UK Businesses Urged to Prioritize Diversity and Net Zero to Secure Government Contracts

[Social Media]

 

New procurement guidelines from the government have advised businesses to align with net zero and diversity objectives if they wish to secure public contracts. However, critics argue that these policies prioritize ideology over economic efficiency, calling them examples of "eco-zealotry" and "woke virtue signaling."  

 

The recently published guide encourages firms bidding for government work to demonstrate their contributions to Sir Keir Starmer’s “five missions” and their commitment to delivering “social value.” Companies are expected to outline how they will enhance “community cohesion,” eliminate barriers for underrepresented groups and young people, and support the transition to net zero when executing government projects. Additionally, businesses must show efforts toward “creating opportunities in areas of deprivation” and upholding the “highest standards” of “environmental sustainability.”  

 

The updated National Procurement Policy Statement replaces a previous guide developed under the Conservative government as part of the Procurement Act 2023. Unlike the new guidelines, the prior version did not reference net zero and discouraged excessive diversity reporting requirements for companies competing for public contracts. The new directive also encourages government departments to allocate more resources to charities and NGOs in an effort to enhance "social value."  

 

Critics argue that these changes undermine financial prudence. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, former business secretary, remarked, “The intention of the Procurement Act 2023 was to maximize value for money for taxpayers. When the public finances are under such strain, trying to use it for woke virtue signaling is especially foolish and potentially unlawful.”  

 

Echoing these concerns, Andrew Bowie, shadow Scottish secretary, criticized the move, stating, “It seems this government is more concerned with their eco-zealotry than delivering value for money for the taxpayer. By enforcing these mad targets on companies, the British public will face higher bills and worse services—just to fuel Ed Miliband’s own ego and ideology. After their disastrous Budget, the Government should be prioritizing value for money over eco-zealotry rather than taking another step in the wrong direction and lumbering costs on taxpayers.”  

 

Lord Kempsell, founder of the anti-waste organization UK DOGE, warned that the new procurement rules could lead to unnecessary red tape, potentially delaying essential projects. “It may be well-intentioned, but this kind of overly bureaucratic layering will slow down vital procurement and just backfire. It shows why we need UK DOGE right now—the crack team is ready to go, Labour should call us at once.”  

 

The Conservative government had reformed procurement in 2023 through the Procurement Act, aiming to simplify and increase transparency in the process. The introduction of these new guidelines, however, has reignited debate over whether government contracting should focus on broader social and environmental objectives or remain strictly centered on financial efficiency and value for taxpayers.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2025-02-25

 

 

[Snackbar]

Form filling and box ticking

 

In this day and age. Prehistoric 

[Chomper Higgot]

This from the CBI:

 

“Think going green is just a nice idea? Think again. The net zero economy has become a powerhouse of job creation and economic expansion with 10.1% growth in the total economic value supported by the net zero economy since 2023. In 2024, there were 22,800 net zero businesses, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) making up 94% of the sector. Together, these businesses have pumped £28.8 billion into the economy - 0.82 billion less than the entire size of Wales's economy. They also support 273,000 full-time jobs, outpacing employment in the telecommunications industry.”

 

https://www.cbi.org.uk/articles/growth-and-innovation-in-the-uk-s-net-zero-economy/

[impulse]

39 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This from the CBI:

 

“Think going green is just a nice idea? Think again. The net zero economy has become a powerhouse of job creation and economic expansion with 10.1% growth in the total economic value supported by the net zero economy since 2023. In 2024, there were 22,800 net zero businesses, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) making up 94% of the sector. Together, these businesses have pumped £28.8 billion into the economy - 0.82 billion less than the entire size of Wales's economy. They also support 273,000 full-time jobs, outpacing employment in the telecommunications industry.”

 

https://www.cbi.org.uk/articles/growth-and-innovation-in-the-uk-s-net-zero-economy/

 

That's only one side of the ledger.  How much have they cost on the other side?  How many jobs have been sacrificed to high energy costs?  How much GDP has not been realized?  How many exports haven't sailed because of the higher costs?  How many people will literally die this winter because they can't afford the heat?

 

[Chomper Higgot]

54 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

That's only one side of the ledger.  How much have they cost on the other side?  How many jobs have been sacrificed to high energy costs?  How much GDP has not been realized?  How many exports haven't sailed because of the higher costs?  How many people will literally die this winter because they can't afford the heat?

 

It’s for you produce the links.

 

I look forward to reading them.

 

If anyone is going to die of the cold this winter they need to get a move on, it’s late February already.

[JonnyF]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

Echoing these concerns, Andrew Bowie, shadow Scottish secretary, criticized the move, stating, “It seems this government is more concerned with their eco-zealotry than delivering value for money for the taxpayer. By enforcing these mad targets on companies, the British public will face higher bills and worse services—just to fuel Ed Miliband’s own ego and ideology. After their disastrous Budget, the Government should be prioritizing value for money over eco-zealotry rather than taking another step in the wrong direction and lumbering costs on taxpayers.”  

