METCLOUD

METCLOUD Sovereign Cloud

METCLOUD Sovereign Cloud delivers secure, UK-based Infrastructure and Platform as a Service. Designed for regulated sectors, it ensures data sovereignty, robust compliance, and rapid scalability. Our award-winning platform combines advanced AI-driven security, expert support, and seamless integration, empowering organisations to operate confidently within strict regulatory and security frameworks.

Features

• UK-sovereign cloud hosting (data residency and sovereignty assured)
• Rapid deployment and elastic scalability
• Advanced AI-powered threat detection and response
• ISO 27001:2022 and Cyber Essentials Plus certified environment
• Real-time security monitoring and reporting
• Multi-tenant and dedicated tenancy options
• Seamless migration and onboarding assistance
• Comprehensive backup and disaster recovery
• Encrypted data storage and secure data transfer
• Security Cleared Staff

Benefits

• Protect sensitive data with robust, UK-compliant security controls
• Accelerate digital transformation with scalable cloud infrastructure
• Minimise risk and downtime through proactive threat management
• Achieve compliance with government and regulated sector standards
• Quickly adapt to changing business needs with flexible resources
• Enhance operational efficiency with automated workflows
• Empower teams to work securely from anywhere
• Reduce IT overheads and management burden
• Access expert guidance and support at every stage
• Optimise cloud spending with transparent usage analytics and cost controls

• Education pricing available

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at ian.vickers@metcloud.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 15

Service ID

200749291144033

Contact

Ian Vickers
0121 227 0730
ian.vickers@metcloud.com

About your service

• Service categories:

  IaaS

  IaaS Compute

  • Bare metal

  Virtualised x86

  • General purpose
  • Compute optimised
  • Memory optimised

  Accelerated

  • GPUs

Service scope

• Service constraints: Planned maintenance may require brief, scheduled downtime, notifications are provided in advance.; ; Service availability and performance are dependent on customer internet connectivity.; ; Support is provided for approved hardware, operating systems, and configurations only.; ; Certain legacy applications or unsupported third-party integrations may have limited compatibility.; ; Data residency is limited to UK-based data centres.; ; Resource provisioning and scaling are subject to agreed service limits.
• System requirements:
  • Reliable internet connection for cloud platform access
  • Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS
  • Approved endpoint security/anti-virus software installed
  • Supported hardware for virtual machine deployment
  • Valid software licences for any third-party integrations
• Cloud deployment model:
  • Private cloud
  • Hybrid cloud

User support

• Email or online ticketing support: Yes
• Support response times: P1 (Critical); Response: within 20 minutes; P2 (High); Response: within 90 minutes; P3 (Medium); Response: within 5 hours; P4 (Low); Response: within 8 hours
• User can manage status and priority of support tickets: Yes
• Online ticketing support accessibility: WCAG 2.2 AA
• Phone support: Yes
• Phone support availability: 9 to 5 (UK time), 7 days a week
• Web chat support: No
• Onsite support: Yes, at extra cost
• Support levels: METCLOUD delivers a comprehensive range of support services designed to meet diverse client needs. ; ; All customers receive UK-based Service Desk support, accessible via phone, email, and an online portal. Incidents and requests are prioritised (P1–P4) with clearly defined response and resolution SLAs, ensuring rapid and effective assistance for business-critical issues. Standard support is included in the core service fee, with no additional cost.; ; For organisations requiring enhanced support, we offer an optional package that includes a dedicated Technical Account Manager (TAM) or Cloud Support Engineer. This enhanced service provides a single point of contact for service management, proactive reviews, tailored reporting, and direct escalation to senior technical experts. ; ; The TAM or Cloud Support Engineer delivers strategic guidance and ensures continuous service improvement. ; ; Enhanced support packages are bespoke and priced according to customer requirements, ensuring flexibility and value for organisations with specific needs.; ; Our support model ensures all customers benefit from robust, responsive assistance, while those with complex or regulated environments can access dedicated expertise and proactive engagement. Pricing for enhanced support is available on request, with service arrangements tailored to each client’s operational and compliance requirements.
• Support available to third parties: Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

