How to Deliver Social Value on Cleaning Contracts
6 min readBy Kim FraterPublished 2026-07-27
“I believe public procurement shouldn’t be complicated. Every guide I write explains the process in plain English so you can bid with confidence.”
Hi, I'm Kim. If you're new to public procurement, don't worry, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know in plain English.
Cleaning contracts are some of the most common public sector opportunities advertised each year.
Whether the contract is for an office building, housing association, school, healthcare facility or public building, you'll almost always find a social value question somewhere within the tender.
Many cleaning companies immediately think they need a large budget or a long list of community projects.
In reality, buyers are usually looking for something much simpler.
They want to understand how your business will create additional value while delivering an excellent cleaning service.
The good news is that many cleaning companies are already delivering social value without realising it.
The challenge is recognising those activities and presenting them in a way that's relevant to the contract and meaningful to the buyer.
Start With the Contract, Not the Ideas
One of the biggest mistakes I see is businesses writing a social value response before they've fully understood the contract.
Social value should never feel like an extra document that's been attached to the end of your bid.
It should feel like a natural extension of your service delivery.
Before deciding what you'll offer, ask yourself:
- Who will use the building?
- Who lives nearby?
- What are the buyer's priorities?
- Who could genuinely benefit from this contract?
The answers will usually point you towards the strongest social value commitments.
1. Recruit Locally Wherever Possible
Cleaning contracts often create employment opportunities because staff usually need to live within reasonable travelling distance of the site.
Recruiting locally benefits everyone.
Employees spend less time travelling.
The buyer supports local employment.
Money stays within the local economy.
If you already recruit locally, explain your approach.
If you don't, consider making it part of your mobilisation plan.
2. Offer Flexible Employment Opportunities
Cleaning work often suits people looking for flexible hours.
Parents returning to work.
Older workers.
Students.
People looking for part-time employment.
Explaining how your recruitment practices create opportunities for these groups demonstrates meaningful social value without requiring additional investment.
3. Invest in Training
Training is often overlooked because companies think of it as an operational requirement rather than social value.
In reality, helping employees develop new skills creates long-term benefits for individuals as well as the quality of the service you deliver.
Examples might include:
- COSHH
- Health & Safety
- Manual Handling
- Customer Service
- Mental Health Awareness
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Explain how those qualifications improve both your workforce and the service the buyer receives.
4. Support Local Colleges and Schools
Many colleges look for businesses willing to provide work experience or speak to students about careers.
Cleaning is a professional industry with opportunities in supervision, facilities management, health and safety and contract management.
Helping young people understand those career paths can create lasting community benefits.
5. Reduce Environmental Impact
Environmental commitments are common within cleaning tenders, but the strongest responses explain exactly what you'll do.
For example:
- concentrated cleaning products
- microfibre systems
- reduced chemical usage
- colour-coded equipment that lasts longer
- refillable containers
- reduced plastic packaging
Rather than simply saying you'll protect the environment, explain how your working practices contribute to that objective.
6. Reduce Carbon Through Smarter Operations
Cleaning companies often travel between multiple sites each day.
Simple operational improvements can reduce emissions.
For example:
- efficient scheduling
- route planning
- electric equipment where appropriate
- reducing unnecessary journeys
- sourcing products locally
These commitments demonstrate that environmental improvements don't always require significant investment.
7. Support Local Suppliers
Where practical, purchase consumables, equipment and services from local businesses.
This strengthens the local economy while reducing transportation where possible.
If local sourcing isn't always practical, explain how you'll balance value for money with supporting local businesses.
8. Improve Employee Wellbeing
Happy, supported employees usually provide better customer service.
Explain how you'll support wellbeing through initiatives such as:
- mental health awareness
- regular welfare meetings
- flexible working where possible
- recognition programmes
- employee assistance schemes
Looking after your workforce ultimately benefits the buyer through improved retention and service quality.
9. Encourage Volunteering
Many organisations encourage staff to volunteer within their communities.
This doesn't have to involve large-scale projects.
Even a small amount of volunteering each year can create meaningful local benefits.
For example:
- community litter picks
- supporting local charities
- environmental improvement days
- community clean-up initiatives
10. Donate Surplus Supplies Responsibly
Where appropriate, unused cleaning products or equipment that remain safe and fit for purpose may be suitable for donation to community organisations.
Always ensure any donations comply with health and safety requirements and organisational policies.
11. Promote Inclusive Recruitment
Consider how your recruitment process supports equality and diversity.
This might include:
- accessible recruitment materials
- flexible interview arrangements
- fair recruitment practices
- promoting opportunities across a wide range of community networks
An inclusive workforce benefits both employees and customers.
12. Help People Build Long-Term Careers
Many people see cleaning as a temporary job.
Good employers help people build careers.
Explain how staff can progress into:
- supervisory roles
- site management
- quality auditing
- training
- contract management
Creating career pathways is a valuable form of social value because it supports long-term employment rather than simply filling vacancies.
13. Support Community Clean-Up Projects
Where appropriate, consider supporting community initiatives that improve public spaces.
This could involve working alongside local organisations during environmental improvement days or providing practical support for neighbourhood projects.
These activities are often particularly relevant for housing associations and local authorities.
14. Share Your Expertise
Cleaning companies possess specialist knowledge that many organisations don't.
For example:
- infection prevention
- hygiene awareness
- safe chemical handling
- workplace cleanliness
Sharing that expertise through community workshops or awareness sessions can create value beyond the contract itself.
15. Measure and Report Your Impact
Whatever commitments you make, explain how you'll monitor them.
For example:
- local recruits
- training hours
- volunteer hours
- carbon reductions
- local supplier spend
- waste diverted from landfill
Being able to demonstrate the outcomes of your commitments gives buyers confidence that they'll be delivered.
Focus on What Matters to the Buyer
The best social value responses aren't necessarily the longest.
They're the ones that feel connected to the contract.
If you're cleaning a housing association, your commitments may focus on residents and community wellbeing.
If you're cleaning a college, education and employment opportunities may carry greater weight.
If you're cleaning council offices, local employment and environmental sustainability may be the priority.
Tailor your ideas to the organisation you're bidding for.
My Final Thoughts
Cleaning companies often underestimate the amount of social value they already create.
Every local employee you recruit, every member of staff you train and every improvement you make to your environmental performance contributes to wider benefits beyond the cleaning service itself.
The key is helping the buyer understand those benefits.
Rather than trying to create a long list of ambitious promises, focus on a smaller number of commitments that are relevant, achievable and measurable.
That's what buyers are most likely to reward with higher scores.
Thanks for reading.
I hope this guide has made public procurement a little easier to understand.
Kim Frater
Founder, Bid Trawler
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