Examining social procurement policy: progress, gaps and future directions

This study examines construction social procurement policy in Wales, one of the nations of the UK, through the lens of Bacchi's 'What's the Problem Represented to Be' (WPR) approach, based on the Foucauldian concept of governmentality. The research examines key policy documents from 2010 to 2023 including the groundbreaking Well-Being of Future Generations Act, which requires public bodies to consider the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of current and future generations. The policy analysis reveals that while Wales has taken progressive steps in social procurement, there are significant gaps between policy aspirations and implementation. The findings show tensions between top-down policy approaches, such as the Welsh Government's social partnership approach, where it has not been made clear how these arrangements include construction industry expertise and consider the needs of local communities. A focus on wellbeing goals could be used toachieve social value, share learning, and drive improvement. However, areas requiring attention are also identified, including improved community engagement mechanisms and the need to consider the capacity of the construction industry to deliver socially responsible public procurement.