• Getting started: To ensure a seamless start with METCLOUD Sovereign Cloud, onboarding is fully guided by our expert team from both technical and customer success perspectives. ; ; Each new customer benefits from:; -A dedicated onboarding manager to coordinate the process; -Personalised guidance through setup, configuration, and best practices; -Technical onboarding sessions tailored to the client’s environment and objectives; -Step-by-step support for integration, migration, and account provisioning; -Access to comprehensive user documentation and knowledge base; -Ongoing assistance from our Service Desk for any queries; -Optional follow-up sessions to address evolving requirements; ; This collaborative approach ensures customers are supported throughout onboarding, enabling rapid adoption and maximising the value of our Sovereign Cloud platform from day one.
• Service documentation: Yes
• Documentation formats:
  • HTML
  • PDF
• End-of-contract data extraction: When a contract ends, users have flexible options for data extraction. Depending on the systems in use and customer requirements, METCLOUD can assist with secure data extraction through our professional services team, ensuring all data is transferred safely and in the required format. ; ; Alternatively, if a third party is responsible for extraction, we provide secure access and support to facilitate their process. This approach ensures clients retain full control over their data and can complete offboarding efficiently, with guidance available as needed.
• End-of-contract process: At the end of the contract, METCLOUD works closely with the customer to ensure a smooth and secure transition. ; ; Included in the contract price are:; -Advance notice of contract end and clear communication of offboarding timelines; -Secure access for data extraction by the customer or an authorised third party; -Removal of user access and decommissioning of services in line with security best practices; -Final account review and closure, including confirmation of data deletion as required; ; Additional Costs; -Professional services for complex data extraction, migration, or extended support beyond standard offboarding; -Custom documentation or consultancy not covered within the standard scope; -Any bespoke technical assistance requested outside the agreed contract deliverables; ; This approach ensures transparency, compliance, and flexibility for every customer at contract end.
• Documentation accessibility standard: None or don’t know
• How the documentation is accessible: Onboarding and offboarding documentation is delivered through our consultancy and professional services, ensuring all materials are tailored to each customer’s specific needs and requirements.; ; Documentation is provided in accessible digital formats, designed for clarity and ease of use. Our team ensures that all guidance, checklists, and process documents are customised, up-to-date, and directly relevant to the customer’s environment. Support is available throughout the process to address any questions and ensure a smooth transition.

Using the service

• Web browser interface: No
• API: No
• Command line interface: No

Scaling

• Independence of resources: METCLOUD guarantees the independence of resources by using logically and physically isolated environments for each customer. ; ; Dedicated resource pools, such as compute, storage, and network are allocated to each client, ensuring their performance is not impacted by the activity or demand of other users. ; ; Advanced multi-tenancy controls and strict quality-of-service policies are in place to prevent resource contention. Continuous monitoring and proactive capacity management further ensure that each customer’s service remains stable, secure, and unaffected by other workloads on the platform.; ; If additional resources are required, we can provision and expand infrastructure quickly and as a priority.
• Usage notifications: Yes
• Usage reporting: Email
• Optimising consumption: Yes
• Automatic scaling: No

Analytics

• Infrastructure or application metrics: Yes
• Metrics types:
  • CPU
  • Disk
  • HTTP request and response status
  • Memory
  • Network
  • Number of active instances
• Reporting types:
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports
  • Reports on request
• Resource tagging: Yes
• FOCUS resource tagging: Yes

Resellers

• Supplier type: Not a reseller

Staff security

• Staff security clearance: Conforms to BS7858:2019
• Government security clearance: Security Clearance (SC)

Asset protection

• Knowledge of data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Data storage and processing locations: United Kingdom
• User control over data storage and processing locations: Yes
• Datacentre security standards: Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 4.0)
• Penetration testing frequency: At least once a year
• Penetration testing approach: ‘IT Health Check’ performed by a CREST-approved service provider
• Protecting data at rest:
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v4.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
  • Encryption of all physical media
• Data sanitisation process: Yes
• Equipment disposal approach: Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001
• Data sanitisation type:
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed / Cryptographic Erasure
  • Data Erasure
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation / Secure Erase
  • Physical Destruction / Hardware containing data is completely destroyed

