The Social Value of Good Procurement in Delivering Healthy Homes

Why This Matters 

Social housing providers are under sustained pressure to demonstrate that investment in homes generates returns beyond bricks and mortar. With the Warm Homes Plan, the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, and Future Homes Standards all reshaping expectations, procurement is emerging as one of the most powerful levers available to the sector. Yet too often it is treated as an administrative process rather than a strategic tool. 

This masterclass, produced in partnership with Fusion21, examines how a well-designed procurement framework can drive genuine social value outcomes alongside healthier homes. It draws on direct experience from a social enterprise operating at the intersection of public sector procurement and community benefit, offering a grounded perspective on what works, what does not, and why the conversation needs to start much earlier.  

What the Masterclass Will Cover 

• How to design procurement frameworks that embed social value from the outset rather than treating it as an add-on 

• The role of outcome-led specifications and whole-house accountability in delivering healthier homes 

• How Fusion21's credit model works in practice and what over-delivery looks like across its supplier base 

• The five-stage social value measurement journey, from tender submission through to annual social value returns 

• How retrofit programmes under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund are generating workforce, skills, and resident education outcomes alongside fabric improvements 

• The relationship between place-based delivery, local supply chain development, and community health 

• Where KPIs work and where they fall short, and how to keep reporting proportionate and purposeful 

• How recent and forthcoming legislation, including Decent Homes and Future Homes Standards, is expected to influence framework design 

   

Who the Masterclass Is For 

This session is relevant to procurement professionals, asset managers, sustainability leads, and social value officers working within registered providers, local authorities, and arm's length management organisations. It will also be of interest to contractors, framework suppliers, and consultants seeking to understand how social value expectations are evolving across public sector housing contracts.  

Who It Is Not For 

This session does not cover procurement legislation in technical or legal detail, nor does it function as an introduction to social value for those new to the concept. It assumes familiarity with the procurement process and focuses on strategic application rather than compliance basics. Those looking for guidance on specific statutory requirements under the Procurement Act 2023 will need to seek dedicated legal resources.  

What Attendees Will Leave With 

• A clearer understanding of how to structure a procurement framework so that social value is embedded rather than bolted on 

• Practical examples of the types of social value outcome being generated through retrofit and housing improvement programmes 

• Confidence in applying a simplified measurement approach that avoids creating unnecessary reporting burdens for suppliers 

• A framework for early conversations with members and suppliers that drives specificity and increases delivery success rates 

• An understanding of how place-based thinking and local supply chain alignment can compound social and economic impact 

• Awareness of how procurement frameworks can be designed with the flexibility to respond to evolving legislative expectations 

Speaker and Delivery Credibility 

Oliver Mooney is Head of Category at Fusion21, a social enterprise specialising in public sector procurement, with direct experience designing and managing frameworks across the social housing sector. Clare Connolly is Social Value Manager at Fusion21, responsible for the measurement and reporting of social value outcomes across Fusion21's supplier and member network, including the development of its social value return process.  

Logistics 

• Format: Virtual masterclass, available on demand 

• Host: Healthy Homes Hub, in partnership with Fusion21 

   

Call to Action 

If procurement is part of your role, or if you are responsible for the social and health outcomes of housing improvement programmes, this session offers a substantive, experience-led perspective that is directly applicable to current sector challenges. Watch the recording at your convenience and access your CPD accreditation for participation.