Under the New Procurement Act 2023, public sector organisations in the UK must ask bidders about their social value commitments using the government’s Social Value Model, so it’s smart to prepare your response for future bids to maximise your score.
What is social value?
Every business can create an impact beyond its core purpose of delivering goods and services. This is what your social value is. Typically, it involves things you do that provide lasting value to your local area, your community, and the environment.
This may include creating jobs, using local suppliers, reducing your carbon emissions, or helping local people through volunteering and support.
Simply donating money to a cause is not considered a social value. Instead, focus on the activities and initiatives you and your colleagues undertake to enhance the impact of your company. They don’t have to be extravagant things, but they must add genuine value.
Mandatory since 1 October 2025, the likelihood of social value in private sector tenders is growing with many buyers asking for evidence of social value, and assigning a score to the response. Buyers are looking to understand the impact a company would have on winning a particular bid. Your response will therefore be much stronger if you can highlight, for example, the additional jobs in the region you’d create or the impact you’d make on the local community as a result of winning the bid.
Learn more about BiD Masters’ social value
How to present your social value in a bid
With all sectors wanting to understand bidders’ social value, and with the New Procurement Act 2023 making it mandatory for public sector tenders, many buyers will now include a question around your social value.
While your answer will depend on the question specifics, you may find the following tips helpful.
- Understand exactly what the question is asking for
- Avoid generic statements such as “we care for our local community”
- Specifically explain how you’re delivering social value
- Offer measurable commitments (e.g. number of hours given, outcome expected)
- Be realistic about what you can achieve so your response feels real
- Include any evidence of success to date
- Be clear your social value commitment is at no additional cost to the buyer
Creating your social value document
Having your social value commitments documented with supporting evidence makes your bidding process easier. You’ll gain those additional points assigned to this topic and increase your chances of winning.
That’s why we help businesses like yours capture and document your social value information so it’s always available in your bid library. No more stress at the 11th hour to find the details you need.
Want to maximise your social value score on every bid?