Backup and recovery

• What’s backed up:
  • Virtual Machines
  • Databases
  • Microsoft 365
  • Files
  • Application Data
  • Complete Systems
  • Client Devices (Laptops, Desktops)
• Backup controls: Clients have full control over their backup configurations. They can choose which files, virtual machines, databases, or application data to back up, and assign custom backup schedules to meet specific operational requirements. Different data types or systems can be backed up independently on separate schedules.; ; All configuration and management are performed through a secure management portal, with expert support available from our technical team for setup, changes, or troubleshooting.; ; Backups can be configured for sovereign replication within UK data centres or, alternatively, securely offloaded to cloud storage to align with 3-2-1 best practice standards.
• Datacentre setup: Multiple datacentres with disaster recovery
• Scheduling backups: Supplier controls the whole backup schedule
• Backup recovery: Users contact the support team
• Backup and recovery: Yes
• RPO/RTO: Yes

Data-in-transit protection

• Data protection between buyer and supplier networks:
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
• Data protection within supplier network:
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway

Availability and resilience

• Guaranteed availability: METCLOUD guarantees a service availability level of 99.9% per calendar month, backed by a formal Service Level Agreement (SLA). This SLA covers core platform uptime, ensuring that users have reliable access to services at all times.; ; If the guaranteed availability level is not met, affected customers are eligible for service credits as a form of refund. Service credits are calculated based on the duration and impact of the outage, and are applied to the next billing cycle. ; ; Full details of the refund process, including eligibility and calculation methods, are outlined in the contract and schedule of services.; ; This approach ensures transparency, accountability, and a strong commitment to maintaining high service standards for all users.
• Approach to resilience: METCLOUD’s service is designed with resilience as a core principle. ; ; Our infrastructure is hosted in Tier 3, ISO 27001-certified UK data centres, featuring redundant power, cooling, and network connectivity to ensure continuous operation even in the event of hardware or environmental failure. ; ; Data is replicated across multiple secure locations, supporting rapid recovery and minimising the risk of data loss.; ; We employ high-availability architecture for critical systems, with automated failover and regular testing of disaster recovery procedures.; ; Continuous monitoring and proactive capacity management further strengthen our approach to resilience.; ; Detailed information on our resilience measures and data centre setup is available on request for customers with specific compliance or security requirements.
• Outage reporting: Service outages are reported primarily through direct email notifications to affected customers, ensuring timely and clear communication. ; ; Where appropriate, we may also use social media channels to provide broader updates. ; ; All notifications include details of the issue, expected resolution times, and ongoing status updates until full service is restored. This approach ensures customers are kept informed throughout any service disruption.

Identity and authentication

• User authentication needed: Yes
• User authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels: Access to management interfaces and support channels is tightly controlled through both network isolation and role-based access controls. Management interfaces are segregated from general user networks, ensuring only authorised personnel can connect. User access is further restricted based on defined roles and responsibilities, so individuals can only view or manage resources relevant to their role. All access attempts are logged and regularly reviewed. This layered approach ensures that sensitive management functions and support interactions remain secure and limited to approved users only.
• Access restriction testing frequency: At least once a year
• Management access authentication:
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
• Devices users manage the service through:
  • Dedicated device on a segregated network (providers own provision)
  • Dedicated device over multiple services or networks
  • Any device but through a bastion host (a bastion host is a server that provides access to a private network from an external network such as the internet)

Audit information for users

• Access to user activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long user audit data is stored for: User-defined
• Access to supplier activity audit information: Users contact the support team to get audit information
• How long supplier audit data is stored for: At least 12 months
• How long system logs are stored for: User-defined

Security governance

• Named board-level person responsible for service security: Yes
• Security governance certified: Yes
• Security governance standards:
  • CSA CSM version 4.0
  • ISO/IEC 27001
• Information security policies and processes: METCLOUD operates under comprehensive information security policies and processes aligned with industry best practices and regulatory standards. We are ISO 27001:2022 certified, which governs our approach to risk management, data protection, and continual improvement. Our policies cover access control, data handling, incident management, vulnerability management, and regular staff training.; ; Security processes include:; -Regular risk assessments and security reviews; -Strict access controls and multi-factor authentication; -Continuous monitoring and logging of systems; -Prompt patching and vulnerability remediation; -Incident response procedures with defined escalation paths; -Annual policy reviews and updates; ; All staff receive ongoing security awareness training. Our commitment to compliance is supported by regular external audits and adherence to frameworks such as Cyber Essentials Plus. Detailed policy documentation and evidence of compliance are available on request.

