MAP launches Environmental & Social Value Certification
MAP has launched the Environmental & Social Value (ESV) Certification in collaboration with Made in Britain, a trade association with a growing membership now of 2,200 UK manufacturing companies.
The demand for Social Value is increasing, amongst buyers, investors and stakeholders. In the UK arguably now at the fastest rate since the Social Value Act came into force in January 2013.
The ESV Certification helps businesses, particularly SMEs, to respond to demand by better demonstrating their contributions and commitment to the environment, economy and society.
Via data, engagement and regulatory alignment, the Certification also contributes to supply chain resilience and transparency, as well as long-term, sustainable economic and commercial growth.
Alignment focuses specifically on the UK Government’s latest Social Value Model (2025) and the Procurement Act 2023. ESV Certification therefore also serves as a practical tool for buying authorities and businesses seeking UK suppliers committed to:
Jobs and skills
Community engagement
Environmental sustainability
Ethical and local supply chains
MAP UK & International, Director, George Middleton, says: “Through our UK supply chain work with SMEs, multinationals, not-for-profits and government, we see the gaps there often are between buyers and sellers. For example, read the CEO annual statement of almost any UK publicly listed company and you’ll see reference to Social Value, yet ask an SME and the majority haven’t heard of it. The ESV Certification is designed to help bring UK buyers and sellers closer together, through better recognising and connecting the mutual interest in supporting jobs, skills, communities, environmental sustainability and supply chains.”
Made in Britain, CEO, John Pearce, says: “Environmental and Social Value is increasingly central to how the UK buys, builds, and grows — and Made in Britain companies are showing exactly the kind of positive impact that buyers, stakeholders, and communities want to see. ESV Certification highlights the leadership of Made in Britain companies in doing better business for people, planet, and place. It comes as part of Made in Britain strengthening its offer to its membership, in terms of buyer engagement and supply opportunities.”
Small Business Crown Representative Shirley Cooper OBE adds: “UK SMEs are the backbone of our economy — driving sustainable growth, creating jobs, and strengthening communities across the country. I am pleased to support accessible and credible initiatives that help SMEs stand out, win new orders, and get more recognition for their commitment and contribution to the environment and society.”
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information on Social Value and the ESV Certification, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.
MAP connects UK companies to NHS Supply Chain
MAP has connected 75 more UK companies with NHS Supply Chain (NHS SC), the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) procurement delivery partner, to discuss navigating NHS SC procurement processes, key product categories and pipeline visibility.
NHS Supply Chain is responsible for sourcing, delivering, and supplying healthcare products, services, and food for NHS trusts and healthcare organisations. This activity is the latest in an ongoing programme of collaboration, as MAP’s relationships with the NHS SC continues to strengthen.
NHS Supply Chain plays a crucial role in supporting NHS procurement, managing an estimated £4.5 billion in procurement spend annually as of September 2023.
Supplying through NHS Supply Chain offers a number of benefits, including a single route to market for suppliers instead of having to go through more than 250 NHS trusts.
NHS Supply Chain has a strong focus on social value, driving carbon reduction, and advancing sustainability initiatives. By doing so, it aligns with broader national goals, such as the UK’s ambition to become the world’s first carbon net-zero national health system by 2045, and legislation including the Procurement Act 2023 which came into force in February this year.
MAP’s work with NHS SC comes via its role advising Made in Britain on supply chains. Made in Britain is a trade association with a growing membership, now of more than 2,200 UK manufacturing companies.
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.
Professor Christopher Bovis joins MAP as an Advisor
MAP is delighted to announce that Professor Chris Bovis (JD, MPhil, LLM, FRSA) has joined as an Advisor, bringing decades of experience and expertise to support MAP’s work on public procurement and Environmental & Social Value.
Chris is the H.K. Bevan Chair in Law and Professor of European Business Law at the University of Hull, as well as Managing Editor of the European Procurement & Public Private Partnership Law Review. He is an internationally recognised authority on EU public procurement and public-private partnerships, and his work has shaped significant legislative and policy frameworks, notably contributing to the UK’s Social Value Act, the European Public Services Directive, and the formulation of Section 106 in the UK.
He has been instrumental in shifting procurement practices away from a narrow focus on cost, towards an approach that integrates socio-economic factors, advising public bodies on how best to embed Social Value in infrastructure projects. Through extensive collaboration with governments and industry, Chris has provided evidence to House of Commons select committees, offering strategic insights into procurement, rail infrastructure, and public service delivery.
A highly published author whose writing is translated into multiple languages, Chris continues to guide policymakers across the UK and EU, underscoring procurement’s potential to deliver value for money and meaningful public benefit.
By bringing in his expert knowledge, MAP is able to strengthen its offer to its clients and partners.
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.
MAP assists UK companies to export to Europe
MAP has supported a further 80 companies to explore new export opportunities and overcome market access barriers in Europe. This includes facilitating connections with the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) International Markets Europe Team and the UK Export Academy.
Every year, the UK sells more than £350 billion of goods and services to customers in Europe. Major markets include France, Germany and Spain and account for a combined total of more than £120 billion in UK exports. In 2024, the EU accounted for 41% of the UK’s exports.
Since Brexit, the UK’s and EU trading landscape has changed, but European countries are still amongst UK’s closest and strongest trading partners.
Since the EU’s General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) came into effect on 13 December 2024, which replaced the current General Product Safety Directive (GPSD), this new regulation has introduced significant updates aimed at enhancing the safety of consumer goods sold both online and offline across Europe.
The recent EU-UK trade deal, signed in May this year, has also opened up greater opportunities for UK companies in the region.
DBT’s International Markets Europe Team supports export-ready SMEs, offering access to a range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to exporting to over 30 markets. UK Export Academy is a free training programme from DBT for UK businesses looking to grow their international sales.
MAP’s works closely with a range of partners and stakeholders around the world, including via its role advising Made in Britain on international trade and supply chains. Made in Britain is a trade association with a growing membership, now of 2,200 UK manufacturing companies
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.
MAP supports UK companies’ expansion into the US and Canada
MAP has supported a further 80 companies to explore new export opportunities and overcome market access barriers in the US and Canada through partnering with the Department for Business and Trade’s (DBT) International Markets Hub Team and the UK Export Academy.
The US remains the UK’s largest export market for goods and services, and the world’s largest economy. In the four quarters to the end of Q3 2024, UK exports to the US totalled £182.6 billion. The return of President Trump to the White House in January 2025 has brought renewed attention to domestic industry, trade policy, and economic security. At the same time, the US-UK Economic Prosperity Deal, signed in May this year, opens up opportunities for UK businesses, along with a shared language and relatively low regulatory barriers.
Canada, while a smaller market, is the UK’s 12th largest export destination, with £16.4 billion in UK exports over the same period. Its close proximity to the US, demand for UK-made products, and openness to high-quality, sustainable manufacturing make it a valuable and strategic market for British exporters looking to expand across North America.
DBT’s International Markets Hub supports export-ready SMEs, offering access to a range of sector reports, market intelligence, and guides related to exporting to markets across the world. UK Export Academy is a free training programme from DBT for UK businesses looking to grow their international sales.
MAP works closely with a range of partners and stakeholders around the world, including via its role advising Made in Britain on international trade and supply chains. Made in Britain is a trade association with a growing membership, now of 2,200 UK manufacturing companies.
MAP strengthens the resilience, sustainability and growth of the entities it works for. MAP does this through International Trade and Supply Chain solutions that advise, inform and connect: buyers, suppliers, investors and stakeholders. MAP is increasingly focused on, and aligned with, the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, please contact MAP via: info@mapukinternational.com.