Winning Security Tender Responses with Social Value: What to Say and How to Say It

Nowadays, social value is a core requirement in UK security tender responses – so it’s essential not only to understand what it means, but also to know how to integrate it effectively into your bid to maximise your chances of winning security contracts.

For security companies, social value can help your bid stand out. How? By offering clear, measurable commitments, you can showcase the ways in which you intend to improve the local community. This guide will explain what social value means in security tenders, how to structure your responses effectively, and provides real examples for security tender writing to help your submission stand out.

Understanding Social Value in Security Tenders

In the bidding world, social value refers to the positive impact your company makes on the community, the environment, and society as a whole.

This can include:

• Reducing local unemployment

• Supporting vulnerable people

• Promoting inclusion and equality

• Improving the environment

• Contributing to the local community

Writing a high-quality social value response for security tenders can be the difference between winning and losing a tender. When written effectively, it will demonstrate how your commitments align with the buyer’s priorities. For example, if a buyer places great importance on their aim to reduce homelessness within their community, your social value should outline the ways in which you intend to support this.

Why Social Value Matters in Security Procurement

Governments and large private sector buyers are placing greater importance on social value, particularly after the introduction of the Procurement Act 2023, which reinforced the need for public benefit in the tender process.

Generic social value responses in security bids are no longer good enough. To be competitive, your commitments must be specific, actionable, and measurable, clearly demonstrating how they support the buyer’s priorities – whether that’s reducing unemployment, supporting vulnerable groups, or promoting environmental sustainability.

By continuously prioritising social value in your business, you set yourself apart from your competitors and position yourself as a preferred security provider for the buyer.

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Key Areas of Social Value for Security Companies

For a security service provider, there are several ways you can positively contribute to the local area. For example:

• Local Employment: Hiring staff from the local areas boosts the local economy and helps to strengthen your connection with the community.

• Training Opportunities: Offering training and apprenticeships, for example, can help you build a skilled workforce, whilst benefiting the local community.

• Diversity and Inclusion: By recruiting from underrepresented groups, you can help to build an inclusive culture.

• Community Engagement: Local initiatives, charity contributions, local sports club sponsorships etc – can all help you to directly improve the local community.

• Sustainability: Sustainability social value in security tenders targets should focus on green practices within your business, such as the use of hybrid vehicles, energy-efficient systems, paperless reporting, etc.

How to Structure your Social Value Response (With Examples)

When writing your security bid’s social value response, you should structure it clearly, and clearly outline how your commitments align with the buyer’s goals. In order to communicate this effectively, follow this simple, 3-step structure:

1. What Will You Do?

You need to state the social value commitment you’re proposing. You should read the bid documents (such as the specification and ITT) to ensure that it aligns with the buyer’s priorities, such as reducing unemployment, etc.

For example:

We will recruit 80% of our on-site security team from within a 10-mile radius of the contract location.

We will offer 6 apprenticeships throughout the contract term.                      

2. How Will You Do It?

Then, you need to explain how you will deliver the initiative. This should be specific, and include any partnerships, processes or resources you’ll use to successfully fulfil your commitment.

For example:

We will work with (insert name of local secondary school) to identify potential applicants for our apprenticeship/work experience placements.

We will partner with [Local Job Centre/Employment Charity] to recruit candidates who are currently unemployed or underrepresented in the security industry, with a target of filling 30% of roles through this channel.

3. What Will the Outcome Be?

You should outline the results you expect from these commitments, so that you are effectively displaying the difference you intend to make throughout the contract term. If you can, you should include how you will track and report the progress of these commitments.

For example:

This initiative will create 10 new jobs within the first 6 months of the contract term, which will help to reduce the local unemployment rate. We will report on recruitment progress quarterly and measure retention over the full contract term.

We will deliver 500 hours of paid volunteering time across our staff team, supporting local charities and community initiatives. Each volunteer activity will be logged, with time spent and outcomes recorded.

In today’s competitive bidding world, a high-quality social value response can be the difference between a successful and a failed security tender. By taking the time to understand what a buyer will be looking for when evaluating your bid – through an in-depth analysis of the tender documents – you can maximise your chances of winning security contracts.

Remember:

• Be specific – generic promises DO NOT win contracts.

• Be measurable – buyers want to see REAL outcomes.

• Be relevant – always link your commitments to the priorities of the authority or organisation you’re bidding to.

By making social value a core strength of your offer, you don’t just increase your chances of winning the contract – you build a reputation as a responsible, forward-thinking partner that clients want to work with.  

Overwhelmed with Security Tenders?

Bidding in the security sector can be longwinded and complex, but it can be made much easier with an organised, thorough approach.

While it can be done internally, professional bid writing companies (like us at Bid Writing Service) can significantly boost your chances of security tender success through expert bid writing and end-to-end guidance throughout the entire bidding process.

Have a security tender submission coming up? Why not utilise our expert security tender writers? Contact us at michael.baron@bidwritingservice.com or lauren.moorhouse@bidwritingservice.com to discuss your needs, or, fill out the form below!