Those commissioning services are more likely to feel confident using the Social Value Act than providers, new research has shown.

A new survey, published by Social Enterprise UK, reveals 81% of commissioning and procurement staff say they have taken the steps to use the Act, with 75% of those surveyed saying their organisation has issued tenders using social value criteria.

However, 51% of providers surveyed said more support and guidance on using the Act is still required.

Olof Jonsdottir, public affairs manager and social value lead at Social Enterprise UK said: ‘The results of this survey are encouraging. The Act is a terrifically valuable piece of legislation, and has lit a touchpaper in some places. But it has too often been dismissed as something that, in the absence of statutory guidance, commissioners might ignore.

‘We’re pleased at the results, which suggest that the informing and awareness-raising that public and social sector bodies have done is working. But there is much more to do. This is a self-selecting group and we may assume the commissioners represented are supportive of the Act. Anecdotal evidence still tells us there’s a lag in a number of places, where commissioning and procurement staff are not applying the Act nearly so well.

‘Our main concern is that providers – the social enterprises, charities and other organisations that are selling their services to public bodies – feel they need more guidance. This is not too surprising, given that most of the guidance and support so far has been directed at public bodies. Social sector bodies have done a good job producing guidance - almost half of providers have heard about the Act via these sources. But the gap leaves the sector vulnerable. There needs to be greater co-ordination of all the information that exists to help all organisations use the Act.’