Firms Discover How To Unlock Contract Opportunities Through Social Impact

Dozens of our region’s companies have heard how support from a forward-thinking programme can help them make a big impact on communities.

An event to help Tees Valley SMEs understand the changing landscape of social value and unlock new opportunities for growth when bidding for contracts was held at Middlesbrough FC’s Riverside Stadium on Friday (March 28).

Workshops led by Tees Valley Combined Authority teams informed businesses how to stand out for upcoming opportunities, how the authority’s procurement team operates and the requirements to deliver positive social impact as part of contract awards.

A workshop on Bid Writing and Expectations was facilitated by The Wright One while a session exploring improved collaboration between firms and voluntary and community sector organisations (VCSEs) was led by Believe Solutions.

It comes after both Believe Solutions and The Write One were named joint winners of the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) Social Impact Innovation Challenge earlier this month – an initiative aiming to driving social impact through procurement.

The Innovation Challenge is delivered by Edge Innovation Ltd and Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria on behalf of the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority, and the Tees Valley Business Board.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It’s great to see such a good turnout at events like these. It’s absolutely vital we support innovation and creativity across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool as we continue to grow our economy, bring huge game changing projects and deliver well-paid, skilled jobs for local people.

“We need to bring our businesses with us – and providing vital support, guidance and for small advice for their leaders and staff across our region puts more money in their pockets and also ensures they make a real positive impact out in our communities.”

Liz Byrne, CEO & Co-Founder of Believe Solutions, said: “The event was so energising, we have over 100 businesses all committed and engaged in optimising social value to really provide greater support for our communities in a joined-up way.

“This is just the beginning, the best solutions are co-designed with the people that will provide long term relationships for the future, in this case the solutions cut across sectors and we play to the strengths of each one. I’m really excited to see how much more value we can create for the Tees Valley – every public pound can do so much more which has been demonstrated today through business doing the right thing as a vehicle to inclusive growth.”

Siobhan McArdle, Chair of the Tees Valley Business Board, added: “The fantastic turnout at this event highlights just how crucial it is for our local firms to understand the intricacies of procurement, especially as legislation evolves.

“Ensuring that businesses, particularly our SMEs, have a clear pathway to securing contracts is not just about compliance – it’s about growth, resilience, and unlocking new opportunities.

“Social value is at the heart of this process, ensuring that the entire Tees Valley region benefits while creating a thriving ecosystem where small and medium-sized enterprises can truly flourish – and barriers to opportunity are broken down.”

The Innovation Challenge is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.