EGSEE in social value

EGSEE is an acronym that stands for:

  • Economic: The financial health and economic contributions of your organisation, including job creation, innovation, and local economic development.
  • Governance: How your organisation is managed and controlled, including transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership.
  • Social: The impact on people and communities, such as employee well-being, diversity and inclusion, and community engagement.
  • Ethical: The moral principles guiding your organisation’s behaviour, including integrity, fairness, and respect for human rights.
  • Environmental: Your organisation’s effect on the natural world, including sustainability practices, carbon footprint, and resource use.

It's a framework that provides a comprehensive lens through which organisations can assess and communicate their broader impact on society, beyond their financial metrics. It's become the norm for investors and corporate stakeholders to measure business sustainability.

Why this matters for social value

The Council's suppliers must demonstrate value for money, including in its social value commitments that go beyond the core services or goods being procured. Like all performance indicators, they should be aligned to contract deliverables and the Council's community priorities. Good social value should create measurable, long term value for 

Applying EGSEE to social value targets

Below outlines examples of how an organisation can apply each EGSEE dimension when setting social value targets for future contract opportunities:

  1. Economic
    • Create local employment opportunities, especially for underrepresented groups
    • Support local SMEs and social enterprises through supply chain inclusion
    • Offer apprenticeships or training programs
  1. Governance
    • Implement transparent reporting and accountability mechanisms
    • Promote inclusive decision-making and stakeholder engagement
    • Ensure compliance with anti-corruption and data protection standards
  1. Social
    • Improve workforce diversity and inclusion
    • Support community development initiatives
    • Enhance employee well-being and mental health support
  1. Ethical
    • Uphold human rights and fair labour practices across the supply chain
    • Commit to ethical sourcing and procurement
    • Establish a strong code of ethics and conduct training
  1. Environmental
    • Reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption
    • Minimise waste and promote recycling
    • Invest in green technologies and sustainable infrastructure

How to get started

Getting started is always daunting, but a step-by-step approach can support achieving this.  

  • Baseline Assessment: Start by evaluating your current performance across the EGSEE dimensions, you may be surprised to learn your already achieving some if not all of these.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Involve employees, partners, and community members in identifying priorities and take a 360 view of opinions.
  • SMART Targets: Set goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
  • Monitoring & Reporting: Use KPIs and regular reporting to track progress and demonstrate impact.

By embedding the EGSEE framework into your social value strategy, your organisation can not only meet service delivery requirements but also contribute meaningfully to sustainable development and community well-being.