What we do - Simplified

Simplified provides bespoke services under three core business pillars which are outlined below.

However, the true social value comes when these three pillars intersect.

Public Bodies

Ensuring alignment and compliance with both EU and national obligations regarding social value, sustainability and inclusive procurement, Simplified can offer the following services to Public Bodies and Semi-States:

1. Subject Matter Expertise & Advice – from one-off advice and guidance to full Project Management collaboration, Simplified can assist your organisation on a range of matters relating to social value creation, social procurement and policy implementation.

2. Social Value Strategy design – In the absence of a National Social Value Framework in Ireland, Simplified can work with your to be a front-runner in this area by translating relevant policies into practical delivery plans.

3. Inclusive & Social Procurement Support – help you to design your tenders so social enterprises can apply. Assist your team to make real social procurement the norm, not the nice-to-do.

4. Market Engagement & Supplier Development – Implementing the full social broker service, Simplified will act as the ‘connector’ by facilitating pre-tender engagement with social enterprises so you fully understand who you are buying your goods and services from and the impact that they have. Arrange Supplier Bootcamps to ensure social enterprise suppliers are ready to tender and Buyer-Supplier matchmaking events.

5. Partnership Brokerage & Contract Facilitation – Simplified can design and manage Cross-Sector partnerships between Public bodies, Semi States and social enterprises ensuring maximum social impact is achieved.

6. Diversify Your Supply Chain – Simplified can assist you to diversify your supply chain without increasing risk by helping social enterprises to form consortia to bid for larger public contracts.

7. Training & Capacity Building – social procurement is new to lots of procurement teams. Simplified has developed a range of training for Public Sector Staff on the following topics:

a. Social Value in Procurement – From the ‘why’ to the ‘how’.
b. Working effectively with social economy businesses
c. Designing accessible tenders
d. Managing partnerships & contracts

To support our collaborative approach, Simplified has developed a first of its kind Joint Training workshop for Buyers & Social Economy Suppliers. This powerful workshop is designed to build trust, reduce failed contracts, improve delivery outcomes while maximising social impact.

Consider Simplified as a translator between systems that don’t naturally speak to each other.

Corporates & Private Industry

Simplified can help your business to knock your current level of social investment and impact out of the park!
Building on our extensive network and expertise in this area, Simplified will help you to take a common sense approach to turn your ‘good intentions’ into measurable business and social outcomes.
To assist your business to maximise your social impact, Simplified works in the following areas:

2. ESG, CSR & Social Value Delivery – we will help you move from reporting to delivery by translating ESG/CSR strategies into on-the-ground programmes. Simplified will identify where social value can be embedded in your core operations while aligning initiatives with EU CSRD, DEI, climate and supply-chain goals.

3. Social & Inclusive Supply Chain Support a. Social Procurement Forecasting & Design
b. Supplier Readiness & Matchmaking
c. Contract support & Risk reduction

4. Partnership Brokerage & Programme Management – Simplified is a connector with experience of forming collaborations between agencies that don’t typically work together. Finding a ‘shared purpose’ and alignment between different stakeholders ensures a strong foundation for brokering effective and impactful partnerships:

a. Cross-sector partnership brokerage – when we come together, not only do we have the capacity to get more done but we have the capacity to achieve better outcomes. Simplified helps navigate cross-sectoral partners focusing on the shared goal while addressing bumps and challenges along the way.
b. Employee Engagement & Volunteering – creating social value takes more than just a few volunteering hours from your staff. When done properly, the impact is far greater. Supporting community and social enterprise partnerships, Simplified will ensure your business achieves real value to communities, creates clear business benefits while minimising any reputational risks.

5. Risk Management & Governance – Simplified understands that a lot of factors need to be considered before investing, buying from or partnering with social enterprises. At your request, we can conduct a Partner Risk Assessment/Health Check which assesses delivery risk, reputational risk, governance and safeguarding risks. We will work with you to support a Partner On-boarding process and ensure clear escalation and exit strategies are in place.

6. Training & Advice Workshops for Corporate Teams – implementing a well thought out, structured and repeatable social value framework takes time and commitment but more importantly, a whole of organisation approach. Working with Executive & Leadership Teams, Simplified will help embed social value as a core objective of your organisation, ensuring social value goes beyond CSR and that by working ethically and effectively, the impact on people and communities is far greater.

Why choose Simplified ?

Put simply, it makes sense to choose Simplified. We are the only company offering these services and work packages but more importantly, we:
– Understand both corporate systems and community realities
– Reduce delivery and reputational risk
– Provide independent credibility
– Deliver impact without burdening internal teams
We provide the infrastructure that makes social value work.

Social Enterprises & Circular Economy Businesses

At Simplified, we understand social enterprises. We understand the challenges and opportunities that you face but more importantly, the immense social impact that you create. Whether you are a newly established social enterprise, trying to sustain your current operations or thinking of scaling, we have practical services to support you.
Simplified can provide added-value at the six stages of the Social Innovation Development Curve by providing hands-on, practical advice and guidance but more importantly, will work with you to implement changes. Our services include:

1. Pre-Social Enterprise Workshop – thinking of setting up a social enterprise? This on-site, practical workshop will help you make your decision on whether setting up a social enterprise is right for you/your organisation.

2. General Health Check – how’s your social enterprise doing? – identification of pinch points, exploring traded income options, areas for improvement all culminating in an action plan for development.

3. Pre-Partnership Agreement Health Check– there are many factors that need to be considered when deciding to invest in a social enterprise or to partner with one. This Pre-partnership agreement health check can be instigated by you, or an interested buyer/investor, to assist them in their decision-making.

4. CEO/Senior Management Coaching – time poor, resource light but 100% committed to their social mission, social enterprise leaders are not only driving out a business but they are supporting those employed by it. Using the Business Model Canvas as a backdrop, these coaching sessions will explore – ideas generation, thinking differently, review of products and services, diversifying traded income to name but a few.

5. Introduction to Tendering Workshop –starting with the basics, this workshop demystifies everything to do with the tendering process. You will leave this workshop understanding the language, what tendering entails and with a clear sense of what your next steps should be.

6. Next Level Tendering – on-site, practical support to get you on your tendering journey.

7. Succession Planning – the sign of a great leader is knowing when to move aside to allow the next generation to shine. Stepping aside from a social enterprise requires time, planning and thoughtful consideration. Simplified can help you with your succession plan to ensure your social enterprise not only sustains into the future but flourishes.

8. Exit Strategy – sometimes despite our best efforts, businesses don’t work out. Market changes, increase in overheads, difficulty finding staff etc. can all impact on the sustainability of a business. Simplified can help you navigate an Exit Strategy that keeps your employees at the heart of every decision.

Simplified also offers a full social brokerage service which incorporates a number of the services outlines above. The service is discussed and agreed in partnership with you and designed to best reflect what your require right now.