The legal and social construction of value in government procurement markets

The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 introduces a social value duty. It requires public authorities in England and Wales, carrying out procurement activities, to ‘consider’ how such activities might ‘improve … economic, social and environmental well-being’. This article analyses qualitative, empirical data on how the social value duty has been interpreted and applied across local government in England. Although only a weak legal duty, this law has made a notable impact on practice. The article explains the changes brought about in practice under the social value duty, and seeks to understand why these changes have occurred. It does so by recognising local government procurement markets, as well as local government organisations themselves, as strategic action fields. In these fields, there are competing visions for social value. It is through conversations between actors that a common meaning comes to be attached to the law.