Social value

Social value is the wider good a public contract does beyond the work itself: for local people, communities and the environment. UK public buyers score it as part of the bid, alongside quality and price.

How it is scored

Social value usually comes as one or more quality questions in the tender, each with its own weighting. In central government contracts it typically carries at least 10% of the total score, which is often enough to decide who wins.

What buyers look for

• Jobs and skills: local hiring, apprenticeships and training.
• Communities: volunteering, local suppliers and support for local groups.
• Environment: cutting carbon, waste and travel on this contract.
• Fair work: pay, conditions and wellbeing for the people doing the work.

Writing a strong answer

Tie every commitment to this contract, not to your business in general. Say what you will do, how much, by when and how you will report it. Promises you can measure score better than good intentions, and the buyer may hold you to them.

With Bid Manager, Jonty drafts each answer from your past bids and evidence, and leaves out anything it can't back up.