Tool 3
PPN 026 evaluation tool
Twelve questions across the two PPN 026 pillars, Good Jobs and Skills. You get a score for each pillar and an indicative bid readiness band ahead of the 1 January 2027 shift.
Score yourself against the two pillars
Good Jobs
Local employment in every postcode
Do you recruit and report on hires from the communities where the contract is delivered?
Fair pay and secure work
Can you evidence fair pay, secure hours and good working conditions across your delivery teams?
Opportunity for people facing barriers
Do you create routes into work for people who face barriers to employment?
Supply chain and small business access
Do you open your supply chain to small, local and diverse businesses on contracts you win?
Enforceable commitments
Are your employment commitments written as measurable KPIs you can be held to after award?
Evidence and reporting
Do you report employment outcomes to clients on a regular, auditable cycle?
Skills
Training and upskilling
Do you fund structured training that measurably raises skill levels, not just attendance?
Apprenticeships and entry routes
Do you offer apprenticeships, traineeships or equivalent entry routes on your contracts?
Enterprise and self-employment
Do you support people into enterprise or self-employment, for example funded start-up places?
Education and outreach
Do you work with schools, colleges or community groups in the delivery area?
Credible delivery partners
Do you have named delivery partners who can evidence skills outcomes on your behalf?
Outcome measurement
Can you measure and value the skills outcomes you deliver in a way a buyer would accept?
Answer all 12 questions to see your score.
Read the background first
PPN 026 replaces PPN 002 from 1 January 2027, narrowing the model to two outcomes and six model award criteria, with a 10 per cent weighting up to £5m and a mandatory 20 per cent above it.
What PPN 026 changes