Operational security

• Configuration and change management standard: Supplier-defined controls
• Configuration and change management approach: METCLOUD manages configuration and change through a centralised configuration management database (CMDB), tracking all service components throughout their lifecycle for full visibility and traceability. All change requests undergo formal review, including risk and security impact assessment, before approval. Standard and emergency changes follow defined workflows with clear documentation and audit trails. Post-change reviews ensure successful implementation and address any issues. Regular audits and monitoring confirm that changes align with security policies and compliance requirements, minimising risk and maintaining operational integrity. This structured approach ensures secure, controlled service evolution and consistent compliance with industry standards.
• Vulnerability management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Vulnerability management approach: METCLOUD’s vulnerability management process is aligned with ISO 27001:2022 and Cyber Essentials Plus. We continuously assess potential threats through automated vulnerability scanning, regular penetration testing, and threat intelligence feeds from reputable industry sources (such as NCSC, vendors, and security partners). ; ; When a vulnerability is identified, we assess its risk and potential impact on services. High-priority security patches are deployed within 24 hours; lower-risk patches are applied according to defined schedules. All actions are documented and tracked. Our approach ensures rapid response, minimises risk, and maintains compliance with leading security standards.
• Protective monitoring type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v4.0 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Protective monitoring approach: METCLOUD’s protective monitoring processes comply with ISO 27001:2022 and Cyber Essentials Plus. We implement continuous monitoring of systems, networks, and user activity to detect and respond to potential threats. Security events are logged, analysed, and correlated in real time using SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solutions. Regular reviews, automated alerts, and incident response procedures ensure prompt action. Our approach is validated by external audits and penetration testing, maintaining full alignment with industry-recognised security standards.
• Incident management type: Complies with a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v4.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-18 / ISAE 3402
• Incident management approach: METCLOUD’s incident management processes comply with ISO 27001:2022 and CSA CCM v4.0. We follow structured procedures for incident detection, reporting, analysis, response, and post-incident review. All incidents are logged, managed, and escalated according to defined protocols, ensuring compliance with industry-recognised best practices and regulatory requirements. Regular staff training and external audits further support our commitment to robust incident management.
• Post-quantum cryptography secure: No

Secure development

• Approach to secure software development best practice: Conforms to a recognised standard, but self-assessed

Separation between users

• Virtualisation technology used to keep applications and users sharing the same infrastructure apart: Yes
• Who implements virtualisation: Supplier
• Virtualisation technologies used: Hyper-V
• How shared infrastructure is kept separate: Within METCLOUD’s virtualised environment, each organisation is kept separate through strict logical isolation at the hypervisor level and the use of dedicated virtual networks. Virtual network isolation ensures that customer traffic remains completely segregated, preventing any unauthorised access or data leakage between tenants.; ; Where physical separation is required, METCLOUD can provide dedicated physical hardwares. This guarantees complete isolation at the hardware level. Commercial arrangements for dedicated hardware are bespoke and provided on a case-by-case basis, according to specific customer requirements.; ; This flexible approach ensures robust separation and security for all organisations, whether sharing virtual infrastructure or requiring dedicated physical resources.

Energy efficiency

• Energy-efficient datacentres: Yes
• Description of energy efficient datacentres: METCLOUD’s data centres adhere to the EU Code of Conduct for Energy Efficient Data Centres by implementing best practices in energy management, cooling, and power usage. ; ; These facilities implement best practices for energy management, including high-efficiency power and cooling systems, continuous monitoring, and regular energy audits. The data centres are designed to optimise power usage effectiveness (PUE) and incorporate renewable energy sources where possible. Compliance with the EU Code of Conduct demonstrates a strong commitment to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, ensuring our infrastructure meets rigorous operational and environmental standards.

