Industry views
24 Apr 2025

From themes to missions: Social value, tech, and PPN02

Guest blog by Danielle Aberg, Head of Social Value at Thrive #techUKSocialValueWeek

Danielle Aberg

Danielle Aberg

Head of Social Value, Thrive

Social value in central government procurement is changing… 

Since February 24, there have been two Social Value Models in use: 

  • The original, launched in 2021 under PPN06/20
  • A brand-new version aimed at (i) accommodating the changes made by the Procurement Act 2023 and (ii) embedding the Labour government’s five Missions at the heart of public procurement 

At the moment, contracting authorities can choose between Models, but from October 1, the new version—released under the title “PPN 002: Taking account of social value in the award of contracts” - will be solely used for new contracts.

The good news is that there is significant overlap between the Models. Buyers and suppliers will be able to transfer most of what they’ve learned in the last four years to the new system. 

The even better news is that the changes the new Model introduces should enable tech companies to win more new business through social value.  

What Missions?

The old Social Value Model had Themes - priority areas where it was hoped public procurement spending could make a difference, like “Fighting Climate Change” and “Tackling Economic Inequality”. 

The new Model has Missions:

  1. Kickstart economic growth to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7, with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country.
  2. By 2030, Britain should become a clean energy superpower, cutting bills, creating jobs, and delivering security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity, accelerating to net zero.
  3. Take back our streets by halving serious violent crime and raising confidence in the police and criminal justice system.
  4. Reforming our childcare and education systems will break down barriers to opportunity and ensure there is no class ceiling on young people's ambitions.
  5. Build an NHS fit for the future that is there when people need it, with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers.

Immediately, you can see how much more specific the Missions are. The Policy Outcomes, Model Award Criteria (MACs), and Standard Reporting Metrics (SRMs) are not only highly detailed but also fit neatly into clear hierarchies. 

Perhaps more importantly, the Missions situate public procurement within a wider, long-term policy context. They formed the central planks of Labour’s 2024 manifesto. In practice, that means:

  • The entire government machinery is supposed to pursue them as well.
  • Presented as a plan for “a decade of national renewal,” the plan should give the public and private sectors confidence that these objectives will not change in the short run.

Opportunities for Tech Companies

As well as adjusting the political priorities, the new Model will tighten up some of the processes around bids, awards, and project delivery:

  • There will be a focus on more pre-market engagement before tenders are issued. This allows tech companies to influence what contracting authorities ask for and ensure it matches their strengths.
  • Rather than reinventing their social value offer for each contract, businesses are encouraged to develop specialisms and think about working collaboratively with other organisations to maximise impact.
  • Greater attention paid to method statements, reporting, and KPIs—to ensure delivery on what is promised—will suit data-driven businesses.

What To Do Next

  1. Don’t panic! This doesn’t affect any procurement processes already awarded or underway. Nor does the change in policy priorities fundamentally alter what commissioning authorities are looking for long term – although there are changes.
  2. Commissioning authorities don’t have to use the new Model until October 1, but the sooner you familiarise yourself with it, the better. You’ll be able to engage with processes that do use it sooner than less-prepared competitors. 
  3. Examine how your current social value offerings can support the new Outcomes and MACs – around fair work and pay, reducing domestic violence, ensuring job creation is sustainable, and ensuring that young people benefit from contract opportunities – and whether you might have any competitive advantages in generating social value in these areas.
  4. Keep an eye on the Cabinet Office and Government Commercial Function’s websites. Over the past year, they have published loads of training material and knowledge drops on the Procurement Act. The new Model builds on the Act, so it’s likely that new information will be presented there.
  5. Also, keep an eye out for updates to the Impact Evaluation Standard. In addition to the April update already released (incorporating data from the Unit Cost Database for the first time), there will be a dedicated PPN02-aligned update in late Spring.  
  6. If your Method Statements and Project Plans are vague or weak, improve them now. The standards demanded by commissioning authorities look set to rise.
  7. Adjust reporting metrics like the new Standard Reporting Metrics to follow the SRM wording. It’ll save you time later. 
  8. Also, prepare yourself for evaluating and being held accountable for Social Value KPIs in contracts! That means tightening up measurement, data collection, and reporting, something Thrive is working to help our customers master.

techUK's Central Government Campaign Week 2025 – Social Value Week

techUK is pleased to announce our second Central Government Campaign Week, running from 22-25 April 2025.

Find all the insights here

Unlocking Government Procurement for Tech SMEs - Addressing Social Value Challenges

We're excited to share our latest report, "Navigating Social Value: Challenges Facing Tech SMEs in Government Procurement." This crucial study explores the real-world experiences of small and medium-sized tech enterprises (SMEs) as they navigate the social value requirements within public sector procurement.

Click here to download the report

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