In today’s care sector, delivering excellent service isn’t enough. If you want to win local authority or NHS contracts, you need to prove something else too:
Social value.
For care providers bidding on public contracts, social value is no longer a bonus — it’s a mandatory, weighted part of every tender submission. And those who can demonstrate it clearly and confidently are gaining a competitive edge.
So, what exactly is social value in the context of tendering?
How is it scored? And how can your care business use it to stand out?
In this blog, we’ll break it all down — and show you how your positive impact on people, communities, and the planet can help you win more work.
What Is Social Value in Tendering?
Social value refers to the wider benefit your business creates for society — above and beyond the core care services you’re being paid to provide.
In tenders, it means showing:
- How you support your local community
- How you create meaningful employment opportunities
- How you reduce your environmental impact
- How you promote inclusion, diversity, and wellbeing
- And how your business contributes to the long-term improvementof the care system
It’s not just about what you say — it’s about what you do and how you prove it.
Why It Matters in Bids
Since January 2021, all UK central government contracts must include a minimum 10% weighting for social value. Many local authority care contracts now go even further — with social value sections carrying up to 20–30% of the total score.
That means social value can make or break your bid — especially in a competitive field where everyone is CQC registered and technically qualified.
What Commissioners Are Looking For
When evaluating your tender response, commissioners want to see:
- Specific, actionable plans (not vague promises)
- Quantifiable outcomes (numbers, not just narratives)
- Alignment with local priorities (e.g. job creation, green initiatives, health inequalities)
- Realistic delivery timelines
- Ways you will track, measure, and report your impact
A common mistake? Care providers copy and paste broad statements like “we care about the environment” or “we hire locally” — without evidence or structure.
Let’s fix that.
The 5 Core Themes of the Social Value Model
The UK Government’s Social Value Model is what most public sector contracts are now based on. It includes 5 key themes:
- COVID-19 Recovery
- Tackling Economic Inequality
- Fighting Climate Change
- Equal Opportunity
- Wellbeing
For each tender, buyers choose which of these themes matter most in their area — and your job is to respond accordingly.
Real-World Social Value Examples for Care Providers
Here’s what great social value responses look like in a tender — by theme:
- COVID-19 Recovery
“We offer flexible working opportunities for those whose employment was affected by COVID-19 and have provided 25+ hours of free mental health training to our team since 2021.”
- Tackling Economic Inequality
“Over the next 12 months, we will create 5 new carer roles for long-term unemployed individuals in the borough, in partnership with [Local Job Centre].”
- Fighting Climate Change
“We will reduce our carbon footprint by 15% through route optimisation, bulk PPE ordering, and a transition to hybrid fleet vehicles by the end of the contract term.”
- Equal Opportunity
“We offer guaranteed interviews to applicants with disabilities and are implementing a mentorship programme to support progression for underrepresented staff.”
- Wellbeing
“Our CareWell programme provides free counselling, financial advice sessions, and wellness workshops to our 40+ staff — with impact tracked quarterly.”
How to Strengthen Your Social Value Score in Tenders
To get high marks, you need to do more than list intentions. You must show structure, strategy, and commitment.
Here’s how:
- Be Specific
Bad: “We support our community.”
Good: “We commit to delivering two community engagement events per quarter, targeting socially isolated elderly residents in [Local Authority Name].”
- Include Timelines
“By Q3 2025, we will have trained 10 staff in carbon literacy and begun monthly green audits across our operations.”
- Set Measurable Outcomes
“We will reduce single-use plastic by 40% in the first 12 months through reusable PPE options and staff training.”
- Show You’ll Report Progress
“We will submit a quarterly social value impact report to commissioners, including KPIs on staff development, emissions, and community outreach.”
- Align with the Buyer’s Goals
Always read the tender’s social value section closely. What do they care about?
Example:
If the council’s priorities are around youth employment, your proposal to work with local schools or offer apprenticeships will score higher than general job creation promises.
Templates That Work: The Social Value Structure
Use this simple structure in your tender response:
- Objective:
What’s the impact you’re aiming for? - Action Plan:
What will you do to achieve it? - Timeframe:
When will it be delivered? - Measurement:
How will you track success? - Reporting:
How will you share updates with the commissioner?
Founder’s Circle members receive ready-to-use tender templates and social value tracking sheets to streamline this process.
Bonus Tip: Build It into Your Business — Not Just Your Bids
Your bids will be stronger (and easier to write!) when your social value isn’t just on paper — but in your everyday operations.
Start now:
- Create a sustainability plan
- Formalise your staff development pathway
- Track community engagement
- Partner with charities or job schemes
- Collect stories and testimonials from impact initiatives
Want to Go Further? Join the Care for the Future Accreditation
Being accredited with Care for the Future helps you:
- Prove your commitment to sustainability and social value
- Get support with quarterly reporting
- Stand out in tenders and council directories
- Gain national recognition for your efforts
Your social value doesn’t need to be a side project. It can become a strategic advantage — and a reason commissioners choose you over the competition.
Final Thought: You’re Already Doing Social Value — Let’s Help You Show It
You probably already do incredible work:
- You hire local carers
- You go above and beyond for families
- You support staff growth
- You reduce waste where you can
Now it’s time to capture it, measure it, and communicate it.
Because when you learn to articulate your impact clearly, you don’t just make your community stronger — you make your business unmissable in the eyes of commissioners.
At Care for the Future, we help care providers turn everyday excellence into contract-winning social value.
Join us today at bigsistercare.com/care-for-the-future.
