From Promises to Proof: Why Tracking Social Value is More Important Than Ever

As the construction industry faces growing pressure to demonstrate real, measurable impact, the spotlight is firmly on social value. No longer just a checkbox in a tender response, social value is now a key factor in procurement decisions—especially with the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, which prioritises the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) over simply the lowest bid.

For companies like SGD Fire Protection, this shift has brought a new level of urgency to a conversation that’s long been brewing: how do you prove the good you’re doing? While they’ve always been committed to giving back through community initiatives, job creation, and sustainability, they recently made the decision to start tracking that impact, adding a level of transparency to their operations.

In this edition of Meet the Buyer, we sit down with Shaun Davidson, Director at SGD Fire Protection, to explore why now was the right time to start tracking social value, how it’s giving them a competitive edge, and what advice he has for others navigating this evolving landscape.

Shaun, can you tell us a bit about SGD Fire Protection, your commitment to social value and what motivated you to start tracking and reporting on social value through digital solutions? 

SGD Fire Protection Ltd was founded back in May 2022. In our short history we have carried out multiple projects across the UK mainly including works for housing associations. We are now a multiple accredited company in Passive Fire Protection specialising in Cavity Barriers, Penetration Seals, General Firestopping, Structural Steel and Fire Compartmentation Surveys.  

At SGD Fire Protection Ltd, we are fully committed to maximising social value through our work, ensuring that our impact extends beyond the services we provide. We believe in fostering strong, meaningful partnerships that contribute positively to local communities, tenants, and the environment. 

Our company was founded on the principles of giving back and supporting those in need, making community investment, job creation, and sustainability core elements of our business.  

When we found out what Compliance Chain offers it was a no brainer as we do a lot of social value but never document it, Compliance Chain now gives us the option to track every single detail and create more detailed case studies which feature all our social value commitments for each project. 

With the Procurement Act 2023 now in effect, tenders will be scored based on the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT), instead of the Most Economically Advantageous Tender (MEAT), shifting the focus away from the lowest-priced tender. How do you see this impacting the construction industry, and particularly your business, when it comes to competing for projects? 

I don’t believe this will affect SGD Fire Protection. We are fully committed to delivering genuine social value and take our pledges seriously. We don’t just claim to deliver impact – we follow through with it, ensuring we deliver added value to our clients and the communities we work in. Compliance Chain is another step to that commitment, allowing us to provide real data to back up our claims.

The Act places greater emphasis on social value, meaning main contractors will need to be aware of what their subcontractors and suppliers are doing in this area. How are you preparing SGD Fire Protection to demonstrate its commitment to social value, and how does tracking it digitally give you an advantage? 

At SGD Fire Protection, we are fully committed to demonstrating our social value contributions in a transparent and measurable way. We showcase our commitments through our social media platforms and Compliance Chain case studies, providing potential clients with clear insights into the positive impact we make for our customers and the wider community. 

A recent example of this is our project at a retirement village in Leek, Staffordshire, where we donated a defibrillator to the home, as they had never had one on-site. Acts like this demonstrate our dedication to delivering meaningful social value beyond contractual obligations. We will continue to implement similar initiatives on every future project, ensuring that our contributions are not just promised but actively delivered. 

By tracking our social value commitments digitally, we can provide real-time evidence of our contributions, reinforcing transparency and accountability. This approach gives us a competitive advantage by allowing main contractors to easily verify our impact, ensuring they are partnering with a subcontractor that truly upholds the principles of the Procurement Act 2023. 

Can you explain why it’s no longer enough for a company to simply claim they’re delivering social value, like offering apprenticeships or supporting local communities, without giving evidence? How does tracking and evidencing social value help provide clients with tangible proof that these commitments are being met? 

Too often, we see contractors winning work based on promises of community engagement or future employment opportunities, only to fail to follow through once the contract is secured. Unfortunately, the industry has many who make commitments purely for their own benefit, without any real intention of delivering meaningful social value. 

At SGD Fire Protection, we take a different approach. We believe in full transparency and accountability, ensuring that everyone involved benefits from our work in one way or another. By tracking and evidencing our social value commitments—through social media updates, Compliance Chain case studies, and documented contributions—we provide tangible proof that our pledges are met. This not only builds trust with our clients but also ensures that real, measurable benefits are delivered to the communities we serve. 

The construction industry is often seen as one of the least sustainable sectors. Why do you think committing to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) is so important, and how does SGD Fire Protection approach ESG? 

The construction industry is often regarded as one of the least sustainable sectors, with high levels of waste, carbon emissions, and resource consumption. At SGD Fire Protection Ltd, we recognise the urgent need for change and are fully committed to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles to drive positive impact across our projects. 

We are proud to be ISO 14001 accredited, demonstrating our commitment to effective environmental management. This accreditation ensures we minimise waste, reduce our carbon footprint, and responsibly source materials. We continually review our processes to implement greener solutions, ensuring compliance with environmental best practices and industry standards. 

Strong governance is key to our success. We ensure full transparency and accountability in all our ESG commitments, tracking our impact digitally through social media updates and Compliance Chain case studies. This allows our clients to verify our contributions and see the real value we bring to projects. 

By fully integrating ESG into our operations, SGD Fire Protection Ltd is leading the way in responsible, sustainable, and ethical construction practices, ensuring that we not only meet industry expectations but actively contribute to a better future. 

What advice would you give to construction companies looking to enhance their social value and sustainability practices, particularly those just starting their digitalisation journey? 

For construction companies looking to enhance their social value and sustainability practices, particularly those at the beginning of their digitalisation journey, our advice at SGD Fire Protection Ltd is to take a structured, realistic and honest approach. 

As mentioned, many companies promise social value but fail to follow through. Establishing clear, actionable commitments—such as local employment initiatives, community donations, or environmental impact reductions—ensures accountability. Make sure these commitments are realistic, measurable, and aligned with your company’s values. We all could literally change the communities and areas we work in, but most companies and their directors are money driven and have been taken over by greed. We all need to do more especially in these current times. 

For businesses not yet tracking social value, do you think there’s a risk in not adapting to this shift? How important is it to stay ahead of the curve in this area? 

For businesses that are not yet tracking social value, there is a real risk of falling behind in an industry that is rapidly evolving. With the Procurement Act 2023 placing greater emphasis on social value, companies that fail to evidence their contributions may find themselves at a disadvantage when bidding for contracts. Main contractors and clients are increasingly prioritising businesses that can demonstrate real, measurable impact and all new tenders are proving this to be true. Those who cannot provide proof of their social value commitments may struggle to compete against companies that do. 

Looking ahead, how do you see the role of social value evolving in the construction industry over the next few years? 

Looking ahead, the role of social value in the construction industry is set to become even more integral, moving from a secondary consideration to a core requirement in procurement and project delivery. With the Procurement Act 2023 shifting the focus towards the Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) rather than simply the lowest price, businesses will need to demonstrate tangible and measurable contributions to society to remain competitive. 

Over the next few years, we anticipate that clients and main contractors will place greater emphasis on long-term, sustained social impact rather than short-term, one-off initiatives. Companies will need to go beyond making commitments and ensure they track, evidence, and report their social value contributions in a transparent and structured manner. This will likely lead to increased digital tracking and reporting requirements, with platforms like Compliance Chain becoming essential tools for proving a company’s commitment to social responsibility. 

At SGD Fire Protection Ltd, we welcome this shift because we have always prioritised delivering real, meaningful social value, rather than simply stating intentions.