Supplier partnerships generate major social value across Kent and Medway

Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust is emerging as one of the NHS’s leading examples of how procurement can deliver real environmental and community benefits, after a major overhaul of how it works with suppliers.

Over the past year, the trust’s procurement team has worked to enhance how social value and sustainability requirements are embedded into contracts across its supply chain. The approach has already delivered significant benefits for patients, staff and local communities, without increasing costs.

Suppliers have contributed to a range of initiatives including sustainable transport programmes, waste reduction efforts, and targeted support for local mental health projects such as the development of wellbeing spaces throughout the trust.

There are opportunities available for local people through inclusive employment and volunteering programmes, such as recruiting people who were previously long-term unemployed, not in education, employment or training, or leaving the armed forces. Apprenticeships and school engagement programmes are also helping to build future workforce pipelines.

Jake Fisher, Procurement and Contracts Manager for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said:
“Suppliers have told us that our trust is leading the way in embedding and managing social value and net zero commitments within our procurement activity. Our approach focuses on working collaboratively with the supply chain to deliver meaningful social value and sustainable outcomes, while effectively tracking and showcasing the impact being achieved. As our framework continues to evolve, we remain committed to strengthening our processes and supporting suppliers to deliver even greater benefits moving forward.”

Standout achievements over the past financial year include:

• 27.6 tonnes of CO₂e saved through fleet decarbonisation initiatives
• More than 35,000 car miles avoided through green transport schemes
• Over 50 tonnes of hard-to-recycle waste diverted from landfill or incineration
• More than 500 hours of supplier volunteering supporting green spaces, community projects and patient activities
• More than £18,000 in donations and in-kind support for local charities and trust wellbeing initiatives
• 17 full time equivalent roles offered to local people who were unemployed
• 5 full time equivalent roles offered to local people who were long-term unemployed
• 1 full time equivalent role offered to a local person who was not in employment, education or training (NEET)
• 4 apprentices hired or retained

One example of this partnership approach was a project with Morrison Facilities Services Ltd, whose volunteers enhanced local facilities by building a log cabin at one of the trust’s Maidstone sites. 

The supplier’s volunteering initiatives have also delivered a wide range of other open space improvements across multiple trust sites, including tree planting, clearing overgrown areas around ponds, and refreshing outdoor furniture and fencing.

ISS Mediclean Ltd provided another notable example of innovative social value when they collaborated with the trust to organise an art exhibition that displayed and promoted artwork created by our patients, along with many other excellent social value initiatives.

The trust’s approach aligns with the priorities set out in the Government’s Social Value Model and the NHS Social Value Playbook, which place social impact and sustainability at the centre of procurement decisions.

Nick Brown, Chief Finance and Resources Officer for Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “Our achievements demonstrate the difference strong partnerships can make. By building social value and sustainability into every contract, we are supporting local communities while reducing environmental impact. We are committed to taking this even further in 2026.”

The trust will now update its Social Value and Net Zero Charter to reflect new national NHS policy and continue strengthening data reporting, supplier collaboration and opportunities for community impact.