Articles

How Councils Score Leadership & Governance in Social Care Tenders — What Providers Must Get Right in 2026

Leadership and governance is one of the highest-weighted sections in modern social care tenders — yet often the weakest. Here’s what councils actually score, and how providers can strengthen responses...

December Isn’t a Quiet Month: Why Social Care Providers Should Get Tender-Ready for Q1 2026

Many providers treat December as downtime, but commissioners don’t. Here’s how adult social care organisations can use the last weeks of the year to get genuinely tender-ready for Q1 2026.

What Autumn Budget 2025 Really Means for Social Care Providers — And How to Prepare for the 2026 Tender Reset

The Autumn Budget 2025 offered no new dedicated funding for adult social care — creating a high-pressure, high-opportunity environment for providers. Here’s what the funding gap means for 2026 tenders,...

What Commissioners Will Be Looking for in High-Scoring Bids in 2026–2027

With a major recommissioning cycle ahead, councils and ICBs are tightening expectations for adult social care tenders. This guide explains what commissioners will expect from high-scoring bids in 2026–2027 —...

How Commissioners Are Preparing for the 2026–2027 Social Care Recommissioning Cycle

A behind-the-scenes look at how councils and ICBs are preparing for the 2026–2027 adult social care recommissioning cycle — and what providers can do now to align with emerging priorities,...

How to Prepare Your Organisation for the 2026–2027 Social Care Tender Surge

A practical guide for providers on how to prepare for the wave of adult social care tenders expected in 2026–2027 — from bid library readiness to workforce planning, governance, partnerships...

How to Read a Social Care Tender Pipeline Strategically (2026–2029)

A practical guide for adult social care providers on how to use tender pipelines strategically – to prioritise regions, time resourcing, and prepare for the 2026–2029 recommissioning wave.

Why So Many Adult Social Care Tenders Are Coming in 2026–2027 (and How to Prepare Now)

Many adult social care frameworks were let before or during Covid and then extended multiple times. Now, with the Procurement Act and delayed recommissioning cycles converging, 2026–2027 is shaping up...

Why Providers Will Lose Points in 2026 Without a KPI Evidence Strategy — and How to Fix It Now

From 2026, providers won’t lose tenders because of poor delivery — they’ll lose because they can’t prove what they deliver. With MAT scoring tightening under the Procurement Act 2023, KPI...

Bid Libraries that Win Under MAT: How NHS and Social Care Providers Can Get Tender-Ready for 2026

As Procurement Act 2023 and Most Advantageous Tender (MAT) scoring bed in, recycled bid answers and messy libraries are becoming a real liability. This article explains how NHS and social...

The Tender Within the Tender: How Leadership Tone Shapes Commissioner Confidence

Commissioners don’t just read your bid for answers — they read it for confidence. This article explores how tone, phrasing and narrative voice reveal leadership quality, showing how to write...

Governance That Scores: Turning Policies Into Proof in Social Care Bids

Governance isn’t paperwork — it’s proof that you’re in control. This guide explains how to turn policies into visible assurance, show learning and oversight, and write governance answers that commissioners...

Co-Production in Governance and Quality Assurance

Co-production isn’t just about service design — it belongs in governance and quality assurance too. This blog explores how to embed lived experience at board and QA levels to improve...

Social Care Mini-Series — Tendering, Safeguarding & Person-Centred Practice

A growing collection of complete 7-part mini-series exploring social care tenders, safeguarding, person-centred planning, outcomes, reablement, and more — designed to strengthen your bids and inspection evidence.

How to Embed Governance in Every Tender Section (Not Just One)

Governance isn’t a standalone box. The best tenders show leadership, oversight, and compliance throughout — here’s how.

Governance Templates That Strengthen Your Tender Submissions

Commissioners want to see your governance — not just hear about it. Here are the downloadable documents that can give your bid a competitive edge.

How to Evidence Leadership and Accountability in Tenders

Governance means leadership — but not just titles. Here’s how to evidence real accountability in your social care tender responses.

What Does Good Governance Look Like in a Tender Response?

Governance isn’t just a buzzword. In tenders, it’s how you prove your service is safe, well-run, and accountable — here’s how to describe it effectively.

Governance Questions in Tenders: What They’re Really Asking

When a tender asks about governance, they’re not just checking boxes. They’re asking: “Can we trust you?” Here’s how to answer with confidence.

How to Evidence Good Governance in Social Care Tenders

Governance isn’t just a section in your bid — it’s what gives your entire submission credibility. Here’s how to show it clearly and confidently.

How to Strengthen Your Tender Responses With a Clear Governance Narrative

Governance matters — and in social care tenders, it can be the difference between scoring well and missing out. Here’s how to get it right.