Policy paper

DfE voluntary, community and social enterprises action plan

How the Department for Education (DfE) is improving procurement opportunities for voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs).

From:
Department for Education
Published
25 March 2026

Applies to England

Documents

DfE voluntary, community and social enterprises action plan: 2025 to 2026

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Details

This document is the first iteration of a plan to create a foundation of best practice to be adopted. It will support the DfE missions and bring social value into public procurement.

It sets out how we are reducing the barriers to VCSE engagement and participation in procurement opportunities by improving:

  • DfE awareness of the VCSE sector and the barriers it faces

  • VCSE understanding of opportunities to bid for DfE contracts

  • the accuracy of data about VCSEs within DfE supply chains

  • the accessibility of the bidding process, so VCSEs are confident about tendering

Updates to this page

Published 25 March 2026

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