Pricing

• Discount for educational organisations: Yes
• Free trial available: No

Discount

• Provide your minimum discount applicable to your baseline prices: 5%

Formula for calculating price of your services

• Formula for calculating price of your services:

  Which of the core deployment models you intend to offer

  Private Cloud

  Private Cloud - Formula for calculating price of your services

  ---

  Total Cost

  The Total Cost for a buyer's call off requirement in a Private Cloud Deployment

  =

  Baseline Pricing

  Our baseline pricing is published within the G-Cloud Service Lines for each service. These represent our standard list prices prior to the application of the G-Cloud framework discount and any onboarding costs.

  -

  Minimum Discounting

  5%

  +

  Onboarding Activity

  Onboarding costs may vary based on your specific requirements, please confirm with suppliers during the clarification process

  +

  Additional sources of cost

  Buyers may incur the following sources of cost when contracting for services under the Private Cloud deployment model. Core private cloud service charges - Ongoing charges for the provision of dedicated private cloud infrastructure and platform services, including compute, storage, networking and core management tools, as detailed in the G-Cloud Service Lines. ; Resource-based usage costs -Variable charges linked to capacity or consumption levels, such as allocated virtual machines, storage volumes, performance tiers or bandwidth usage where applicable.; Onboarding and implementation costs – One-off charges for environment build, configuration, security setup, migration of existing workloads and integration with buyer systems. Managed services and support – Charges for ongoing monitoring, patching, backup, disaster recovery, enhanced support levels and operational management. Additional services costs for consultancy, architecture design, compliance support, training or bespoke configuration if required by the buyer. Third-party licensing or infrastructure where applicable, pass-through costs for software licences, hardware, or underlying technology platforms used to deliver the private cloud service. All costs are clearly defined within the G-Cloud Service Lines to provide transparency and predictability for buyers.

  -

  Additional sources of cost reduction

  Buyers may benefit from the following sources of cost reduction when contracting for services under the Private Cloud deployment model:; ; Removal of capital expenditure – Private Cloud services are provided on a consumption or subscription basis, removing the need for upfront investment in on-premise hardware, data centre facilities and associated infrastructure.; ; Right-sizing of resources – Buyers can scale compute, storage and network capacity to match operational requirements, reducing over-provisioning and paying only for the capacity required.; ; Predictable and transparent costs – Clearly defined service charges within the G-Cloud Service Lines enable improved budget forecasting and cost control.; ; Operational efficiency – Automated provisioning, monitoring, patching and management reduce internal resource overheads and associated staffing costs.; ; Reduced maintenance and refresh costs – Ongoing infrastructure upgrades, security updates and platform maintenance are included within the service, removing the need for periodic hardware refresh programmes.; ; Optional managed services – Centralised support and management services can replace or supplement in-house IT operations, reducing support and operational expenditure.; ; Framework discounts – Buyers benefit from the standard G-Cloud framework discount applied to baseline pricing.; ; Together these factors enable buyers to optimise total cost of ownership while maintaining dedicated private cloud environments.

