Social Value & ESG Evidence Toolkit

Social value is now a scored part of many public sector tenders, and private clients increasingly ask for ESG evidence too. This toolkit explains the current UK government framework, as of October 2026, and how to turn social value commitments into evidence that a buyer can score and a contract manager can check.

It focuses on central government procurement under the Procurement Act 2023. Local authorities and other public bodies may use different approaches, so always read the tender documents first.

The framework in brief

Procurement Act 2023. Section 12 requires contracting authorities carrying out a covered procurement to have regard to the importance of delivering value for money and maximising public benefit, among other things. Authorities must also have regard to the National Procurement Policy Statement, which includes delivering social and economic value.
Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012. Requires in-scope authorities procuring services contracts to consider, before starting the procurement, how what is being procured might improve economic, social and environmental well-being. PPN 003 explains how it applies.
PPN 002. Since 1 October 2025, PPN 002 has been mandatory for in-scope central government bodies on above-threshold procurements under the Act. Where relevant and proportionate, it requires a minimum 10% weighting for social value, and commitments must be reflected in the contract as terms, KPIs or performance indicators.
PPN 026. Published on 5 August 2026, PPN 026 sets out a new Social Value Model focused on good jobs and skills. It applies to covered procurements of £1 million or more commenced on or after 1 January 2027, with a minimum 10% social value weighting for contracts of £1 million to £5 million and 20% for contracts of £5 million or more. For contracts of £5 million or more, at least one social value KPI should be set and reported on at least every 12 months. GOV.UK says further guidance will follow in autumn 2026.
Carbon Reduction Plans. PPN 006 asks in-scope bodies to require a Carbon Reduction Plan from suppliers bidding for relevant contracts above £5 million a year.

Check which version a tender uses. During transition, buyers may still be using the earlier model.

What buyers are looking for

A strong social value response is:

Relevant to the contract and the place where it will be delivered.
Specific, with numbers, dates and named activities rather than general statements.
Additional, showing what the contract will deliver beyond business as usual.
Measurable, using metrics the buyer can track.
Credible, backed by evidence of past delivery and a named owner.

Turning commitments into evidence

For each commitment, set out:

The outcome you are contributing to, using the buyer's model wording.
The activity, for example a number of apprenticeship starts, work placements or resident workshops over the contract term.
The metric you will report, matching the buyer's reporting metric where one is given.
The evidence you will provide: enrolment records, attendance sheets, partner confirmations, payroll data or emissions data.
The owner and timing for delivery and reporting.

Avoid promising outputs you cannot control. If a placement depends on a college partner, say so and show the arrangement.

Evidence checklist

Keep an evidence file you can draw on across tenders:

Skills and training. Apprenticeship records, training plans, qualifications achieved and mentoring arrangements.
Jobs. Recruitment data, local hiring where relevant, and pay policy.
Community. Records of workshops, school and college engagement, and partner letters.
Environment. Waste and recycling records, fleet data, and a Carbon Reduction Plan where required.
Workforce wellbeing. Policies, trained mental health first aiders and flexible working arrangements.
Governance. Modern slavery statement, supply chain checks, anti-bribery policy, quality management certification and audit results.
Case studies. Short accounts of past delivery with dates and verifiable facts.

Reporting during the contract

Social value does not end at award. Agree the reporting format and frequency at mobilisation, collect data as you go rather than at year end, and flag shortfalls early with a recovery plan. Under PPN 026, poor performance against KPIs on larger contracts will be visible through contract performance reporting.

What Oracle FM offers

Oracle's social value commitments include:

An apprenticeship programme for fire safety and M&E trades, college partnerships and work placements, our BuddyPro internal training academy and a mentorship programme for junior engineers.
Fire brigade collaboration on safety awareness, resident safety workshops for block managers, discounted support for community buildings, and careers fairs and school engagement.
Waste reduction and responsible disposal on projects, recycling of fire doors and materials, route optimisation to reduce vehicle emissions, a transition to an electric and hybrid fleet, and digital-first surveys and certificates.
Living Wage employer, mental health first aiders and flexible working where operationally possible.
Transparent pricing and fair payment terms, a modern slavery statement and supply chain checks, an anti-bribery and corruption policy, and quality management with third-party audits.

Oracle also holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certification, Constructionline Gold and CHAS. See our about page for details.

How Oracle can help

If you are preparing a tender that includes fire safety, electrical or M&E services, we can provide our Social Value Policy and discuss apprenticeship and community activity aligned to your requirements. Our services include passive fire protection, active fire protection, electrical, fire risk assessments and building safety consultancy. Contact our team to start the conversation.