Are you ready for PPN 026: The New Social Value Model?
Social value is changing, and businesses bidding for government contracts need to be ready.
In August 2026, the government published a new Social Value Model through Procurement Policy Note 026, better known as PPN 026. The changes place a much stronger focus on investment in skills, people, workplaces and communities. These are all things that matter deeply to us at TECwomen and, from our conversations across the Far South West, to many of the organisations we work with.
We also know that it can be difficult to stay on top of changing procurement requirements while running a business and preparing a competitive tender. So, we have created a practical guide to the new PPN 026 Social Value Model, what it means for suppliers and how TECwomen can help.
Download the TECwomen Social Values Framework
What is changing under PPN 026?
The new Social Value Model will apply to covered central government procurements worth £1 million or more, including VAT, which commence on or after 1 January 2027.
Under the new requirements:
Contracts worth £1 million or more but less than £5 million must give social value a minimum weighting of 10%.
Contracts worth £5 million or more must give social value a minimum weighting of 20%.
Contracts worth £5 million or more must include at least one social value KPI.
Commitments must be monitored and reported throughout the contract.
The model has been simplified around two main outcomes: Good Jobs and Skills.
This includes creating and retaining high-quality jobs, providing fair pay and good working conditions, delivering training and retraining, supporting people to progress at work and building future talent pipelines.
There is also a strong focus on people who face barriers to employment, including young people moving from education into work, people who are not in employment, education or training, care leavers and people with long-term health conditions or disabilities.
You can read the complete PPN 026 Social Value Model on GOV.UK.
What does this mean for businesses?
For suppliers, the biggest change is the need to turn good intentions into clear, deliverable commitments.
It will no longer be enough to say that your organisation will support local communities or inspire young people.
A strong tender response will need to explain who will benefit, what will be delivered, how it addresses a real local or workforce need and how you will measure the difference it makes.
For larger contracts, those commitments may need to be delivered and reported on year after year.
That can feel like a lot, particularly if you are bidding for work in a community where you do not already have strong local relationships. This is where working with an established impact partner can help.
How TECwomen can help
TECwomen CIC works with women and girls in rural and coastal communities across Cornwall, Devon and the Far South West. Together with employers, schools, colleges and government organisations, we create pathways into technology, engineering, manufacturing, AI, green energy and other industries shaping our future.
Our programmes include practical skills development, careers engagement, paid Youth Ambassador roles, work experience, employer outreach and training for women entering, returning to or progressing within the workforce.
We can help your bid team identify the right programme, define who it will support, set realistic outcomes and build a costed delivery plan. If the contract is awarded, we can then manage the community relationships, recruitment, delivery, measurement and reporting.
We have already worked successfully with businesses delivering government-funded projects and contracts, and we have strong relationships and delivery experience involving DEFRA, the Department for Transport, HM Land Registry, GCHQ, DCMS and the Met Office.
Most importantly, we understand the communities we work with. We have spent five years building relationships across the region and learning what genuinely helps women and girls develop confidence, skills, professional connections and a sense that they belong in these industries.
Behind every social value commitment is an opportunity to make a real difference to someone’s future. We want to help businesses make the most of that opportunity.
Take a look at our new Social Value Framework
Our new TECwomen Social Value Framework maps our programmes against the PPN 026 Good Jobs and Skills outcomes. It includes example activities, indicative costs, evidence from our delivery and practical ways to build TECwomen into a tender or multi-year social value plan.
Download the TECwomen Social Value Framework
If you are preparing a government tender, reviewing your response to the PPN 026 Social Value Model or looking for a friendly and experienced social value delivery partner in Cornwall, Devon and the Far South West, please get in touch.
You do not need to arrive with a fully formed plan. We are always happy to start with a conversation, understand what you are trying to achieve and explore how we can work together to create meaningful opportunities for women and girls.
Contact Chloe Rickard at chloe@tecgirls.co.uk and let’s have a chat.
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