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Why your business should support ICaN

By investing in these solutions, we protect our communities, minimise risks, and maintain a vibrant, growing, local economy. Use the links below to find out more about how your support for ICaN can meet your corporate goals and reporting framework requirements on climate and nature impacts.

ICaN and Social Value

Executive Summary

Social Value is now a critical factor in government procurement, with the UK Public Services (Social Value) Act requiring public authorities to consider the wider economic, social, and environmental impact of their procurement decisions. Supporting ICaN (Investing in Communities, Climate and Nature) projects provides businesses with a credible, measurable way to demonstrate Social Value outcomes. 

By delivering benefits across climate regulation, biodiversity, health, and community resilience, ICaN contributions align directly with procurement frameworks such as the National TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, Measures). This enables companies to strengthen bids, meet statutory requirements, and showcase leadership in sustainable, responsible practice.

What is Social Value?

  • Defined by the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2013, Social Value requires public authorities to consider how procurement decisions improve economic, social, and environmental well‑being.
  • It goes beyond cost, focusing on long‑term community benefits and sustainability.
  • Increasingly, Social Value is a decisive factor in awarding contracts.

Why Social Value Matters for Business

  • Government Procurement: Demonstrating Social Value is essential for winning public sector contracts.
  • Reputation & Trust: Strong Social Value credentials enhance credibility with regulators, investors, and communities.
  • Strategic Advantage: Aligning with frameworks such as National TOMs strengthens competitive positioning.

How Supporting ICaN Helps

ICaN projects deliver measurable outcomes that map directly to Social Value priorities:

  • Environmental – carbon reduction, biodiversity restoration, flood resilience.
  • Social – improved health, well‑being, and access to green spaces.
  • Economic – robust cost‑benefit ratios (typically 10:1), amplifying and evidencing long‑term value creation.

Using our Valuation Tool, ICaN provides independently verified metrics across seven categories:

  • Climate Regulation
  • Flood Regulation
  • Air Pollution Removal
  • Biodiversity
  • Recreation
  • Physical Health
  • Mental Health

Alignment with TOMs Framework

ICaN outcomes can be reported under the National TOMs framework, supporting procurement bids by evidencing:

  • Themes – Environment, Community, Health.
  • Outcomes – Reduced emissions, improved biodiversity, enhanced well‑being.
  • Measures – Quantifiable metrics such as tonnes of CO₂ avoided, hectares of habitat restored, or health improvements achieved.

The Business Case

Supporting ICaN projects helps businesses:

  • Strengthen procurement bids with credible Social Value evidence.
  • Meet statutory requirements under the Social Value Act.
  • Demonstrate leadership in sustainability and community resilience.
  • Unlock long‑term benefits for people, planet, and profit.

Conclusion

Social Value is no longer optional—it is a procurement necessity. Partnering with ICaN enables businesses to deliver measurable, reportable outcomes that align with government frameworks such as TOMs, strengthen bids, and showcase purpose‑driven leadership.

Partner with ICaN today. Strengthen your Social Value outcomes and bids and help build a nature-positive future.