social value

Social Value for Tenders in the UK

Tsaks Consulting’s tender professionals in the UK have a deep understanding of government regulations, paying close attention to details of any changes to regulations or policies associated with the tendering process in the UK.

One new policy states that public procurement contracts must undergo a mandatory scoring of their social value. Since June 2022, it is now a requirement that all tenders include a 10% minimum of total award criteria to social value. Businesses that are required to commit this 10% are those providing service contracts valued over £123,000, and construction contracts over £4.7 million. With a possible increase to 20% in June 2023.

What is social value

Social value is the social, economic, and environmental benefit brought to a community or local area through the ethical and environmental factors resulting from tendering.

The Public Service Act details the need for businesses to provide social value commitments in their tender proposals.

There are three main areas of social value, including:

Economic

• Providing apprenticeships, employment, and training to locals
• Work experience for local students
• Employing people with disabilities and other disadvantaged persons from the local area
• Utilising local businesses in your services

Social

• Promoting local heritage and environment through sustainable practices
• Funding charities and projects in the local area
• Improving the life of homeless persons and disadvantaged locals
• Improving crime and poverty rates in the local area

Environment

• Lowering usage of waste
• Promotion of recycling in the local area
• Lowering the carbon footprint
• Having an ethical supply chain

Our 2025 guide on responding to Social Value questions in tenders is available here.

Evaluating social value

Authorities in the local sector, as well as local councils will have varying methods of evaluating social value in a tender. The preferred system to calculate social value is Themes, Outcomes and Measures (TOMs).

you will need to detail your commitment to social value in your tender, what you plan to achieve, backed up with facts and statistics.

Some themes you could target include:

• Commitment to employing young offenders and offering career advancement
• A specific amount donated to a local charity
• Supporting and encouraging tree planting throughout the local area
• Career days in schools and colleges in the local area

Importance of social value questions in UK tender submissions

Depending on the sector you are submitting tenders for, your answers to social value questions can differ according to the industry or area. Clearly stating your social value goals and commitments will give you an advantage when evaluators are looking for a supplier that will address their social value needs.

Ensure your social value commitments are suited to the contract you are tendering for, and you are not just answering the questions as part of the process. Part of the evaluators job is to assess whether you can commit to your goals. Not only is overstating your social value commitments harmful for your tender, but it can harm future tender submissions in the UK.

Client Testimonials

Thank you for your help with the Social Value initiatives for our tender. We’re luck to have found an outstanding bid writing consultancy like Tsaks Consulting to help us with these questions. We never realised it had such a substantial impact on our tender result or that it was so important. Thank you for helping us formulate our Social Value initiatives and write our Social Value response for the questions in this framework application.

Deborah H | IT Supplier | London

Tsaks Consulting is an excellent bid writing consultancy that knows how to formulate and write quality Social Value responses that score well and will help you win. They also bid manage the entire process and will write your bid or proposal to a high standard and will help you win. They know the construction and contracting industry very well and are knowledgeable about building maintenance. Jason and the team will help you formulate a written response, including a response that details measurable Social Value initiatives.

Jacob B | Building Maintenance Provider | Leeds

Getting support with your social value commitment

Tsaks Consulting understands the many problems companies face with the relatively new social value rules regarding tenders in the UK. If you are finding it difficult and need assistance, our expert team of tender writers in the UK can assist you in writing a tender winning social value commitment.