Social Value Policy

Effective Date: 01/06/2026

Social Value Policy

At Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions, our Social Value Policy sets out how we aim to create positive economic, social and environmental outcomes through the products we supply, the suppliers we work with, and the way we support our customers across healthcare, public sector, education, commercial and workplace environments.

Social value is increasingly important across UK procurement, particularly for public sector and NHS customers. The Public Services Social Value Act requires public service commissioners to consider wider economic, social and environmental benefits when procuring services, while the UK Government’s Social Value Model provides a structured approach to considering these outcomes in public procurement.

For Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions, social value is not a separate activity. It is part of how we operate, how we source products, how we support customers, and how we contribute to responsible supply chains.

Our Commitment to Social Value Policy

Our Social Value Policy is built around four key commitments:

Supporting responsible and ethical procurement
Delivering value for public sector, NHS and business customers
Reducing environmental impact where practical
Supporting communities, staff development and supplier diversity

We recognise that customers want suppliers who can provide more than competitive pricing. They need dependable partners who understand compliance, availability, service quality, sustainability, and the wider impact of purchasing decisions.

This policy applies to both areas of our business:

Niche Healthcare supports NHS Trusts, healthcare providers, maternity units, neonatal departments, private clinics, care settings and clinical procurement teams with medical, healthcare and patient-care products.

Niche Office Solutions supports offices, schools, councils, public sector organisations, facilities teams, procurement teams, warehouses, hospitality businesses, education providers and commercial workplaces with workplace supplies, furniture, equipment and operational essentials.

What Social Value Means to Us

Social value means creating additional benefit beyond the basic supply of goods. This includes supporting better outcomes for customers, helping public sector buyers achieve procurement objectives, improving sustainability, working responsibly with suppliers, and supporting fair access to business opportunities.

For healthcare customers, social value may include helping NHS teams access cost-effective alternatives, supporting product availability, improving procurement responsiveness, and contributing to sustainability and net zero objectives. NHS England states that NHS procurements include net zero and social value requirements, with supplier expectations continuing to develop through the NHS Net Zero Supplier Roadmap.

For office and workplace customers, social value may include supporting efficient procurement, reducing waste, improving workplace wellbeing, offering practical product guidance, and helping organisations make more informed purchasing decisions.

Our Social Value Objectives

Economic Value and Responsible Supply

We aim to support customers by providing competitive, transparent and practical supply options. This includes helping procurement teams identify suitable products, manage availability, and source alternatives where supply chain issues occur.

Our economic social value objectives include:

Supporting public sector and private sector customers with cost-effective supply routes.
Working with SMEs, distributors and manufacturers where appropriate.
Supporting fair and responsible supplier relationships.
Helping customers compare product suitability, quality and value.
Providing responsive communication throughout the quotation, order and delivery process.
Supporting long-term value, not simply lowest upfront cost.

As an SME supplier, we understand the importance of making procurement accessible, practical and commercially fair. Crown Commercial Service describes social value in procurement as ensuring that what is purchased creates additional benefits for society.

Environmental Responsibility and Sustainability

We are committed to improving environmental responsibility across our operations and supply chain where reasonably practicable. This includes considering packaging, product lifespan, responsible sourcing, waste reduction, transport efficiency and sustainable procurement choices.

Our environmental objectives include:

Encouraging durable, fit-for-purpose products that reduce unnecessary replacement.
Supporting customers with product information that helps informed purchasing.
Considering lower-waste and reusable options where suitable.
Working with suppliers who can provide sustainability information where available.
Supporting NHS and public sector sustainability expectations.
Reviewing our own internal processes to reduce avoidable waste.

We recognise that sustainability requirements are becoming increasingly important for public procurement. NHS England has confirmed that from April 2027, all suppliers will be required to publicly report targets, emissions and publish a Carbon Reduction Plan for global emissions aligned to the NHS net zero target.

Ethical Supply Chain and Compliance

Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions aim to work with responsible suppliers and maintain a practical, compliance-aware approach to procurement.

Our ethical supply chain commitments include:

Avoiding knowingly working with suppliers involved in unethical labour practices.
Requesting relevant compliance documentation where applicable.
Supporting transparency in product information and supplier documentation.
Working to improve supplier due diligence over time.
Considering product safety, suitability and regulatory requirements.
Responding honestly where documentation is not available or still in progress.

