Procurement as a Strategic Lever for Social Impact with Olivia Hughes

In this episode of Powering Procurement, we’re joined by Olivia Hughes, Social Value Manager at Liverpool City Council, to explore how social value has evolved from policy ambition into a daily delivery requirement within local government.Olivia shares her journey from the private sector into public service, bringing a unique dual perspective from both supplier and client sides of procurement. She discusses how social value has shifted from being a misunderstood concept following the 2012 Social Value Act to becoming a central strategic driver across commissioning and procurement activity.The conversation explores:Why procurement is one of the most powerful levers for driving tangible community impactThe balance between commercial outcomes and social value commitmentsHow the new Procurement Act is creating space for innovation and flexibilityThe realities of measuring social value using frameworks such as TOMSWhy digital systems are only as effective as the foundations behind themThe importance of leadership buy-in and dedicated resource to embed cultural changeOlivia also reflects on the mindset that separates suppliers who genuinely deliver social value from those who treat it as a compliance exercise, and shares practical insight into building processes that are human, proportionate and truly deliverable.A thoughtful and energising discussion about making every public pound work harder - and ensuring procurement delivers real, measurable impact for communities.