How to Deliver Social Value on Grounds Maintenance Contracts
5 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 social value feels confusing, don't worry. I'll explain it in plain English and show you how to approach it with confidence.
If you ask most grounds maintenance companies what social value means, they'll usually say something about planting trees or recycling green waste.
Those are both good things.
But they're only part of the picture.
Grounds maintenance is one of those sectors where you're already making a difference every day. You just might not think of it as social value.
You're looking after parks where children play.
You're maintaining housing estates where people live.
You're keeping schools, hospitals and public spaces safe and welcoming.
That's social value.
The trick is showing the buyer how the work you're already doing benefits the wider community.
Start With the Site
Before you start writing your response, think about where you'll actually be working.
A school has different priorities to a housing association.
A hospital isn't the same as a country park.
A council estate isn't the same as a business park.
Ask yourself:
- Who uses these spaces?
- What matters to the people who use them?
- What could we do that would genuinely make a difference?
Those answers are normally where your best ideas come from.
Recruit Local People
If you're working in a local community, it makes sense to recruit locally where you can. It reduces travel. It supports local employment. It helps your team get to know the area they're looking after. You don't need to promise every new recruit will be local. Just explain that you'll advertise locally and recruit from the community whenever it's practical.
Give Young People a Chance
Grounds maintenance can be a brilliant career, but many young people don't know it exists. Offering work experience, apprenticeships or even a few days' shadowing can introduce someone to an industry they might never have considered. Buyers like seeing commitments that create opportunities rather than just ticking a box.
Help Nature, Not Just the Grass
One thing I see quite often is companies saying they'll "protect biodiversity." That's fine, but it doesn't tell the buyer anything. Instead, explain what you'll actually do. Maybe you'll leave certain areas to encourage wildflowers. Maybe you'll create pollinator-friendly planting. Maybe you'll install bird or insect boxes where appropriate. Specific ideas always score better than vague promises.
Reduce Waste
You're already generating green waste, so explain how you'll deal with it responsibly. For example:
- composting where appropriate
- recycling green waste
- reducing plastic packaging
- repairing equipment instead of replacing it where possible
Small changes soon add up over the life of a contract.
Keep Public Spaces Safe
Grounds maintenance isn't just about making somewhere look nice. It's about making it safe. Keeping paths clear. Cutting back overgrown vegetation. Making sure play areas remain usable. Reducing trip hazards. Those things have a real impact on the people using the space every day. Outline your strategy and how this supports people who use the space.
Buy Local Where You Can
If you're buying plants, materials or equipment, think about whether local suppliers could be used. Supporting local businesses keeps more money in the local economy and can reduce unnecessary transport too.
Share Your Knowledge
You've probably forgotten more about plants, trees and landscaping than most people will ever know. Why not share some of that knowledge? You could support a community gardening project. Visit a local school. Run a seasonal planting session. It doesn't need to cost much, but it can leave a lasting impression.
Look After Your Team
Good social value starts with your own employees. If your staff are well trained, well supported and enjoy working for you, that's a positive outcome in itself. Talk about:
- training
- wellbeing
- career progression
- regular reviews
- health and safety
People sometimes forget that investing in your workforce is social value too.
Think About Accessibility
Sometimes the biggest difference you can make is helping people use outdoor spaces more easily. That might mean:
- keeping pathways clear
- improving visibility
- maintaining seating areas
- making parks easier to access
These aren't always huge projects, but they can make a real difference to someone's day.
Give Something Back
If you're already working in the community, look for simple ways to give something back.
That could be helping at a community planting day. Supporting a local environmental group. Working with volunteers.
You don't need a huge annual programme. One or two meaningful activities are often far more believable.
Don't Promise the World
This is something I say a lot.
You don't win marks by making fifty promises. You win marks by making a handful of promises that the buyer believes you'll actually deliver.
I'd much rather read three good commitments than two pages of things that clearly won't happen.
Keep It Relevant to the Contract
If you're maintaining a housing estate, think about residents. If you're looking after school grounds, think about pupils. If you're maintaining a public park, think about the people using it every day.
The strongest social value responses always feel like they belong to that contract. If your response could be copied into any tender without changing a word, it's probably too generic.
My Final Thoughts
Grounds maintenance is about much more than cutting grass and trimming hedges.
Done well, it helps create places where people want to spend time.
It supports wildlife, improves safety, creates jobs and makes communities look and feel better.
That's the story you should be telling in your tender.
Don't overcomplicate it. Explain what you'll do, why it matters and how you'll know you've delivered it. That's usually what buyers are looking for.
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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