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ARTICLE · 21 AUGUST 2026

UK Government Procurement Reforms: Implications For Trade Union Workplace Access

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The UK Government has introduced new public procurement rules that double the weighting of social value criteria to 20% for contracts over £5 million, with trade union access and representation now explicitly factored into bid evaluations. This development creates a commercial incentive for employers to engage with unions, working in tandem with the Employment Rights Act 2025's new workplace access regime. Employers bidding for government contracts must now consider union relations not just as a compli

United KingdomEmployment and HR
Gordon Bartlett
Gordon Bartlett
Sheila Fahy
Sheila Fahy
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The UK Government has announced a significant change to public procurement rules that may have the effect of incentivising employers bidding for or renewing government contracts to recognise trade unions or grant them access to their workplaces. The move adds a commercial dimension to the new trade union reforms and workplace access regime under the Employment Rights Act 2025.

What has been announced?

Under new guidance published by the Cabinet Office, the weighting given to "social value” when evaluating bids for central government contracts worth more than GBP5 million will double from 10% to 20% . Companies bidding for those contracts will be assessed on whether they demonstrate “fair working conditions” and “fair pay”, and providing “access to trade union representation” is expressly identified as a factor that can attract higher scores.

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