifths of the employment and around half of the turnover in the UK private sector.

While SMEs play a clear role in supporting the UK economy, their contribution to delivering social value is often underestimated. SMEs also face an array of barriers when attempting to deliver and embed social value within their organisations. This guide aims to identify these barriers and provide solutions to them, to facilitate the embedding and delivery of social value.

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Embedding Social Value in Procurement A Practical Guide for SMEs