  ---

• Total Cost: The Total Cost for a buyer's call off requirement in a Private Cloud Deployment
• Baseline Pricing: Our baseline pricing is published within the G-Cloud Service Lines for each service. These represent our standard list prices prior to the application of the G-Cloud framework discount and any onboarding costs.
• Minimum Discounting: 5%
• Onboarding Activity: Onboarding costs may vary based on your specific requirements, please confirm with suppliers during the clarification process
• Additional sources of cost: Buyers may incur the following sources of cost when contracting for services under the Private Cloud deployment model. Core private cloud service charges - Ongoing charges for the provision of dedicated private cloud infrastructure and platform services, including compute, storage, networking and core management tools, as detailed in the G-Cloud Service Lines. ; Resource-based usage costs -Variable charges linked to capacity or consumption levels, such as allocated virtual machines, storage volumes, performance tiers or bandwidth usage where applicable.; Onboarding and implementation costs – One-off charges for environment build, configuration, security setup, migration of existing workloads and integration with buyer systems. Managed services and support – Charges for ongoing monitoring, patching, backup, disaster recovery, enhanced support levels and operational management. Additional services costs for consultancy, architecture design, compliance support, training or bespoke configuration if required by the buyer. Third-party licensing or infrastructure where applicable, pass-through costs for software licences, hardware, or underlying technology platforms used to deliver the private cloud service. All costs are clearly defined within the G-Cloud Service Lines to provide transparency and predictability for buyers.
• Additional sources of cost reduction: Buyers may benefit from the following sources of cost reduction when contracting for services under the Private Cloud deployment model:; ; Removal of capital expenditure – Private Cloud services are provided on a consumption or subscription basis, removing the need for upfront investment in on-premise hardware, data centre facilities and associated infrastructure.; ; Right-sizing of resources – Buyers can scale compute, storage and network capacity to match operational requirements, reducing over-provisioning and paying only for the capacity required.; ; Predictable and transparent costs – Clearly defined service charges within the G-Cloud Service Lines enable improved budget forecasting and cost control.; ; Operational efficiency – Automated provisioning, monitoring, patching and management reduce internal resource overheads and associated staffing costs.; ; Reduced maintenance and refresh costs – Ongoing infrastructure upgrades, security updates and platform maintenance are included within the service, removing the need for periodic hardware refresh programmes.; ; Optional managed services – Centralised support and management services can replace or supplement in-house IT operations, reducing support and operational expenditure.; ; Framework discounts – Buyers benefit from the standard G-Cloud framework discount applied to baseline pricing.; ; Together these factors enable buyers to optimise total cost of ownership while maintaining dedicated private cloud environments.

Mandatory certifications

• Mandatory certifications:

  Are you are bidding to offer IaaS and/or PaaS as a reseller or are you in sole control of the infrastructure

  Reseller

  Cloud service suppliers you intend to resell with evidence

  Organisation 1

  Organisation name

  Microsoft

  Website address/upload for organisation

  Upload

  Upload

  Provided

  ISO 9001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 27001 certification

  Provided

  ISO 20000-1 certification

  Provided

  Are you reliant on the Cloud Service Provider for some accreditations

  Yes

Cyber Essentials

• Do you have a Cyber Essentials Plus certificate?: No
• Alternative: In relation to the services you do not have a current and valid Cyber Essentials Plus certificate which has been awarded by one of the government approved Cyber Essentials accreditation bodies but you are working towards gaining it, and will be in a position to confirm that you have been awarded a current and valid Cyber Essentials Plus certificate by one of the government approved accreditation bodies, by the date of framework award.

Non-mandatory Standards and certifications

• ISO 28000:2022 certification: No
• Quality management systems (QMS): Yes
• CSA STAR certification: No
• PCI certification: No
• Other security certifications: No

Social value

• Section B - Commitment for Future: Delivery:

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 1: Fair work: That offers fair wages and good working conditions. Help people get a job, stay in work, and progress in their careers, with good employment opportunities across the country. Notes: Where there is a large proportion of labour costs in the contract, commercial teams should consider MAC in Outcome 1 as a priority

