28 May 2025

Mission-Ready Bidding: How PPN 002 Turns Social Value into a Competitive Edge for Tech Suppliers

Reflections on the TechUK × Cabinet Office webinar, 8 May 2025

Public-sector procurement in the UK is about to change gears. On 8 May, techUK hosted the Cabinet Office’s social value team and colleagues from the Department for Education (DfE) for a webinar that unpacked the new Procurement Policy Note PPN 002, that updates the approach to social value in public sector procurement to align with mission-led government. 

“MEAT” is out, “MAT” is in 

Samantha Butler, Head of Social Value Commercial Policy at the Cabinet Office, opened with the headline reform from the Procurement Act 2023. The old “most economically advantageous tender” (MEAT) test is being replaced by “most advantageous tender” (MAT). In other words, value for money is no longer measured by price and technical quality alone. Social, economic, and environmental outcomes now form part of the final arithmetic. PPN 002 replaces PPN 06/20 and refreshes the Social Value Model, with buyers encouraged to choose one outcome that is relevant to the contract: 

  1. Kick-start economic growth

  2. Make Britain a clean-energy super-power 

  3. Take back our streets 

  4. Break down barriers to opportunity 

  1. Build an NHS fit for the future 

What you’ll see in future tenders 

  • Sharper questions, simpler scoring. Evaluation panels judge the credibility of your plan, not the volume of activity with SMEs competing on equal terms to global giants.

  • Standard KPIs. If you offer apprenticeships, T-Level placements or carbon savings, you’ll report them via a single, Whitehall-wide template.

  • Fair-work provision. A new outcome asks for evidence of fair pay and conditions wherever labour makes up significant contract costs. 

  • Mandatory early engagement. Every authority must publish a Preliminary Market Engagement Notice. 

The Cabinet Office’s message to tech suppliers: start with skills 

Throughout 2024, and now in 2025, techUK members hammered home one point: the tech sector’s most authentic contribution to social value is closing the digital-skills gap. The Cabinet Office listened. In guidance across government, buyers running technology procurements are advised to start with the Skills for Growth outcome. 

To illustrate what that looks like, Ian Ryan and Jeb Samad from the DfE gave a rapid-fire briefing on T Levels—two-year, Level-3 qualifications that mix classroom study with an industry placement. Three routes map directly to the digital sector: 

Route 

Example specialisms 

Typical placement roles 

Digital Production, Design & Development 

Software solutions, web/app dev 

Junior developer, UI tester 

Digital Business Services 

Data analytics, business insights 

Data technician, BI analyst 

Digital Support & Services 

Cybersecurity, network engineering 

SOC analyst, network tech 

  • Over 300 providers deliver T Levels (400+ from September); placements last 45 days, with SMEs reclaiming up to £25k in costs. 

  • A sector-specific webinar for digital employers will be held on 11 June 2025, hosted by the DfE. Details and a link to the registration can be found on the techUK website here

How to craft a compliant, compelling response 

The Cabinet Office advised building a reusable “social-value playbook” containing two or three offers you can deliver with minimal friction. A bid under PPN 002 should cover four things: 

  1. Commitment – What you will do, for whom, at what scale 

  1. Delivery plan – Milestones, named owners, governance touchpoints. 

  1. Measurement – Use the model’s standard KPI where it exists; propose a sensible metric where it doesn’t. 

  1. Legacy – How benefits endure beyond contract close (e.g., learners offered apprenticeships, staff retained on higher wages). 

Final thought 

PPN 002 isn’t about producing longer bid documents; it’s about showing purposeful impact. For digital suppliers, the most straightforward path to a high social-value score is also the most strategic for the sector: invest in future talent, measure the outcome, and weave that story into every contract you chase.


Heather Cover-Kus

Heather Cover-Kus

Head of Central Government Programme, techUK

Heather is Head of Central Government Programme at techUK, working to represent the supplier community of tech products and services to Central Government.

