Oversight mechanisms of Techscaler contract: FOI release

Information requested

You asked for information that relates to the oversight mechanisms of the £42 million provided to techscaler. What are the oversight mechanisms that ensure the money is spent with accountability.

Response

The Techscaler contract was open for public procurement and was awarded, on the basis of both cost and quality, to Codebase.

The Scottish Government uses governance processes in accordance with best practice as set out in the HM Treasury Green Book. These arrangements ensure that appropriate processes and reporting channels are in place and that challenges and opportunities can be addressed appropriately.

Scottish Government and Codebase

Weekly check ins
These meetings provide a dedicated space for both parties to raise and resolve any emerging operational issues, share relevant updates and ensure alignment on ongoing work.

Monthly workflow meetings
Codebase provides a detailed formal report one week prior to each monthly meeting. This report includes updates across all active workstreams, along with financial data and any risk assessments. These meetings are typically held in person and last up to three hours, allowing sufficient time for thorough review and discussion of each workstream. Attendees include the main contact from the Scottish Government and Codebase, depending on key agenda items, as well as two senior leaders from each side.

Monthly invoice and forecast meetings
Codebase provides an invoice and a year-forward financial forecast. This online meeting offers a dedicated space to discuss any variances from the forecast or other financial matters.

Monthly meetings with Chair of Codebase and Co-founders
Senior officials from the Scottish Government meet with Codebase Chair Gillian Docherty, alongside Codebase co-founders. This meeting provides strategic oversight and an opportunity to discuss highlevel priorities,future direction and to flag any performance issues or areas for improvement directly to the chair.

Quarterly review meetings
This is the main set-piece governance meeting. Codebase submits formal reports one week ahead of each quarterly review, attended by co-founders, senior leadership, SG Deputy Director level representatives and the Chief Entrepreneur. Performance, future opportunities, risks, personnel and any other emerging issues are discussed in depth at this meeting.

Internal Governance
On a monthly basis officials meet with specialist colleagues to ensure that good practice is being applied and to discuss any emerging issues.

Finance
On a monthly basis officials meet with the finance business partner to discuss the invoices and forecasts so that they can flag anything they wish to be queried at the monthly meeting with Codebase.

Contract Management
Officials meet monthly with the contract management colleague to discuss planned contract iterations and draft variations as needed. These meetings also provide a space to address any identified risks and explore any necessary contractual mitigations.

Economists
Officials meet with economists on an ad-hoc but generally more frequent than monthly basis to discuss the evaluation of the Techscaler programme and the performance of the start-up economy more generally.

Wider public sector governance

SG and Codebase with Enterprise Agencies
We have recently established a quarterly meeting between Codebase, EAs and SG. This allows opportunities for collaboration to be explored.

Reporting
Performance information is provided to the NSET board.

Techscaler annual report

At the start of each year Codebase publish an annual report containing key metrics and narrative about their activities and impact. The third annual report is due to be published in early 2026

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