 

Couldn't have said it better myself.

 

On the plus side, Labour are just ensuring they are a one term government. They're so bad they might well be the last ever Labour government. Let's hope so. 

[Bkk Brian]

47 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s for you produce the links.

 

I look forward to reading them.

 

If anyone is going to die of the cold this winter they need to get a move on, it’s late February already.

That's a pretty sick comment. Thousands of old people die in the UK from cold homes each year, the question is how many more are going to die this year because of labours winter fuel raid. Stats for that won't be known for months yet.

[Mike_Hunt]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This from the CBI:

 

“Think going green is just a nice idea? Think again. The net zero economy has become a powerhouse of job creation and economic expansion with 10.1% growth in the total economic value supported by the net zero economy since 2023. In 2024, there were 22,800 net zero businesses, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) making up 94% of the sector. Together, these businesses have pumped £28.8 billion into the economy - 0.82 billion less than the entire size of Wales's economy. They also support 273,000 full-time jobs, outpacing employment in the telecommunications industry.”

 

https://www.cbi.org.uk/articles/growth-and-innovation-in-the-uk-s-net-zero-economy/

I’d wager the majorly of these business are not net zero. 

[JonnyF]

59 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

If anyone is going to die of the cold this winter they need to get a move on, it’s late February already.

 

Typically nasty comment that sums up the disdain that Labour supporters have for the poor and elderly.   

[Chomper Higgot]

30 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

I’d wager the majorly of these business are not net zero. 

You do understand the difference between a nation being net zero and individual businesses being net zero?

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Typically nasty comment that sums up the disdain that Labour supporters have for the poor and elderly.   

Nah, not nasty Jonny.

 

Just making an obvious statement that undermines the grandstanding you and others partake of in misrepresenting means testing of winter fuels allowance.

 

The poor and elderly poor still get the help they need.

 

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Nah, not nasty Jonny.

 

Just making an obvious statement that undermines the grandstanding you and others partake of in misrepresenting means testing of winter fuels allowance.

 

The poor and elderly poor still get the help they need.

 

Too late, can't crawl out of that one. You made an abhorrent statement and it shows exactly what you are.

 

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s for you produce the links.

 

I look forward to reading them.

 

If anyone is going to die of the cold this winter they need to get a move on, it’s late February already.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

So businesses in the renewable energy sector are booming, out preforming the rest of the economy by a wide margin.

 

Consumer confidence is up, there hasn’t been the predicted job losses and pensioners haven’t been dying of cold due to the winter fuel allowance having been means tested.

 

It’s not good news for the doom mongers trying to talk the UK down.

[JonnyF]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Nah, not nasty Jonny.

 

A truly horrible comment. The #bekind mask appears to have slipped yet again. 

 

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

 

The poor and elderly poor still get the help they need.

 

No they don't. Labour removed the fuel allowance. The cutoff threshold is only 12,000 pounds per year. People getting 13,000 are still poor by any definition. Old, vulnerable people are left with the choice of eating or turning on the heating. I'm glad you find that amusing though. 

 

[Mike_Hunt]

15 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You do understand the difference between a nation being net zero and individual businesses being net zero?

Net zero is a farce.   Only non thinking clowns believe these business are net zero. 

[baansgr]

Good luck with that

[Mike_Hunt]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

So businesses in the renewable energy sector are booming, out preforming the rest of the economy by a wide margin.

 

Consumer confidence is up, there hasn’t been the predicted job losses and pensioners haven’t been dying of cold due to the winter fuel allowance having been means tested.

 

It’s not good news for the doom mongers trying to talk the UK down.

https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2025/uk-consumer-confidence-down-five-points-to-22-in-january/

[Chomper Higgot]

14 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

A truly horrible comment. The #bekind mask appears to have slipped yet again. 

 

 

No they don't. Labour removed the fuel allowance. The cutoff threshold is only 12,000 pounds per year. People getting 13,000 are still poor by any definition. Old, vulnerable people are left with the choice of eating or turning on the heating. I'm glad you find that amusing though. 

 

Jonny.

 

People on an income of £13000 per year are only poor if it doesn’t cover their cost of living.

 

As you know pensioners receive multiple streams of income supplements that are not included in actual cash income, your ‘poor by any definition’ is stretch.

 

You’ve claimed multiple times that means testing the winter fuel allowance would result in pensioner deaths.

 

Its late February, do you have any evidence of pensioners dying as a result of the winter fuels payments being means tested?

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

Net zero is a farce.   Only non thinking clowns believe these business are net zero. 

Thank you for your considered opinion,

 

Its nevertheless driving growth and creating jobs.

[Bkk Brian]

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

A truly horrible comment. The #bekind mask appears to have slipped yet again. 

 

Quite. Truly shocking.

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, Mike_Hunt said:

https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2025/uk-consumer-confidence-down-five-points-to-22-in-january/

And now on its way back up again in February:

 

https://nielseniq.com/global/en/news-center/2025/consumer-confidence-up-two-points-in-february/