Imagine a world where every public pound spent on procurement works to benefit our communities, reduce inequality, and drive real social impact. That’s exactly the vision Aspire has shared in response to the UK government’s National Procurement Policy Survey.

Our perspective? Public procurement isn’t just a government formality, it could be a powerful lever to tackle discrimination, foster equality, and build stronger, more resilient local economies. Here’s how we think it must change.

Making Living Wages the public standard

Let’s start with something as fundamental as fair pay. Aspire believes that every public contract should come with a default position and commitment to paying the Real Living Wage. Why? Because good work shouldn’t mean just any work,  it should mean work that sustains people and enables them to thrive. Paying a fair wage lifts individuals and families out of poverty and reduces dependence on social support systems. And when people aren’t struggling with insecure, low-paid jobs, they’re healthier, happier, and more able to contribute to society. Public authorities should be helping to raise living standards in their areas not engaged in the race to the bottom.

Building Good Jobs into every contract

Imagine if every publicly funded job was a “good job.” Aspire considers that all public contracts should include Good Work standards, certified by an independent body. This means jobs that offer security, dignity, and the opportunity to grow. The impact is clear: when workers have decent conditions and fair pay, their lives improve, their communities benefit, and we see a positive knock-on effect across industries, especially in those struggling with labour shortages in traditionally low paying, low status industries. Let’s make good jobs the rule, not the exception.

Boosting local economies with targeted investment

What if 1% of public procurement spending was directed at organisations that tackle labour market disadvantages? We’re talking about businesses that help people facing barriers—whether that’s institutional discrimination within the labour market, caring responsibilities, lack of formal education or qualifications, issues relating to health and disability—to find and keep meaningful employment that build around the reality of their lives. By investing even a small slice of procurement budgets in these “Good Works” organizations, we could see an extra £3.9 billion channelled into innovation within local economies, creating stronger communities and sustainable jobs for those who need them most. That’s public money making a tangible difference where it counts.

Aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Imagine public procurement as a giant jigsaw puzzle, with each piece fitting together to build a better society. By aligning procurement practices with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, we can create a unified approach that drives positive change across sectors and regions. This isn’t just about delivering goods and services; it’s about using every contract to make the UK a fairer, greener, and more prosperous place for everyone.

Moving Beyond “Social Value” to “Public Value”

Too often, social value gets reduced to checkboxes or KPIs, missing the big picture. Aspire is calling for a shift to public value, where procurement decisions support long-term societal goals rather than short-term wins. It’s about using public funds to tackle pressing issues head-on—like poverty, inequality and climate change—rather than adding social value as an afterthought. This approach would require contractors to actively commit to shared goals with the government and contracting authorities, making sure everyone is on the same page and working towards a better society.

A Public Value Advisory Body: A Bold New Step

Imagine an independent body dedicated to steering public procurement toward real social impact. Aspire recommends creating a Public Value Advisory Body to support commissioners with resources, best practices, tools to prioritize mission-driven procurement and powers to review access to justice and other barriers facing smaller organisations and social enterprises within the system. This body would be the bridge between policy-makers, suppliers, and communities, ensuring that everyone from small businesses to social enterprises has a fair shot at public contracts and that the community is genuinely engaged in the procurement process. It’s about levelling the playing field, making procurement more transparent and accessible and communitising procurement.

Listening to Communities and Engaging with Lived Experience

Real change doesn’t happen without listening to the people it affects. Communities themselves should have a voice in shaping public procurement. It’s one thing to gather data; it’s another to engage with the lived experiences of people who are directly impacted by these policies. By building partnerships with people who have first-hand knowledge, procurement can reflect the real priorities and needs of those on the ground. Aspire recommends setting up regional advisory groups and public value forums where community members can share their experiences, insights and get engaged in the design and delivery of public services.

So a commitment to incorporating lived experience isn’t just about gathering feedback. it’s about shaping policies that resonate with real lives. Policy-makers who engage in these conversations are better positioned to understand complex social issues and build contracts that address them head-on. It’s a practical, human-centered approach to public procurement that respects and values the voices of those affected.

Procurement as a Tool for Transformation

Aspire’s response to the National Procurement Policy Survey is a call for Government action. We see public procurement not just as a function of government but as a vehicle for real social progress. By embedding principles of fairness, sustainability, and community well-being into procurement, we can create a system where every pound spent drives positive change. This is the future of procurement—a future where communities thrive, inequality diminishes, and public spending builds a better society for everyone. This is mission based procurement, ambitious for change. change for the better. BetterForUs.