The Critic: The problem with public sector procurement

by Robert Jessel | February 14, 2024 | Coverage | 0 Comments

Today I’m talking bullshit. Or, more precisely, Bullshit Jobs. That was the title of an influential 2018 book by anthropologist David Graeber, which argued that many jobs today serve no useful purpose at all: from roles that exist to stroke senior...

The Paralysing Grip of Net Zero

by Charlie Downes | February 8, 2024 | Blog | 0 Comments

As the nation lurches from crisis to crisis, one constant persists in the British government's strategy: an unwavering commitment to drowning its problems in a sea of red tape. Whatever the issue of the day, the recurring theme appears to be: when in doubt, add...

Startups Magazine: SMEs Are Being Frozen Out Of The Government Procurement Process

by Robert Jessel | February 8, 2024 | Coverage | 0 Comments

Most small businesses haven’t heard of the Social Value Act (SVA), but if they’ve ever been through the government procurement process, they’ll almost certainly have felt its force. The Act requires businesses bidding for public sector contracts to give back to the...

SMEs have made their voices heard on the procurement crisis. Will the government listen?

by Robert Jessel | February 5, 2024 | Blog | 0 Comments

Roll out the bunting! Put the champagne on ice! Rejoice, for 2024 has been officially named as the “Year of the SME”. Britain’s small business community could certainly do with some good news. In 2023 more than 25,000 company insolvencies were reported in England and...

Sacrificing Security on the Altar of Social Value

by Charlie Downes | February 1, 2024 | Blog | 0 Comments

The Russians are coming! But fear not - a brand new crack squadron of Royal Navy “diversity officers” is here to defend us. In a week that saw conscription re-entering mainstream discourse in Britain, the Senior Service announced plans to re-deploy serving sailors and...

The Problem with Public Procurement

by Charlie Downes | January 29, 2024 | Blog | 0 Comments

Gross spending on public sector procurement was £393 billion in 2022/23 across the UK. That’s more than the budget for the entire NHS – so it’s crucial that that money is being spent as sensibly and efficiently as possible. At the Campaign for Fair Procurement, we...

Press Release – Campaigners call for repeal of the Social Value Act

by Charlie Downes | November 7, 2023 | Press releases | 0 Comments

‘Worst law you’ve never heard of’ kills competition, freezes SMEs out of government contracts & costs UK taxpayers uncounted billions each year London, 7 November 2023 — A new campaign is calling for the repeal of an obscure...

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Launch Release - Campaigners call for repeal of the Social Value Act

London, 7 November 2023 — A new campaign is calling for the repeal of an obscure law that costs the taxpayer billions of pounds each year, buries businesses under an avalanche of red tape, and prevents small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from bidding for government contracts.

The Worst Law You’ve Never Heard Of : An Introduction to the Social Value Act 2012

The Public Services (Social Value) Act is one of the most anti-competitive and anti-SME laws in living memory. Intended to align public procurement towards improving social and environmental outcomes and reducing economic inequality, the Act was conceived with the best of intentions. Distressingly, it suffers from a range of serious shortcomings.

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Has your business lost valuable government contracts thanks to the insane complexity of the Social Value Model? Can you provide examples of pointless and wasteful initiatives delivered under the guise of ‘social value’? Drop us a line to let us know, or discover how you can support the campaign.

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