Prior to joining techUK in April 2022, Heather worked in the Economic Policy and Small States Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat.  She led the organisation’s FinTech programme and worked to create an enabling environment for developing countries to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits of FinTech.

Before moving to the UK, Heather worked at the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas and the Central Bank of The Bahamas.

Heather holds a Graduate Diploma in Law from BPP, a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from LSE, and a BA in Economics and Sociology from Macalester College.

Email:
[email protected]
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-cover-kus-ba636538

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Ellie Huckle

Ellie Huckle

Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK

Ellie joined techUK in March 2018 as a Programme Assistant to the Public Sector team and now works as a Programme Manager for the Central Government Programme.

The programme represents the supplier community of technology products and services in Central Government – in summary working to make Government a more informed buyer, increasing supplier visibility in order to improve their chances of supplying to Government Departments, and fostering better engagement between the public sector and industry. To find out more about what we do, how we do this and how you can get involved – make sure to get in touch!

Prior to joining techUK, Ellie completed Sixth Form in June 2015 and went on to work in Waitrose, moved on swiftly to walking dogs and finally, got an office job working for a small local business in North London, where she lives with her family and their two Bengal cats Kai and Nova.

When she isn’t working Ellie likes to spend time with her family and friends, her cats, and enjoys volunteering for diabetes charities. She has a keen interest in writing, escaping with a good book and expanding her knowledge watching far too many quiz shows!

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
020 7331 2015
Twitter:
@techUK,@techUK
Website:
www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:
https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx,https://bit.ly/3mtQ7Jx

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Charles Bauman

Charles Bauman

Junior Programme Manager - Central Government, techUK

Charles Bauman is a Junior Programme Manager in the Central Government Programme at techUK.

He supports the programme’s mission to represent the technology supplier community to the UK government and advocate for digital innovation to address public sector challenges. Charles helps facilitate market engagement, foster partnerships, and ensure that tech suppliers and the government work collaboratively to improve outcomes, deliver value for money, and enhance public services for citizens.

Before joining techUK, Charles gained significant experience in research, analysis, and strategic advisory roles. At H/Advisors Cicero, he specialised in public affairs and corporate communications, while at Verdantix, he supported sustainability research and advisory projects, focusing on regulatory and environmental challenges.

Charles holds an MSc in Theory and History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and an MA in Medieval History from King’s College London.

Charles enjoys volunteering with a think tank, reading, hiking, and spending time with his dog and family outside of work.

Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-bauman-75712016b/

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Francesca Richiusa

Francesca Richiusa

Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

Fran serves as the Programme Team Assistant within techUK’s Public Sector Market Programmes, where she is responsible for delivering comprehensive team support, managing administrative functions, and fostering strong relationships with members.

Prior to joining techUK in May 2025, Fran built a meaningful career in the charitable and local government sectors. She worked extensively with both victims and perpetrators of crime, and notably led the coordination of Domestic Homicide Reviews across Surrey—an initiative aimed at identifying lessons and preventing future incidents of domestic abuse.

Outside of work, Fran is an avid traveller and a proud cat mum who enjoys unwinding with her feline companions.

 

Email:
[email protected]
Website:
www.techuk.org/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesca-richiusa/

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Tracy Modha

Tracy Modha

Programme Marketing Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

Tracy supports the marketing of several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Central Government, Cyber Resilience, Defence, Education, Health and Social Care, Justice and Emergency Services, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.

Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!

Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
02073312000
Website:
www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83

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The techUK Central Government Programme provides a forum for government to engage with tech suppliers. We advocate for the govtech sector, evangelise tech as a solution to public sector challenges, facilitate market engagement, and help make the public sector an easier market to operate in. Visit the programme page here.

 

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Meet the team 

Heather Cover-Kus

Heather Cover-Kus

Head of Central Government Programme, techUK

Ellie Huckle

Ellie Huckle

Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK

Charles Bauman

Charles Bauman

Junior Programme Manager - Central Government, techUK

Francesca Richiusa

Francesca Richiusa

Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

Tracy Modha

Tracy Modha

Programme Marketing Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK