The TOMs Framework: How Social Value is Actually Scored
TOMs is the measurement system most councils use to score your social value commitments. Understanding how it works is the difference between vague promises that score 2/5 and specific commitments that score 5/5. Here's everything you need to know.
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What is the TOMs Framework?
TOMs stands for Themes, Outcomes, and Measures. It's a standardised way to measure and compare the social value that suppliers deliver through public sector contracts.
Before TOMs, every council had their own way of evaluating social value. One might want apprenticeships, another might focus on carbon reduction. Suppliers had to guess what each buyer wanted.
The National TOMs framework, created by the Social Value Portal with input from over 30 councils and government bodies, changed that. It provides a common language and measurement system that works across the public sector.
Here's the key insight: TOMs assigns financial proxy values to different activities. An apprenticeship is worth £6,551 per year. A volunteering hour is worth £16.09. This means evaluators can directly compare "we'll create 2 apprenticeships" with "we'll do 400 hours of volunteering" - they can see which delivers more social value per pound spent.
The 5 TOMs Themes Explained
Everything in the TOMs framework falls under one of five themes. Most tenders expect you to address at least 2-3 of these. Here's what each one means in practice.
Theme 1: Jobs
Promote local skills and employment. This is about creating jobs, training opportunities, and helping people who face barriers to employment.
- More local people in employment: Jobs for residents of the contract area
- More opportunities for disadvantaged people: Hiring ex-offenders, long-term unemployed, people with disabilities
- Improved skills for local people: Training, apprenticeships, work placements
| FTE job created for local resident | £25,200/year |
| Apprenticeship created (16-24 NEET) | £6,551/year |
| Work placement for person from disadvantaged group | £1,645/week |
| Hours of training for employees | £101/hour |
Theme 2: Growth
Supporting growth of responsible regional business. This is about local supply chains, prompt payment, and helping SMEs participate in contracts.
- More opportunities for local SMEs: Subcontracting to local businesses
- Improved ethical procurement: Fair payment terms, Living Wage
- Stronger local economy: Spending in the contract area
| Spend with local SME suppliers (£) | £0.15/£1 spent |
| Spend in contract area (local economic benefit) | £0.12/£1 spent |
| Prompt payment (30 days or less) | Qualitative |
| Support for social enterprises (£ spent) | £0.27/£1 spent |
Theme 3: Social
Healthier, safer and more resilient communities. This covers volunteering, community support, and initiatives that improve local wellbeing.
- Crime reduced: Initiatives that improve community safety
- Better health: Support for mental and physical health
- Stronger communities: Volunteering, donations, local engagement
| Staff volunteering hours (standard) | £16.09/hour |
| Expert volunteering hours (professional skills) | £101/hour |
| Donations to local VCSEs (cash or in-kind) | £1/£1 |
| Equipment or resources donated | £1/£1 value |
Theme 4: Environment
Decarbonising and safeguarding our world. This covers carbon reduction, waste management, sustainable practices, and biodiversity.
- Carbon emissions reduced: Lower travel emissions, energy efficiency
- Air quality improved: Electric vehicles, reduced pollution
- Resource efficiency: Waste reduction, recycling, circular economy
| CO2 emissions saved (tonnes) | £70/tonne |
| Waste diverted from landfill (tonnes) | £100/tonne |
| Car miles saved (travel reduction) | £0.12/mile |
| Certified sustainable materials used (£) | Qualitative |
Theme 5: Innovation
Promoting social innovation. This covers new approaches, knowledge sharing, and supporting the development of better solutions.
- Social innovation: New approaches to social challenges
- Knowledge sharing: Open data, collaboration, learning
- Market development: Helping new solutions reach scale
Theme 5 is less commonly used by SME tradespeople as it focuses on R&D and innovation. Most SMEs should focus on Themes 1-4 unless the tender specifically asks about innovation.
How to Calculate Your Social Value
Some tenders ask you to quantify your social value in pounds. This sounds complicated, but it's just multiplying your commitments by the proxy values.
Example Calculation: £80,000 Cleaning Contract
| Commitment | Measure | Proxy Value | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hire 2 local cleaners | 2 FTE jobs | £25,200 × 2 | £50,400 |
| 60% spend with local suppliers | £48,000 | × £0.12 | £5,760 |
| 48 hours volunteering | 48 hours | × £16.09 | £772 |
| Switch to electric van | 2t CO2/year saved | × £70 | £140 |
| Total Social Value | £57,072 | ||
That's 71% of contract value in social value - well above the 15-20% typically expected. This would score highly.
Be realistic. Evaluators will check if your numbers make sense. If you're claiming £100,000 social value on a £50,000 contract, they'll question whether you can actually deliver. Aim for 15-25% of contract value as a credible target.
Writing TOMs-Aligned Responses
Evaluators using TOMs are looking for specific things. Here's how to structure your response to give them exactly what they need.
The SMART Formula
Every commitment should be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
"We will support local employment by hiring staff from the area and providing training opportunities to develop their skills."
"We will recruit 2 cleaning operatives from [Borough] within 3 months of contract start, prioritising candidates from [Local Employment Programme]. Each will receive 16 hours of BICSc training in Year 1."
Response Structure That Scores
For each TOMs theme you address, follow this structure:
- 1. State the commitment - What exactly you will do
- 2. Quantify it - Numbers, values, percentages
- 3. Set the timeline - When it will happen
- 4. Name the location - Borough, council area, region
- 5. Explain measurement - How you'll track and report it
Full Response Example
"Our social value commitments for this contract are:
Jobs (Theme 1): We will create 1 apprenticeship position for a [Borough] resident aged 16-24 within 6 months of contract start. The apprentice will complete a Level 2 NVQ in Cleaning and Support Services over 18 months, with guaranteed employment on completion. This generates £9,826 in social value (18 months × £6,551 annual proxy ÷ 12 months).
Growth (Theme 2): We commit to sourcing 70% of cleaning supplies from suppliers within 30 miles of [Location], with priority to SMEs. Based on projected annual spend of £12,000, this delivers £1,260 local economic value (£12,000 × 70% × £0.15 proxy). All invoices will be paid within 21 days.
Social (Theme 3): Our team will deliver 40 hours of volunteering annually to [Local Charity], focusing on deep-cleaning community spaces. This provides £643 in social value (40 × £16.09 proxy).
Environment (Theme 4): We will transition our service vehicle to electric within 12 months, eliminating approximately 1.8 tonnes of CO2 annually. We will use only eco-certified cleaning products meeting EU Ecolabel standards. Carbon value: £126 (1.8t × £70 proxy).
Total quantified social value: £11,855
We will report progress quarterly using the Social Value Portal measurement framework, with evidence including apprenticeship records, supplier invoices, and volunteering logs."
Writing social value responses takes time. MyBidTeam generates TOMs-aligned commitments specific to your business and the contract you're bidding on.
Common TOMs Mistakes
Local vs National TOMs
While the National TOMs framework is the standard, many councils have developed local versions that add measures relevant to their area.
For example, a coastal council might add measures around marine conservation. An urban council might prioritise air quality improvements. A council with high youth unemployment might weight Theme 1 more heavily.
Always check the tender documents for:
- Any mention of local TOMs or local social value framework
- Priority themes specified in the evaluation criteria
- Local strategies or plans referenced (e.g., "aligns with our Climate Action Plan")
When in doubt, the National TOMs themes are always safe to use. But tailoring to local priorities can give you an edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all councils use TOMs?
Most do, but some use variations. NHS organisations use the NHS Social Value Model which has similar but not identical themes. Always check the tender documents to see which framework applies.
Where can I find the full list of measures?
The Social Value Portal publishes the full National TOMs framework annually. It's free to download and includes all measures, proxy values, and guidance. Search "National TOMs framework" to find the latest version.
What if I can't calculate proxy values?
If the tender doesn't specifically ask for quantified social value, you can skip the maths. Focus on specific, measurable commitments instead. Numbers are still important (e.g., "2 apprenticeships" vs "some apprenticeships") even without proxy calculations.
How often do proxy values change?
The National TOMs are updated annually, usually in January/February. Changes are typically small adjustments for inflation. Major methodology changes are rare. The structure and themes remain consistent year to year.
Can I use measures from multiple themes?
Yes - evaluators expect you to address multiple themes. A well-rounded response typically covers 3-4 themes with 1-2 specific commitments in each. Covering all five themes isn't necessary unless the tender asks for it.
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