Posted 27th February 2017
Tom Wilde, Trafford Housing Trust’s Social Value Advisor and Social Value UK member, has been honoured for his commitment to serving the local community at the Social Value Awards. The Social Value Awards, in association with Department for Culture, Media and Sport, took place at London’s Institute of Engineering Technology on Wednesday 8th February and provided an opportunity to celebrate good practice in commissioning and providing social value. The awards relate to the 2012 Social Value Act, which called for all public sector bodies to consider social, economic and environmental benefits to local communities, rather than just cost, when awarding contracts to public services.
At the ceremony, Tom took home one of the four available prizes on the night, winning the Social Value Leadership Award for an Individual, a category which recognises the work of someone in an organisation that goes beyond the requirements of the Social Value Act, and who is instrumental in leading and engaging others in social value. Tom was up against two other nominees for the award, Brian Bishop from Data Performance Consultancy Ltd. and Cindy Nadesan from Surrey and East Sussex Council.
It’s amazing to get national recognition for a job that I truly love doing. I’m really lucky to work for an organisation that believes in social value enough that they have created a full-time position that focuses on it.
Tom’s award was in honour of his work analysing local needs to understand what support or interventions will deliver greatest social value within Trafford, and his key role in the re-design of the Trust’s procurement processes which ensured social value is embedded through the supply chain. Tom has also played a key role in supporting local businesses to align their CSR and social value activities more closely with the projects and organisations which will deliver greatest local impact while also leveraging support from local partners and businesses to address local needs.
Tom said: “It’s amazing to get national recognition for a job that I truly love doing. I’m really lucky to work for an organisation that believes in social value enough that they have created a full-time position that focuses on it. Getting this award will increase the Trust’s profile as an organisation that champions social value, which in turn will open doors to work with and influence others and spread social value beyond the public sector.”
Matthew Gardiner, chief executive of Trafford Housing Trust, added: “Tom is fully deserving of this award and it is fitting recognition of the excellent work he has undertaken since joining the Trust. The Trust has long been a champion of the importance of social value, as evidenced by our social enterprise CleanStart, and Tom’s award is further proof that the Trust is at the forefront of public bodies that are committed to awarding contracts that result in positive social outcomes as well as excellent results.”
The award ceremony was the climax of the fourth annual Social Value Summit, the leading event in its field, attracting over 300 leaders from across the private, public and social sectors. It is organised by Social Enterprise UK and Interserve, supported by Business in the Community.