For healthcare products, this may include requesting documents such as declarations of conformity, CE/UKCA information, certificates, product specifications, safety details and relevant manufacturer documents where applicable.

For office and workplace products, this may include reviewing product quality, durability, safety information, warranty details, material information and supplier reliability.

Supporting Customers and Communities

We believe good service is part of social value. Customers benefit when suppliers respond quickly, provide clear information, and help teams make informed decisions.

Our customer and community commitments include:

Supporting NHS and public sector buyers with clear product information.
Helping education, office and workplace teams identify suitable products.
Providing practical guidance for procurement decisions.
Supporting customers with quotes, samples, product alternatives and delivery updates where available.
Maintaining a professional, responsive and helpful service.
Building long-term relationships based on trust, value and reliability.

For Niche Healthcare, this includes supporting clinical teams and procurement departments with suitable healthcare supplies and product information. For Niche Office Solutions, this includes supporting workplace efficiency through furniture, office products, facilities supplies and operational essentials.

How We Deliver Social Value in Practice

We deliver social value by focusing on practical, measurable and relevant actions.

This includes:

Offering cost-effective product alternatives where appropriate.
Helping customers reduce procurement time by sourcing specialist products.
Providing clear product pages, specifications and supporting information.
Supporting public sector buyers with documentation where available.
Working with suppliers to improve access to product information.
Encouraging responsible product selection based on quality and suitability.
Supporting long-term relationships with customers and suppliers.
Reviewing policies, procedures and website information to improve transparency.

Our approach is designed to support both day-to-day procurement and formal tender submissions.

Social Value Policy for Healthcare Procurement

Within healthcare, social value must be balanced with patient safety, clinical suitability, compliance, availability and cost-effectiveness.

Niche Healthcare aims to support healthcare customers by:

Supplying products suitable for healthcare and clinical environments.
Supporting NHS Trusts, maternity teams, neonatal teams and healthcare procurement departments.
Helping customers access product information and supplier documentation.
Supporting cost-saving discussions where clinically appropriate.
Helping reduce supply chain delays by sourcing suitable alternatives.
Supporting sustainability and net zero procurement objectives where possible.
Maintaining clear communication throughout the buying process.

This approach helps healthcare organisations consider value beyond the price of the product, including patient care, operational efficiency, product availability and responsible procurement.

Social Value Policy for Office and Workplace Procurement

Within office and workplace procurement, social value includes supporting productivity, staff wellbeing, sustainability, cost control and responsible purchasing.

Niche Office Solutions aims to support workplace customers by:

Supplying office products, furniture, facilities supplies and workplace essentials.
Supporting schools, councils, businesses, commercial teams and public sector organisations.
Helping customers choose durable and appropriate products.
Offering practical alternatives when products are unavailable.
Supporting efficient procurement for facilities and admin teams.
Encouraging long-term value through suitable product selection.
Providing clear product information for buyers and end users.

This helps organisations make informed decisions that support daily workplace performance and responsible spending.

Social Value, Sustainability and Net Zero

We understand that customers, especially NHS and public sector organisations, are increasingly required to consider sustainability and net zero in procurement.

Our sustainability approach includes:

Considering environmental impact in product sourcing where possible.
Supporting customers with available sustainability information.
Encouraging efficient ordering to reduce unnecessary deliveries where practical.
Promoting durable products that support longer-term use.
Reviewing supplier information on packaging, materials and carbon impact where available.
Supporting future carbon reduction expectations in line with public sector procurement requirements.

We are committed to improving our sustainability position over time and recognise that this is an ongoing process.

Social Value and Supplier Relationships

We aim to build responsible supplier relationships based on trust, transparency and service reliability.

When working with suppliers, we consider:

Product quality and suitability.
Supplier reliability and responsiveness.
Availability and lead times.
Compliance documentation where required.
Ethical and responsible trading practices.
Product safety and performance.
Long-term partnership potential.
Ability to support customer requirements.

Where possible, we aim to work with suppliers who understand the needs of healthcare, public sector and commercial customers.

