9 September 25
Community and volunteering

Special event organised to highlight importance of social value

Trafford’s businesses, voluntary, community, faith, social enterprises (VCFSE’s) and suppliers are being invited to a special event to highlight the importance of social value across the borough.

The Council’s next Social Value Matching event, designed to support suppliers, local businesses, the VCFSE sector and wider partner stakeholders, takes place on Wednesday 17 September at Altrincham Football Club.

Examples of social value include buying locally, embedding local VCFSEs and SMEs into supply chains, employing local people especially those facing economic barriers and poverty, getting staff involved in volunteering, supporting community initiatives and offering training and apprenticeships to new and existing staff.

Trafford has a Social Value charter which enforces the Council’s commitment to delivering a Social Value vision where the Council, businesses, and VCFSE sector partners work together for the benefit of the citizens and communities of Trafford.

In February, 2025, Trafford Council held a Social Value Matching Event at the Chill Factore and helped form new cross-sector partnerships. This resulted in Trafford-based SES Engineering staff volunteering with the Stockdales charity to count vital fundraising funds for disabled service users.

The Council also organised Trafford’s First Business to Community Matching Event in 2023 at Hotel Football which kick started cross-sector partnership to strengthen pathways from volunteering into employment.

The main aims of this month’s Social Value Matching event are to:  

  • Showcase local community projects and foster social value partnerships between the VCFSE sector and our suppliers/businesses.
  • Engage wider stakeholders to offer social value opportunities and support.
  • Provide workforce development opportunities and support for SMEs and VCFSEs with representatives from Trafford College (skills & learning, T-levels), our Inclusive Economy and Communities team, The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses), the Business Growth Hub and the Green Economy.
  • Offer insights from STAR Procurement on upcoming procurement opportunities in Trafford, the Nomia Pilot for SMEs and the new Procurement Act.  

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: 

“Trafford Council is totally committed to delivering social value, where everyone including the Council, businesses, VCFSE sector partners work together to benefit residents and communities socially, economically, and environmentally, across the borough.  

“This event will showcase local social value opportunities and provide an excellent opportunity for stakeholders to network to develop future social value partnerships and gain support on delivering social value locally.”