Writing winning recruitment bids to the Government sector – a challenge worth taking on

However, bidding for government contracts presents unique challenges, particularly when it comes to social value and recruitment methodology.

Understanding Social Value

Social value, a cornerstone and increasingly important aspect of public sector procurement, refers to the positive impact a project or service can have on society. It extends beyond financial gains to encompass environmental, social, and economic benefits. When bidding for government contracts, recruiters are increasingly expected to demonstrate a clear understanding of social value and how their services will contribute to it if appointed. In recent years, questions on Social Value have been allocated up to 20% of the weighted criteria for public sector recruitment bids making a quality response that scores well critical to success.

The Social Value Challenge

While many recruitment agencies recognize the importance of social value, they often struggle to effectively write a response within their bids. This is usually because they are focusing on their core competencies and don’t allocate the time to write a quality social value response. It’s often also due to the fact that recruitment agencies are professional services consultancies and it can be difficult to integrate social value into a professional service.

Writing an effective Social Value response

To address these challenges, recruiters should adopt a strategic approach to social value and spend the time and effort required to write a quality response. To write an effective social value proposal when bidding for public sector contracts recruiters can:

1. Identify Relevant Social Value Themes:
   • Local Sourcing: Prioritize purchasing office supplies and services from local businesses.
   • Sustainable Practices: Implement eco-friendly initiatives, such as reducing paper usage and recycling.
   • Community Engagement: Donate meeting room space to local charities or community organizations.
   • Social Inclusion: Employ individuals from disadvantaged groups and provide training and development opportunities.
   • Skills Development: Offer workshops and training programs to job seekers.
2. Quantify and Measure Impact:
3. Use Metrics: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of social value initiatives.
4. Case Studies: Highlight specific examples of how your agency has positively impacted the community.
5. Third-Party Validation: Seek endorsements from community organizations or social enterprises.
6. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Develop a robust CSR strategy aligned with your business goals.
7. Employee Engagement: Encourage staff to participate in social value initiatives.
8. Supplier Diversity: Partner with suppliers that share your commitment to social responsibility.
9. Integrate Social Value into Your Business Model:

Differentiating Your Recruitment Methodology

While all recruitment agencies share similar core methodologies, it's essential to differentiate yourself in a competitive market especially when bidding for public sector contracts. The below strategies can be integrated into your bid or tender in order to differentiate your approach:

• Innovative Technology: Leverage advanced recruitment tools and technologies to streamline processes and improve candidate experience.
• Data-Driven Insights: Utilize data analytics to identify trends, optimize recruitment strategies, and make informed decisions, particularly in public sector recruitment.
• Candidate Experience: Write about how you will prioritize candidate satisfaction by providing a seamless and positive experience throughout the recruitment process that reflects the values of the government department or public service in general.
• Tailored Solutions: Offer customized recruitment solutions to meet the specific needs of each government department and the geographic areas / government department in each lot.

By focusing on social value and adopting innovative recruitment methodologies, agencies can enhance their competitiveness and secure more public sector contracts.

Bio: Jason Cooney is the Director of Tsaks Consulting – A bid and tender writing consultancy based in London with a focus on professional services bids including Recruitment Bids.