MPB Structures welcomes the recent announcement from the Cabinet Office regarding the new Procurement Policy Note (PPN). Effective from January 2027, the updated framework will double the minimum social value weighting to 20 per cent on government contracts valued at £5 million or more. Most notably, the policy refines social value outcomes to two core criteria: ‘good jobs’ and ‘skills’. This structural change means that apprenticeships, training, and work placements will effectively count for double in the bidding process. As an organisation deeply committed to workforce development, we fully endorse this strategic alignment of public spending with long-term skills generation.
Embedding Social Value in Construction
At MPB, social value is not merely an addition to our operations; it is fundamentally embedded into how we plan, deliver, and measure our success. We have already committed to a comprehensive five-year training model designed to deliver £4.9 million of measurable social value back into the industry. By investing over £500,000 annually in training and workforce development, and setting a robust minimum 20 per cent local workforce recruitment target, our current practices naturally align with the ambitions of the new PPN. Our approach guarantees that high-quality civil engineering is consistently paired with lasting benefits for local communities.
Expert Leadership and Strategic Direction
We play an active role in shaping the national skills agenda. This commitment is spearheaded by our Business and People Development Director, Martyn Price MBE, who brings unparalleled expertise to our workforce development strategy. Responding to the new procurement guidelines, Martyn Price stated:
‘The decision to double the skills weighting in major public contracts represents a transformative moment for the construction sector. By mandating stronger commitments to apprenticeships and substantial work placements, such as the new 45-day industry placement requirement, the policy moves beyond superficial compliance and fosters genuine engagement with young talent. At MPB, we have long championed a sustainable talent pipeline, and we view this policy as an essential catalyst for creating meaningful career pathways and closing the skills gap across our industry.’
A Continuous Commitment to Youth and Skills
This latest policy shift validates our proactive approach to industry training, which has been a persistent theme across our recent activities. As highlighted in our recent news updates, MPB remains at the forefront of vocational advocacy. In June, we formally aligned our strategy to champion ‘Earn and Learn’ pathways in response to national skills reform. This initiative directly addresses the urgent need to support the one million young individuals across the United Kingdom currently not in education, employment, or training.
Furthermore, our recent participation in Youth Employment Week and our commemoration of World Youth Skills Day underscore our unwavering dedication to equipping the next generation with vital technical skills. The new procurement rules will reinforce these efforts, ensuring that our ongoing investments in early careers and continuous upskilling remain central to our project delivery model.
Looking Ahead
As we prepare for the implementation of the new procurement guidelines in 2027, MPB remains perfectly positioned to meet and exceed the enhanced social value requirements set by the government. We are committed to leaving every project and community better than we found it, ensuring that our work builds not only robust infrastructure but also a resilient, highly skilled workforce for the future.
