Various questions surrounding recruitment: FOI release

Information requested

1 - Please advise the total spend on recruitment agencies in the last during 2018/19?
2 - Please advise what the temporary agency spend for admin, call centre, data processing and clerical roles during 2018/2019.
3 - Please advise what the temporary agency spend for roles such as warehouse, catering and cleaners during 2018/2019? 
4 - Please advise what the permanent agency spend has been during 2018/2019?.
5 - Which recruitment agencies have you used in the last 12 months for admin, call centre, data,clerical, warehouse, catering and cleaners?
6 - Which framework agreements do you use for agencies? i.e. Scottish Government, APUK, Crown Commercial Services?
7 - What process do recruitment agencies have to follow to be given jobs to work on?
8 - Who is responsible for engaging new recruitment agencies?

Response

1- Total spend on recruitment agencies during 2018/2019 was £21,384,744. This includes all spend by Scottish Government core Departments against the following frameworks in the 2018/2019 financial year: - Temp Admin Staff Services (North, East & West); Temp Catering & Manual Staff Services (North, East & West); Interim Professional Staff Services; and Interim IT Staff Services.

2- Temporary agency spend, which covers admin etc. was £3,262,310. This includes all spend by Scottish Government core Departments against the Temp Admin Staff Services Frameworks in 2018/2019 financial year.

3- Temporary agency spend, which covers catering etc. was £63,286 .This includes all spend by Scottish Government core Departments against the Temp Catering & Manual Staff Services Frameworks in 2018/2019 financial year.

4- The Scottish Government does not use agencies for permanent recruitment therefore there was no spend against these frameworks for permanent recruitment in 2018/2019.

5- The framework suppliers in 2018/19 on the 2nd generation framework for Temp Admin (North, East and West) and for Temp Catering & Manual (North, East and West) were Pertemps. ASA and Brightwork.

A list of suppliers on the current frameworks is available at the following link: -
https://www.gov.scot/publications/temporary-and-interim-staff-services-framework-agreements-2019-to-2023/.

6- We use the Scottish Government Collaborative Frameworks for the provision of Temporary and Interim Staff Services. .

7- The Scottish Government currently utilises the Temporary & Interim Staff Services frameworks for these services. Suppliers on the frameworks may be invited to supply CVs and rates (in line with stated framework procedures/requirements) for temporary/interim workers to fill short term assignments, as and when operational requirements dictate. Where a mini competition is undertaken, bids are evaluated using a price/quality ratio and a call off contract awarded as appropriate. I attach a link to further information available on the SG Procurement webpages.
https://www.gov.scot/publications/temporary-and-interim-staff-services-frameworks/
Existing frameworks were awarded for a period of 4 years, from 13 April 2019 – 12 April 2023, with four suppliers awarded to each framework following a competitive procurement process. Whilst use of these frameworks is not mandated, they can be utilised by public sector organisations throughout Scotland.

8- The Scottish Government currently utilises the Temporary & Interim frameworks for the provision of temporary and interim staff services. These frameworks are regularly competed and awarded (generally every 3 to 4 years) by the Scottish Procurement and Property Directorate (SPPD) within Scottish Government, at which time service providers and suppliers can submit tenders during a competitive procurement process, to be awarded a place on new/future framework(s). Thereafter service providers/suppliers who are awarded places on these frameworks may be invited by Scottish Government or other public sector organisations to bid to fill temporary/interim assignments as and when these arise.

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