In this episode of Bestek, the public procurement podcast, Willem and Marta discuss reserved procedures and the ASADE (C‑436/20) and Conacee (C-598/19) Judgements in the context of socially responsible public procurement. They focus on two explicitly legislated reserve procedures – those for sheltered workshops and social enterprises – and discuss how these procedures fit into the broader context of public procurement law. They also address the fear and risks associated with providing preferential treatment to certain groups in society. For the dessert, the hosts discuss their roles as academics and the importance of independence in their work.