Procurement Reforms Widen Access for SMEs

Procurement reforms widen access for SMEs

Changes to government procurement rules could create more opportunities for East Midlands businesses while supporting local jobs and skills development. For central government contracts worth £5m or more, the weighting given to social value will increase from 10% to 20%. Bidders will be assessed on areas including job quality, training, apprenticeships, work placements and routes […]

UUEPC Survey – Public Procurement in Northern Ireland - August '26

Ulster University Economic Policy Centre (UUEPC) are currently undertaking a project for the Department for the Economy on public procurement and SMEs in Northern Ireland. As part of the project, they are seeking to gather views from SMEs through an online survey and a series of discussion groups. You are invited to take part in […] The post UUEPC Survey – Public Procurement in Northern Ireland – August ’26 appeared first on Belfast Chamber.

Giving greater weight in public contract awards to tackle youth unemployment crisis in UK – Labour Government copies Scotland but only after 12 years!

From Catch22 yesterday, the above and: Catch22 has long recommended that government should invest more, without additional costs, into tackling youth unemployment through revising the social value model applied when it buys goods and services. We therefore welcome today’s Cabinet Office announcement of new measures for using public procurement to create jobs and address skills development. The new measures will mean that, when awarding contracts…

Job creation to replace net zero in £90bn public contract scoring

Companies bidding for government contracts worth £5m or more will be scored on the jobs and training they create rather than on net zero, equality and diversity measures, under changes to the £90bn public procurement system announced by the Cabinet Office on Wednesday. The weighting given to the wider benefits a bidder brings, known as social value, will double from 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the assessment for contracts at that level. The ne…

Government procurement rules to put focus on UK jobs and skills

Businesses bidding for government contracts will have to meet fresh criteria over their contribution to UK jobs, local skills and opportunities for young people under new procurement rules announced by the government. The changes will double the weighting given to local community benefits in public contracts worth £5m or more, increasing it from 10% to 20%. Under the new rules, organisations bidding for government work will be assessed on their …

Government creating a ‘false choice’ on procurement, say Greens - Green Party

Commenting on government plans to overhaul procurement rules by replacing requirements for companies to demonstrate their environmental and social value with a stronger focus on creating jobs, apprenticeships and training, Green Party environment spokesperson Adrian Ramsay MP said: “The government is creating a false choice here. Creating jobs and apprenticeships is crucial, but it should not – and need not – come at the expense of environmental…