    • New or retained jobs on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b, 1c and 1d
    • New apprenticeships on the contract workforce in the relevant area that meet the criteria set out in MAC 1b
    • Providing opportunities for, and measuring and monitoring of, staff workforce conditions over time, including employee engagement, involvement in decision-making and satisfaction and adapting to any changes in the results, with clear processes for acting on issues identified
    • Plans to engage the contract workforce in deciding the most important workplace issues to address
    • Ensuring new workers are informed of their right to join a trade union
    • Monitoring of employee engagement rates (by protected characteristic) and, where necessary, the development of actions to ensure all voices are heard across the diversity of the workforce
    • Employment contracts that reflect actual hours worked; steps taken to ensure employees understand their contracts and have the ability to review and adjust them if actual hours regularly exceed contracted hours
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about, and feel empowered to, address their physical wellbeing
    • Activities that support an environment where staff are educated about and feel empowered to report and address bullying and harassment
    • Activities to cascade good practice on fair working conditions throughout the supply chain
    • Offer a pay and leave entitlement to all eligible staff who become kinship carers, ideally equivalent to statutory adoption pay and leave
    • Payment of more than the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (as appropriate) to the contract workforce
    • Monitoring and reporting of gender and ethnicity pay gaps and plans to address them where necessary
    • Entitlement to sick pay for the contract workforce, with provision in place for any staff who do not meet the earnings threshold for statutory sick pay, payment of sick pay from day one of absence and payment of staff on the contract workforce who are off sick a replacement income of 100% of their usual earnings for as long as possible
    • Plans for an appropriate income replacement policy for staff who are required to spend time away from work to care for a sick dependent or close relative
    • Understanding of in-work progression issues affecting the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Measures to support in-work progression to help people in the contract workforce, to move into higher paid work by developing new skills relevant to the contract
    • Support for the contract workforce by providing career advice, and providing opportunities for staff working on the contract with in-work progression career development into known skills shortages or high growth areas
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Volunteering opportunities for staff
    • Understanding of the modern slavery risks and issues affecting the market, industry, sector or country (of origin or of source) relevant to the contract, and the workforce in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key subcontractors
    • Measures to identify, mitigate and manage modern slavery risks relating to the contract and how these will be implemented
    • Outline policies and practices to be applied to or put in place for the contract to mitigate and manage modern slavery risks, including: Pre-employment checks, recruitment practices. Workplace conditions, safeguarding plans and processes in place and regular monitoring with relevant groups considered, which may include sampling
    • How these flow down the supply chain and are monitored Illustrative examples include reporting, site visits, audits, etc.
    • How to ensure business decisions re: price/cost, short lead times, payment timescales do not create modern slavery risks in the supply chain
    • How the supplier will work with NGOs, trade unions or other businesses to address modern slavery risk
    • Means of influencing staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders with respect to modern slavery risks relating to the contract

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 2: Skills for growth: Supporting growth sectors and addressing skills gaps.

    • Understanding of employment and relevant skills issues, and of the education and training issues relating to the contract. Illustrative examples: demographics, skills shortages, new opportunities in high growth sectors, geographic/local community and skills/employment challenges
    • Support for educational attainment relevant to the contract, including training schemes that address skills gaps and result in recognised qualifications
    • Activities to support relevant sector related skills growth and sustainability in the contract workforce. Illustrative examples: careers talks, curriculum support, literacy support, safety talks and volunteering
    • Delivery of apprenticeships, supported internships and T Level industry placement opportunities (Level 2, 3 and 4+) in relation to the contract

  • Mission: Kick start economic growth. To secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 - with good jobs and productivity growth in every part of the country making everyone, not just a few, better off.

    Policy Outcome 3: Resilient, innovative and flexible supply chains: Support economic growth through enabling resilient businesses, opportunities for small businesses and voluntary, community and social enterprises

    • Understanding of the types of businesses in the market and the level of participation by new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Activities to identify opportunities to open up sub-contracts under the prime contract to a diverse range of businesses, including new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutuals
    • Plans for engaging a diverse range of businesses in engagement activities prior to appointing subcontractors (including activities prior to award of the main contract and during the contract term)
    • Activities that demonstrate a collaborative way to work with a diverse range of businesses as part of the supply chain
    • Advertising of supply chain opportunities openly and to ensure they are accessible to a diverse range of businesses, including advertising all subcontracting opportunities on Contracts Finder
    • Ensuring accessibility to contracting and subcontracting opportunities for disabled business owners and employees
    • Structuring of the supply chain selection process to ensure fairness (e.g. anti-corruption) and encourages participation by a diverse range of businesses, including with regard to new businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs, VCSEs and mutual
    • Understanding of local demographics, needs and opportunities for the co-design of the goods, services and works to be delivered under the contract
    • Methods for engaging with different parts of the community (including the education system and charities representing the community) and how communities come together to inform decisions, strategy and projects to leave a positive legacy for future generations
    • Measures to involve local stakeholders and/or users in design (e.g. in the design of services, systems, products or buildings)
    • Plans for positive actions with community groups.
    • Measures for making facilities used in the delivery of the contract available for community groups, education or training
    • Measures to engage users and communities and build relationships to increase community integration build trust and influence how the contract is delivered
    • Plans to respond flexibly and adapt approaches to community engagement and initiatives
    • Support for community-led initiatives relevant to the contract. Illustrative examples: improving transport links; reducing loneliness; helping with English language proficiency; and facilitating social mixing among people with different backgrounds
    • Collaborating with anchor institutions and community groups to make facilities available for education, training or community events

  • Mission: Make Britain a clean energy superpower: To cut bills, create jobs and deliver security with cheaper, zero-carbon electricity by 2030, accelerating to net zero

    Policy Outcome 4: Sustainable procurement practices: Reducing carbon footprints, minimising waste, and promoting the use of clean energy and green technologies.

