MeasureUp Method Behind the Madness! What’s new in MeasureUp

It has been a little while since our last MeasureUp resources update, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t been working hard behind the scenes.

Our latest set of updates have been focused on consolidating the resources we’ve already got, making them clearer, easier to use, and up to date.

So what have we done…

Our methodology

Our MeasureUp methodology page has undergone a refresh.  You will now find clearer information on our approach as well as alignment to and use of key resources.

Our guiding resources

The key UK Government documents we look to are:

• The Green Book – key to informing the values in the MeasureUp set, and the quality of the underlying research, as well as the overall process of ‘how to’ use the values in users own work.
• The Magenta Book – informs how a user should use the values in relation to their own activities, outcomes, stakeholders, and the levels of measurement.
• The Aqua Book– supports the assessment of quality of the research underpinning the MeasureUp values, and the levels of measurement defined for users. 

In addition:

• We specifically use the Supplementary Guidance on Wellbeing to inform our approach to wellbeing valuation using the WELLBY. 
• We are guided by the Social Value Principles as defined and overseen by Social Value International.  
• Our assessment of the sources that inform the development of each of the values in the MeasureUp set are influenced by the Nesta Standards of Evidence as are the Bronze, Silver, Gold, Gold+ measurement levels.  

Look on our Methodology page to find out more!

Principles Underpinning Our Approach

Our Principles guide the quality and development of our resource.  Our Co-Founders have reviewed and streamlined our Principles to make them clearer.  We now have 3 overarching principles underpinning the resource:

• We aim to help everyone move from simply estimating social value towards actual evidence of impact on wellbeing.
• Our resources are openly available to all. Not hidden behind paywalls.
• We aim to make valuation easier to understand, use in practice, and make a difference in real life.     

These are supported by 6 guiding principles on how we work.

Updated Wellbeing and Valuation Guidance

Our Wellbeing and Valuation section now includes updated information on our valuation approach, and a full Value Development Process and Value Quality Standard outlining our approach to the development of each value.

There is also updated guidance about our approach to inflation, new 2025 price year inflation adjusted values published, and a helpful blog about the approach, why it matters, and tips for your own work.

How to Use Guidance

Our How to Use page has also had a revamp.

You can now find an updated Step-by-Step Guide on how to map out your own activities, stakeholders, and outcomes, and how to align to the most appropriate MeasureUp value.

The 4 step process is bookended with 2 foundational practice steps:

• Pre Step: What is this for?  … before kicking off your social value assessment make sure you are clear on your ‘why’
• Post Step: Take Action! … when you have some results, make sure you use them!  Communicate them, make decisions, and take action!

Head over to the How to Use page to see the full guide as well as some snazzy supporting resources:

• MeasureUp Estimator: This excel based tool is designed to help you to use the MeasureUp values in your social value analysis at the Bronze measurement level in line with the Step by Step published guide
• Step by Step Checklist:  This quick reference checklist helps you to tick off the important actions under each step
• Impact Pathway Template:  This editable PPT template will support you to start mapping out your activities, stakeholders, and outcomes and matching them to your MeasureUp values.

Social Value Model Alignment

Another important update to look out for, all of the MeasureUp values are now aligned to the new Central Government Social Value Model Missions, Outcomes, and Award Criteria.

To explore this mapping click ‘Filter by Framework’ on the Values page, choose ‘2025 Social Value Model’ then simply click on the Missions, Outcomes, and Award Criteria you are interested in. The Values will filter to those relating to your choices.

What is the Central Government Social Value Model

PPN (Procurement Policy Note) 06/20 was superseded by PPN 002 Taking account of social value in the award of contracts, published in February 2025 in line with the Royal assent of the Procurement Act 2023.  This PPN outlined the requirement to use the new 2025 Central Government Social Value Model.  The Model applies to all Central Government procurements commencing on or after 1 October 2025 under the Procurement Act 2023.  Out of scope procurements can choose to apply the model but are not required to do so. The updated model is structured around 5 government missions and 8 outcomes, with 17 Model Award Criteria, and a mandatory minimum 10% weighting of the total evaluation score assigned to social value.

We hope these updates continue to support users of MeasureUp.

If you have any thoughts, questions, feedback, or comments about these updates do feel free to reach out through our Contact Us form.