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MAKING SOCIAL VALUES WORK FOR YOU: HOW TO HIRE TECH CONSULTANTS THAT HELP YOU WIN MORE BIDS
In today’s competitive procurement landscape, bidding for government contracts isn’t just about price or delivery, it’s about impact. The introduction of PPN 002 (mandatory implementation by 1 October 2025) has elevated the UK government’s expectations around social value, creating new opportunities for suppliers who can demonstrate meaningful impact, particularly those offering tech consultancy services.
At Code First Girls, we’ve championed a smarter, faster way to build tech teams by delivering job-ready, diverse talent through our Recruit, Train, Deploy (RTD) model. Our model is not only created to be better for candidates and businesses alike, but has been developed to reflect the growing needs and complexities of the framework. Here’s what you need to know, and how we can help.
What is PPN 002 and why does it matter?
From October 2025, government departments must use the new Social Value Model under PPN 002 for all qualifying procurements. This update brings more structure, accountability, and alignment with national priorities such as creating good jobs, building skills, improving diversity, and boosting wellbeing.
If you’re a supplier bidding for central government work, you’ll need to demonstrate measurable commitments in one or more of these areas in your bid response.
What’s changed in the Social Value Model?
The move from PPN 06/20 to PPN 002 isn’t just a refresh, it’s a significant evolution in how social value is defined, measured, and rewarded in government procurement.
Here’s what’s different:
1. From themes to missions
The old model was built around five broad themes. PPN 002 introduces five national “Missions”, making it easier to align supplier impact with government priorities.
2. Clearer outcomes
There are now eight defined outcomes under those Missions, each with its own guidance. It’s much easier to understand exactly what’s being scored and how to hit those marks.
3. Standardised scoring and criteria
PPN 002 uses model questions, model award criteria (MACS), and standard reporting metrics, so suppliers know exactly how to structure their social value offer and buyers can compare responses consistently.
4. Emphasis on delivery and evidence
No more vague pledges. You’re expected to make specific, measurable, time-bound commitments in your bids, and report on performance throughout the contract.
5. Less room for interpretation, more room for action
With a more robust and transparent framework, PPN 002 enhances the social values opportunity within bids. If you can show real, regional, and reportable value, especially around diversity, training, and employment, you can score highly and win more work.
What does social value look like in practice?
Let’s say you’re bidding on a government tech contract. Under PPN 002, you might be asked how you plan to:
- Remove barriers to entry for underrepresented groups
- Demonstrate action to identify and tackle inequality in employment, skills, and pay
- Deliver skills training and long-term employment opportunities
- Improve workforce wellbeing and inclusion
These aren’t box-ticking exercises. You’ll need to commit to specific outcomes (think: X tech consultants from a particular cohort, Y training hours, Z roles converted to permanent contracts) and report on your progress over time using SMART commitments. You’ll also be evaluated on the credibility of your proposal, it’s relevancy to the contract and the likelihood of delivery.
How Code First Girls helps you deliver, and prove, social value
Our RTD model is designed to slot straight into this new framework. Here’s how it works:
- Recruit – We find candidates from diverse communities, often from underserved regions, underrepresented ethnicities and those with disabilities.
- Train – They complete a bespoke, high-impact tech training course to become tech consultants
- Deploy – You bring them into your business, ready to deliver value from day one.
This model maps directly to the key social value outcomes under PPN 002, including skills for growth (Outcome 2), access to opportunities for underrepresented groups (Outcomes 6 & 7) and fair and inclusive employment (Outcome 1).
Better yet, it’s fully measurable. For every tech consultant deployed through Code First Girls, we can show:
- Detailed diversity data (gender, ethnicity, neurodiversity, first-generation grads, career switchers, underserved regions – IMD 1-3 postcodes)
- Hours of training completed
- Employment outcomes achieved
- Additional social return through community reinvestment (for every woman deployed, 10+ are trained)
It’s social value, backed by data.
Beyond this, we also support regional and national skills gaps locations to boost local talent and practice sustainable tech upskilling and remote-first learning.
Winning bids with confidence
Because our model is tried, tested, and backed by years of delivering education linked to employment to underrepresented groups, we can support you in building a strong, compliant social value response in your bid. That includes:
- Language that speaks directly to the PPN 002 criteria
- Regional breakdowns for local impact scoring
- Reporting frameworks to track delivery post-contract
If you’re aiming to win high-value government work, partnering with Code First Girls makes your social value response more credible, impactful, and easy to deliver. And while we work in tech, social value is sector-agnostic. Whether you’re a consultancy, an infrastructure giant, or a public sector specialist, many government bids require our tech consultants’ digital skills.
Ready to get started?
PPN 002 isn’t just a policy update, it’s a signal that measurable social impact matters more than ever. With Code First Girls, you’re addressing the UK’s digital skills gap and proving your commitment to social value in a way that stands out on paper and in practice.
Get in touch and let’s build a social value strategy that wins work and makes a difference.
GET IN TOUCH WITH CODE FIRST GIRLS
Get in touch with Code First Girls to learn more about how we can help you hire diverse tech consultants.