    • Understanding of opportunities for additional environmental benefits delivery in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Collaborative ways of working with the supply chain to deliver additional environmental benefits in the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Delivery of additional environmental benefits through the performance of the contract, including working towards net zero carbon emissions and use of clean energy and green technologies
    • Understanding of how to influence staff, suppliers, customers, communities and/or any other appropriate stakeholders through the delivery of the contract to support climate and nature protection and improvement
    • Activities to reconnect people with the environment and increase awareness of ways to protect and enhance it

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 6: Employment and training: For those who face barriers to employment

    • Understanding of employment and skills issues, and of the skills and employment shortages of high growth sectors relating to the contract
    • Creation of employment opportunities particularly for those who face barriers to employment, such as prison leavers, care leavers and/or who are located in deprived areas, and for people in industries with known skills shortages or in high growth sectors
    • Delivery of training schemes and programmes to address any identified skills gaps and under-representation in the workforce for the contract (e.g. prison leavers, care leavers, kinship carers, disabled people)
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Understanding of the issues affecting the representation of disabled people in the workforce in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors
    • Collection of the views and expertise of disabled people and their representative organisations on successfully supporting disabled employees or applicants
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, and retention-focused activities, including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
    • Introducing transparency to pay and reward processes
    • Offering a range of quality opportunities with routes of progression if appropriate, e.g. T Level industry placements, students supported into higher level apprenticeships.
    • Working conditions which promote an inclusive working environment and promote retention and progression
    • Other measures to provide equality of opportunity for disabled people and those with health conditions into employment, including becoming a Disability Confident employer and inclusion of supported businesses in the contract supply chain
    • Understanding of the issues affecting inequality in employment, skills and pay in the market, industry or sector relevant to the contract, and in the supplier’s own organisation and those of its key sub-contractors. Measures to tackle inequality in employment, skills and pay in the contract workforce
    • Inclusive and accessible development practices, including guidance for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition

  • Mission: Break down barriers to opportunity: By reforming our childcare and education systems, to make sure there is no class ceiling on the ambitions of young people in Britain

    Policy Outcome 7: Creating a pipeline of opportunities: For the contract workforce, reducing barriers to entry for under-represented groups.

    • Understanding of the issues affecting the development of new skills by target cohort
    • Understanding of the underlying factors affecting improvements to reduce barriers to entry and training schemes for the target cohort(s) related to the contract workforce
    • Other measures to offer development opportunities for the target cohort(s) in the contract workforce
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort
    • Understanding of issues relating to entering the contract workforce
    • Creation of outreach activities to create a pipeline of employees for the future contract delivery
    • Content of the outreach activity is designed to suit the target cohort
    • Advertising, promotional and outreach activities designed to raise awareness of the offer to reach the target cohort

  • Mission: Build an NHS fit for the future: That is there when people need it; with fewer lives lost to the biggest killers; in a fairer Britain, where everyone lives well for longer.

    Policy Outcome 8: Increasing productivity through physical and mental wellbeing: In the supply chain and communities in the relevant area.

    • Understanding of issues relating to health and wellbeing, including physical and mental health, in the contract workforce
    • Understanding barriers to access to health and social care services or employment opportunities e.g. digital inclusion
    • Inclusive and accessible recruitment practices, development practices and retention policies that support-focused activities including those provided in the Guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing which support people with a disability or health condition
    • Actions to invest in the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the contract workforce

Service documents

• Pricing document

  PDF

• Service definition document

  PDF

• Terms and conditions

  PDF

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at ian.vickers@metcloud.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.