Social value is the key to being a responsible corporate citizen

Ongoing changes to procurement regulation has once again highlighted social value as a key aspect of public sector spending. Building on existing rules, in-scope organisations must report on specific, measurable, and time-bound commitments to the social value benefit of bids and tenders that can form KPIs in contracts.

These changes form part of a broader shift from purchasing the ‘most economically advantageous tender’ for the best price to selecting the ‘most advantageous tender’ soon. This allows social value to play a bigger role in choosing partners and creates a stronger need for technology partners to be agents for wider social change.

At Canon UK and Ireland, social value is woven directly into the fabric of our corporate DNA. Founded under the philosophy of ‘Kyosei’ - ‘living and working together for the common good’—this has shaped our approach to partnerships within the public sector. We are focused on empowering our partners not just with cutting-edge equipment but with initiatives that invest directly in the sustainability, equality, and greater well-being of the community.

Across Canon UK’s ongoing social value initiatives, we’ve engaged with communities across the UK including Lancashire, East-Lothian, Waltham Forest, Trafford, Norfolk and Ealing.

Rolling up our sleeves with Waltham Forest Dementia Hub

Canon’s partnership with the London Borough of Waltham Forest Council is a testament to how global corporations can foster local relationships and deliver measurable social value. Waltham Forest’s Dementia Hub is a publicly funded service for people living with dementia and their careers in Waltham Forest. It is committed to creating dementia-friendly spaces and raising awareness about the 944,000+ people living with dementia in the United Kingdom.

As part of Canon UK’s Managed Print Services contract with Waltham Forest, the team has contributed volunteering hours to maintaining a dementia-friendly garden space for the hub. This aligns with the hub’s focus on encouraging positive interaction between those living with dementia and the outdoors. Without the need for a gardener, this extends the Hub’s budget further to provide core services for its users.

Mowing the lawn and tidying flower beds may seem a far stretch from print and scan solutions, but initiatives such as these have helped establish a meaningful relationship between Canon and the Waltham Forest community, directly benefitting members and igniting a strong sense of purpose for the Canon team.

In this way, it’s essential to consider how contracts built on substantial social value deliver a two-way benefit. As part of our relationship with the Dementia Hub, Canon staff had the opportunity to be trained in Dementia awareness to learn more about how they can support those affected in their communities. Training sessions organised by the Alzheimer’s Society and delivered by Waltham Forest’s Intensive Dementia Outreach Service helped increase awareness around the condition. They encouraged Canon employees to be advocates for equality in their communities and personal networks.

Canon were also proud to support the Dementia Hub’s annual Christmas party for service users, providing volunteers and funding for the buffet lunch, ensuring that everyone at the Hub had a memorable Christmas.

Inspiring the next generation with Norwich University of the Arts

The opportunity for social value is vast, with inspiring examples of our Kyosei philosophy found in the relationships with our educational partners. For example, as part of Canon’s partnership with Norwich University of the Arts, it sponsors the University’s annual ‘Beyond the Frame’ photography competition.

As an extension of this partnership and as part of our Canon Young People Programme, we’ve also engaged with the wider Norwich community by running photography workshops and programmes with local schools. In 2024, over one hundred students from local schools were invited to take part in workshops that taught them how to use cutting-edge photographic equipment.

Tutored by Canon Ambassador and award-winning photographer Elisa Iannacone, the students were encouraged to create an exhibition inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By teaching real-world skills, the programme was designed to create opportunities for young people in the community and give them a platform to share their perspectives on the social and environmental world around them. By following the Social Value Model for bids and tenders, schools and universities can work with leading technology experts to deliver unique student learning experiences.

Conclusion

Social value commitments, such as these with local schools and councils, are the key to mobilising global corporations' resources and using them for the common good. By delivering greater value for the organisation and the wider community, Canon’s social value initiatives allow public sector partners to stay at the front of new reporting processes, as outlined by the Social Value Model.

However, organisations must recognise how social value commitments can be more than just a ‘tick box’ exercise. For Canon, it’s a part of our founding philosophy and way of life as a corporate citizen. When it comes to delivering global impact on a local scale, public sector organisations should focus on selecting a partner that can demonstrate track record of delivery and commitment, truly understand the unique strengths of the community and its people, and be invested in its continued growth and development.

Central Government Programme activities

The techUK Central Government Programme provides a forum for government to engage with tech suppliers. We advocate for the govtech sector, evangelise tech as a solution to public sector challenges, facilitate market engagement, and help make the public sector an easier market to operate in. Visit the programme page here.