Equality outcomes Social Return on Investment Analysis

The primary aim for the state when commissioning any public service is to provide improved outcomes for service users and their wider communities. As the public sector spends over £236 billion – 15% of GDP – on contracts with external organisations for goods, work, and services, public procurement provides an opportunity for authorities to meet equality objectives. This should be facilitated by the Equality Act, which strengthens the legal obligation of public bodies to consider the needs of women, disabled people, and ethnic minorities as well as age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, and religion or belief in procurement decisions.