Our thinking

Measurement made simple

13 December, 2024

As increasing emphasis is placed on the ‘S’ in ESG, the question of how to measure social impact is taking centre stage. Yet social impact measurement is still an evolving field and there isn’t a single framework that holds all the answers.

That’s where MeasureUp steps in – a platform designed to help organizations better measure, understand and communicate their social value. For companies struggling with tools that are either too complicated or too expensive, MeasureUp offers a straightforward, accessible solution.

The platform uses an evidence-based approach, combining economic, social, fiscal, and environmental data to provide a clear picture of social value and wellbeing. Its goal is simple: to make it easier for decision-makers to focus on what matters most and to invest in initiatives that can truly make a difference. While reducing rich and nuanced impacts into financial figures carries the risk of oversimplification, MeasureUp is a step in the right direction.

It’s a tool that could be especially useful for those bidding for public contracts, as the Social Value Act requires public sector organizations to consider social value during the procurement process. And, in an era where skepticism around “impact washing” is on the rise, it equips businesses with the insights needed to demonstrate and communicate genuine impact and quantify their social return on investment. Reducing social impact to a single financial value doesn’t tell the whole story but it has an important part to play.

By Meg Seckel