Andy Burnham will instruct companies bidding for public contracts to prioritize job creation over meeting green and social targets, in an effort to address youth unemployment. The new guidelines will require companies to create local jobs paying above the minimum wage, offer training, and provide 45-day work experience placements for young people, with extra credit given for these activities. This change comes as part of a larger overhaul of the £90bn public procurement system, which currently weighs social value at 10% but will be increased to 20% for contracts worth £5m or more. Environmental groups have criticized this shift, arguing that supporting young people into work should not come at the expense of the environment.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Andy Burnham, the leader of Greater Manchester, has told firms bidding for public contracts that they must prioritize creating jobs over meeting environmental and social targets in order to secure government funding. This is part of a broader effort by the government to address the youth unemployment crisis. The £90 billion spent each year through government contracts will now be used to support British jobs, skills, and people in every postcode. Companies bidding for contracts worth over £5 million will have their bid scores doubled if they can demonstrate that they are creating local jobs and opportunities for young people. This change is intended to ensure that businesses "give back" to the community by supporting employment and education initiatives. However, green groups have criticized the plan, arguing that prioritizing job creation over environmental targets could harm the environment. The government's new rules aim to create growth in every postcode, with a focus on addressing local skills shortages.
Written for “UK Climate Policy Review” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article uses words like 'win public contracts' and 'prove they are creating jobs', which suggests a prioritization of economic goals over environmental or social targets, indicating a right-leaning bias. However, the Greenpeace representative's quote is included to provide some balance, reducing the overall leaning score.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score +0.60 for article 473 · logged 2026-08-06
- Published
Andy Burnham will tell firms bidding for public contracts to prove they are creating jobs rather than meeting green and social targets in a bid to get more people into work.
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they → publish → work
The prime minister will overhaul the £90bn public procurement system so bidders have to show they are supporting young people into work and addressing local skills shortages.
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they → overhaul → shortages
It comes as the government seeks to tackle the youth unemployment crisis, with Burnham saying he wants to create "growth in every postcode".
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he → come → postcode
But green groups criticised the plans, arguing supporting young people into work should not come at the expense of the environment.
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supporting → criticise → environment
Companies bidding for government contracts are judged on a range of measures, including value for money and the extent to which they bring benefits to the local community.
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they → bid → community
Under the changes, the weighting given to the benefits brought by companies will be doubled, from 10% to 20% for contracts worth £5m or more, the Cabinet Office said.
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Office → give → contracts
Previously, this accounted for how companies created social value through measures such as equality and diversity, net zero and the post-Covid recovery.
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companies → account → equality
The new 20% measure will instead be based on job creation.
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measure → base → creation
Bidders will be given extra credit for creating local jobs paying above the minimum wage, plugging local skills gaps by offering training and particularly by offering 45-day work experience placements for young people.
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Bidders → give → people
Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show more than a million people aged 16 to 24 are currently not in education, employment or training (Neet).
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people → show → education
Burnham used a similar initiative to oversee a rise in the latter during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester.
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Burnham → use → Manchester
First Secretary of State Louise Haigh — who is effectively Burnham's deputy prime minister — said the procurement process in its current form was a "tick-box exercise".
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process → say → form
"Every pound of taxpayer money should be spent in a way that benefits local communities — creating good jobs and giving young people the skills they need for the future," she said.
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she → spend → future
The new model will apply to both British and international firms bidding for public contracts.
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model → apply → contracts
Haigh said: "These new rules will ensure the £90 billion that is spent each year through government contracts supports British jobs, skills and people in every postcode."
Cabinet Office Minister Mark Ferguson said that businesses who secure government contracts "have a responsibility to give back".
"Businesses that benefit from the billions of taxpayer pounds spent by government, will have to create more local jobs and opportunities for young people in their area," he said.
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he → say → area
But Greenpeace UK's head of politics Ami McCarthy said protecting the environment and helping young people into work are "mutually beneficial and one shouldn't come at a cost to the other".
"Companies should be held to account with environmental targets to help achieve a better future without leaving young workers behind," they added.
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they → say → workers
