Ecatenate Builds a Social Value KPI Platform for McLaughlin & Harvey
Social value has moved to the centre of public sector procurement. What was once a supporting section of a tender is now formally weighted at award, tracked through delivery and, on larger contracts, reported publicly against agreed indicators.
For contractors with a long-standing commitment to the communities they build in, the work itself is nothing new. The change is in the evidencing: outcomes now need to be defined, measured consistently and reported on a schedule, across an entire portfolio of live projects.
Ecatenate has delivered a custom Social Value KPI platform for McLaughlin & Harvey built to do exactly that.
How it works
Users define custom measures using numbers, percentages or monetary values, then combine those measures into KPIs with defined targets and expected performance outcomes. KPIs are assigned to specific projects, with project-level targets configured for monthly or quarterly reporting periods.
Results are captured against each measure as delivery progresses. Where the underlying data already exists elsewhere in the business, results are calculated automatically from internal systems rather than re-entered by hand; the remainder are recorded by project teams. The platform then compares results to targets automatically, showing achievement, progress and outcomes over time — so the position on any commitment is a current figure, available on demand, rather than something reconstructed at year end.
Automating the measures that can be derived from existing data matters more than it might appear. It removes a substantial reporting burden from project teams, keeps figures consistent with the systems they originate from, and means the social value picture updates continuously rather than only when someone finds time to update it.
Built to outlast the framework
The platform adapts to different Social Value frameworks, including National TOMs and SCAPE. That flexibility is the point rather than a convenience feature.
Measurement models in this area are still evolving: central government has revised its approach more than once in recent years, while local authorities and framework providers continue to run their own. A contractor bidding across multiple public frameworks is therefore reporting against several standards at once, and against standards that change.
A system hardcoded to one framework would need rebuilding each time. A configurable measure and KPI structure absorbs the change — new or revised frameworks are set up in the platform rather than commissioned as development work.
Why it matters
- Framework agility — new requirements are configured, not developed
- Consistency across the portfolio — one method of measurement, rather than each project team building its own approach
- Confidence in the numbers — outcomes are backed by recorded results, with automated measures drawn straight from source systems
- Early visibility — monthly and quarterly tracking shows how a commitment is progressing while there is still time to influence it
- Stronger submissions — a demonstrable track record of delivered social value supports the next bid
About McLaughlin & Harvey
Founded in 1853, McLaughlin & Harvey is a privately owned construction and civil engineering company employing over 850 people and delivering projects across the UK and Ireland, with a focus on long-term partnerships, sustainable delivery and supporting local communities.
Technology
ASP.NET · JavaScript · SQL Server · Azure
