Hi Shariat, how are you? Did you manage to recharge over the festive period?
Hi Dan, Thanks I had a great break full of the usual but it feels like a long time ago now.
Your job title is Policy and Governance Manager for Birmingham City Council. What’s on your to-do list for 2022?
Top 5 are:
– Get the MatchMyProject in full swing
– Incorporate social value into planning
– Get suppliers to feed into our social value strategy
– Increase our social enterprise spend
– Prepare for changes in the white paper
Social Value is important for the council – particularly with the Commonwealth Games coming up this year. Can you tell us more about the Social Value work you’re doing in connection with that event?
There’s been a huge amount done already. It’s a great theme to engage suppliers on. You can get a flavour of the legacy plan here Legacy Plan outlines Commonwealth Games Firsts | Birmingham 2022
What’s been your biggest challenge with delivering Social Value?
The challenge is to persuade others, colleagues and suppliers, that social value is not an additional task to the day job, it is the day job. Of course, I am biased.
What advice would you give to your fellow Social Value practitioners in councils across the country?
Despite our progress in the last 10 years or so, it seems an uphill struggle, so I would say maintain the passion and energy. Keep going: plan, implement, monitor, innovate, repeat.
Thanks Shariat.
We think this might be helpful…
‘7 Things To Think About If You’re Doing Social Value And Want To Do It Right’
We’d love to hear from you.
Email: hello@socialvalueexchange.org
Telephone: 020 3488 6223