Bean hosted a busy and thought-provoking session on day one of Anthropy at the Eden Project, on “The Future of Social Value: Driving Impact Through Better Measurement and Reporting” in the exotic setting of the rainforest biome. With 15 years of experience in measuring and reporting social value, we want to reflect on the trials of capturing impact with fellow Anthropists. In a packed session, which included little birds joining in, we discussed the future of measurement and explored its impact on procurement, business, and charity work. With various perspectives and candid reflections, the panel provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within this rapidly evolving field.The session sparked discussions on how to rethink Social Value and measurement to ensure they genuinely drive change in communities and we can utilise the Procurement Act to drive system change with better measurement and reporting at the heart of Social Value to be able to evidence and learn from the impact facilitated to make the UK a better place.

The panel, chaired by Charlotte Turner of Bean Research, examined the evolving landscape of social value measurement, with a focus on policy, practice, and purpose. Charlotte opened by underlining the importance of social value as a strategic lever for delivering societal impact, urging a shift from short-term outputs to long-term community outcomes.

Dame Julia Cleverdon DCVO, CBE, Chair of The National Lottery Community Fund, echoed the importance of action with data. “It’s not enough to measure—it’s about what you do with that data,” she said, reflecting on the National Lottery’s ongoing efforts to refine its impact strategy and the call for localised, narrative-driven reporting. She highlighted the importance of youth participation and local authority accountability, using Blackpool as a case study of untapped potential.

Andy Canniford from Catch22 discussed the importance of going beyond contract metrics to understand both expected and unintended outcomes. “We need to listen to service users and turn inputs into impact,” he shared, stressing the need for better data architecture. And added the perspective of a service-delivering charity, noting the complexity of measuring across three levels: contracted services, charitable contribution, and broader community impact. He emphasised the need to move beyond standard metrics (e.g. apprenticeships) to track systemic change—such as intergenerational unemployment or shifting leadership in local organisations.

A key concern was the forthcoming Procurement Act (Feb 2025). Isabel pointed to increased expectations from the government and the public for more accountable, outcomes-based reporting. She called for a shift from box-ticking to genuine articulation of value created. Isabelle Parasram OBE of the Institute for Social Value highlighted how recent UK procurement changes demand a shift toward accountable, long-lasting Social Value. “It’s not just about reporting outputs—it’s about creating lasting legacies,” she emphasised.

Louise Townsend FRSA, formerly of Morgan Sindall, offered a critical view of the Procurement Act, arguing it conflicts with authentic social value delivery. She advocated for deeper collaboration, greater community voice, and a shift towards decarbonisation and social equity. Her remarks underscored the need for a disruptive rethinking of supply chains’ social value delivery and metrics in measurement. And pointed out the tension between collaboration and procurement processes. “We need to rethink how we measure collaboration within procurement—it’s a balancing act,” she said, urging more thoughtful measurement approaches.

Charlotte, concludes that community-led project design naturally drives better impact measurement. “When communities are at the heart, understanding impact becomes part of the process,” she noted.

The subsequent discussion with delegates expanded the conversation into themes of employee volunteering, sustainability, and systemic change. Which questioned how outcomes are prioritised in sustainability, urging clarity in goal-setting, and raised concerns about underused corporate volunteering, with cultural norms deterring employees from participating.

Julia and Louise argued that leadership plays a critical role in shifting culture, citing examples of senior figures leading by example. Andy and Isabelle underscored the importance of equitable and collaborative measurement, suggesting current frameworks often miss what truly matters to communities. Julia highlighted the lack of capacity among underrepresented groups to engage fully in social value processes, a concern echoed by several speakers.

The conversation concluded with a call for systemic change in procurement, improved relationship management, and the inclusion of community voices in planning and evaluation. Delegates were encouraged to continue the dialogue and take collective action through community engagement, advocacy, or rethinking internal practices.

The session sparked discussions on how to rethink Social Value and measurement to ensure they genuinely drive change in communities and we can utilise the Procurement Act to drive system change with better measurement and reporting at the heart of Social Value to be able to evidence and learn from the impact facilitated to make the UK a better place.