Social Value and Employees

Our people are central to the service we provide. We aim to support a working environment where staff can develop skills, contribute ideas and provide excellent customer service.

Our employee-related commitments include:

Supporting training and skills development.
Encouraging professional communication.
Promoting a responsible and respectful working environment.
Supporting staff involvement in customer service improvements.
Encouraging practical knowledge of products, procurement and supplier communication.
Building internal capability as the business grows.

By developing our team, we improve the quality of support we can offer customers.

Social Value and Customer Service

Customer service is a key part of our social value approach. Poor communication can cause delays, confusion and additional workload for customers. We aim to reduce this by providing clear, honest and timely communication.

Our customer service commitments include:

Responding to enquiries professionally.
Providing accurate information where available.
Being honest where details are not specified or need supplier confirmation.
Supporting customers with order updates and delivery information.
Helping customers find suitable alternatives where possible.
Maintaining a practical and helpful approach to problem solving.

This supports better procurement outcomes and helps customers make decisions with confidence.

Monitoring and Improving Our Social Value Policy

We recognise that social value should be reviewed and improved over time.

We aim to monitor our progress by reviewing:

Customer feedback.
Supplier performance.
Product availability and reliability.
Sustainability information from suppliers.
Internal service standards.
Tender and procurement requirements.
Website policy content and transparency.
Opportunities to improve reporting and documentation.

As our business grows, we will continue to improve how we evidence and communicate social value.

Responsibilities

Responsibility for this Social Value Policy sits with the management team of Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions.

All staff involved in sales, procurement, sourcing, customer service, supplier communication, marketing and tender support are expected to consider social value when carrying out their work.

This includes considering:

Customer needs.
Product suitability.
Supplier reliability.
Ethical and environmental factors.
Cost-effectiveness.
Long-term value.
Clear and accurate communication.

Policy Review

This Social Value Policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains relevant to our business, our customers and public procurement expectations.

The policy may be updated to reflect changes in:

UK procurement guidance.
NHS supplier requirements.
Sustainability and net zero expectations.
Internal business processes.
Supplier management practices.
Customer feedback.
Tender requirements.

Conclusion: Social Value Policy

Our Social Value Policy reflects the way Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions aim to operate as responsible suppliers. We are committed to supporting customers with reliable products, practical procurement support, ethical supplier engagement, sustainability awareness and long-term value.

For healthcare, public sector, education, office and commercial customers, we understand that purchasing decisions are about more than price. They are about quality, suitability, service, responsibility and the wider value created through the supply chain.

Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions will continue to develop our social value approach so that we can support customers, suppliers, employees and communities in a practical and meaningful way.

FAQ Section

What is a Social Value Policy?

A Social Value Policy explains how an organisation aims to create wider economic, social and environmental benefits through its business activity. For Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions, this includes responsible procurement, ethical supplier relationships, customer support, sustainability awareness and long-term value for healthcare, public sector and workplace customers.

Why is social value important in procurement?

Social value is important because procurement decisions can create benefits beyond the product or service being purchased. These benefits may include supporting SMEs, improving sustainability, creating better supply chain transparency, reducing waste, supporting local or national economic value, and helping public sector buyers meet procurement requirements.

Does this policy apply to both Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions?

Yes. This policy applies to both Niche Healthcare and Niche Office Solutions. Niche Healthcare focuses on healthcare, NHS and clinical supply environments, while Niche Office Solutions supports office, education, public sector, facilities and commercial workplace customers.

How does Niche Healthcare support NHS social value requirements?

Niche Healthcare supports NHS social value requirements by helping healthcare customers access suitable products, providing product information where available, supporting cost-effective procurement, considering supplier documentation, and recognising the importance of sustainability and net zero requirements in NHS procurement.

How does Niche Office Solutions support workplace social value?

Niche Office Solutions supports workplace social value by helping businesses and public sector customers source practical, durable and cost-effective products. This includes supporting workplace efficiency, procurement reliability, product suitability and responsible purchasing decisions.

Is this policy reviewed?

Yes. This Social Value Policy should be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains suitable for customer expectations, tender requirements, sustainability developments, NHS procurement standards and wider public sector guidance.

Krishan Thaper