Social Clauses in Northern Ireland
2014
This piece of research forms part of the work of NICVA’s Centre for Economic Empowerment (CEE). The CEE is a skills development project and observatory with the overall aim to build the capacity of the voluntary and community sector to engage in economic policy debate in Northern Ireland. The CEE approaches its research work with a view to providing information and analysis which has the potential to have a positive impact on people and communities in Northern Ireland. We seek our work to be thought provoking and to add, where appropriate, to public debates.
The commitment in the Programme for Government 2011-15 to include ‘social clauses’ in all public procurement contracts means that social clauses are set to be a major feature of government policy in Northern Ireland. Social clauses are attached to contracts in an attempt to create benefits that are additional to the goods, services, or works being procured. As such they can help increase the impact of public expenditure.
Social clauses have been used in Northern Ireland for some time but there has been little independent scrutiny of their implementation and effectiveness. Our discussions with key stakeholders indicate that social clauses have considerable potential to deliver social and economic benefits, but their full potential is often unrealised, despite many examples of good practice.
In this context the CEE commissioned RSM McClure Watters to examine the difficulties experienced with social clauses in Northern Ireland and to recommend areas for improvement. The report argues for a clearer strategic vision for the use of social clauses, earlier consideration of the role of social clauses on each project, more innovation, a stronger focus on outcomes, and a robust system of enforcement. The practicalities require further thought and we recognise that this is a highly complex field. However we hope that the report contributes to policy and practice in this important area.