The gold standard – raising the bar for tech companies contributing social value
Richard Davies
Country Managing Partner, Netcompany
Social value has become a defining metric for how organisations are judged—not just by government but also by investors, employees, and the public. In fact, 89% of executives[1] now believe a strong sense of purpose provides a competitive advantage, while 70% of workers[2] say they wouldn’t join a company lacking a clear purpose.
The UK government has long recognised the importance of social value. For several years, public sector contracts have required bidders to demonstrate how they’ll benefit society by providing jobs, reducing inequality, impacting climate change, and improving well-being. At least 10% of the scoring in public sector tenders is weighted to social value, and over £300bn is spent annually on such contracts.
The new opportunity
The UK’s social value framework has recently been updated, and the original five themes – including pandemic recovery – have now become ‘missions’, focusing on economic growth, clean energy, social cohesion, inequality and the NHS. These are now mandatory benchmarks for all public tenders, requiring every bid to demonstrate measurable impact with one or more. The government’s approach is designed to ensure that public spending delivers real benefits for communities and the environment and that businesses are held to a high standard when reporting their contributions to society.
This update is more than a technical tweak. It is ushering in a new era of accountability and ambition. For the UK’s technology sector, these changes present both a challenge and an opportunity. The new framework should be seen as a powerful incentive to invest in the country’s future – by driving innovation, supporting inclusive growth and building a more sustainable economy. Tech businesses are uniquely positioned to lead the way, using their expertise to address complex social challenges and deliver lasting value for communities.
Inspiring the next generation
At Netcompany, responsible digitalisation and a commitment to a sustainable future are at the heart of the organisation’s mission. Our five-year commitment to the Ahead Partnership is just one example of this. The purpose-driven social enterprise seeks to inspire young people – particularly those from underrepresented communities – to pursue careers in tech. We sponsor its Growing Talent Digital Leeds programme, which educates students aged 11 to 18 on digital skills, IT awareness and career opportunities. As part of this, Netcompany employees take part in workshops and keynotes in schools across Leeds and Yorkshire.
The flagship of the programme is Girl Tech – an annual event focused on encouraging girls to consider careers in technology. It invites students from six schools to participate in workshops, coding sessions and panel discussions with professionals from local tech businesses, including Netcompany. The event was set up to address gender disparities in the sector, where only 29% of the workforce are women[3], with many reporting experiences of negative bias.
Netcompany has supported the programme as part of our work with HMRC for the last three years, and the results have been immensely rewarding. A 2024 survey showed that 94% of attendees gained a clear understanding of digital sector skills, and 9/10 expressed an interest in pursuing a digital career. In 2025, Netcompany is expanding its commitment by rolling out Girl Tech events to four additional cities – Newcastle, Birmingham, London and Manchester – and I can’t wait to see the results.
People and impact
The general desire of individuals at Netcompany to make a positive impact makes me incredibly proud. Our company culture has been greatly enhanced by our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which develop events and activities to support their members and share awareness and insights across the business. These groups – spanning Multicultural, Neurodiverse, Women, LGBTQ+ and Veterans – have inspired major improvements in how Netcompany operates and behaves.
Elsewhere, Netcompany volunteers run free advanced Microsoft programmes for Tech Vets to help people leaving the services find work in the technology sector. We also cover exam costs for wider forces communities, such as wives and partners, and offer them free IT training. These initiatives have no doubt contributed to our recent Armed Forces Covenant Gold accreditation. Netcompany was also the first UK tech business to achieve the Social Value Quality Mark® Gold accreditation in 2023.
Looking ahead, we’re expanding our support of Rebel Business School, which empowers individuals to start and grow businesses with practical, free workshops focusing on accessible, no-cost startup strategies. The sponsorship will enable more than 50 women from underrepresented communities in London and Glasgow to attend the course. Collaborating with the University of Westminster, we’re adding a Netcompany-led day to the existing five-day course.
The road ahead
The updated social value framework is a pivotal moment for the UK’s tech sector, and my colleagues and I are energised by the challenge and committed to raising the bar in our own social value efforts. We also look forward to seeing other technology organisations step up to deliver meaningful, measurable impact for the UK’s society and economy.
[1] Social Value: Why all leaders must walk the walk | TechUK
[2] What is social value and why is it key for business success? | The Independent
[3] Women in tech insights 2024 | Progress, challenges & opportunities from the Lorien report - WeAreTechWomen - Supporting Women in Technology
