News and insights

Guidance: How better procurement can unlock the third sector's potential

Written by Social Value Portal | May 29, 2026 4:45:38 PM

The VCFSE sector underpins a significant part of UK civic life, yet wins only a small share of public contracts.

This guidance, from the National Social Value Taskforce VCFSE Working Group, looks at why, and what each part of the procurement system can do about it.

What you'll take away

  • Contracting Authorities: Practical levers under the Procurement Act 2023, how to plan pipelines and design contracts that work for VCFSEs, and how to join up commissioners with procurement teams.

  • Private sector suppliers: how to bring VCFSEs into bid and delivery as real partners, set targets that drive change, and combine spend with wider forms of support.

  • VCFSEs: a route to becoming bid-ready — documentation, impact data, partnerships, and how to map to the TOM System and PPN 002.

Download the guidance