Scottish Government procurement: annual report 2023 to 2024

2. Reporting highlights

Some of our significant achievements in the period April 2023 to March 2024:

2.1 Good for business and their employees

• In 2023-2024, we managed 656 live contracts worth over £12 billion throughout their lifetimes (across all types of contracting activity).
• We awarded 332 new regulated contracts with a total value of over £7 billion throughout their lifetimes (across all types of contracting activity).

£141 million

Our contracts and frameworks (across all types of contracting activity) saved the public sector over £141 million.

£1.5 billion

Public bodies across Scotland spent over £1.5 billion on goods and services through the national contracts and frameworks we awarded, contributing to the economy and supporting a Once for Scotland approach.

£561 million

Of the £561 million core Scottish Government spend with suppliers in reporting period 2023 to 2024, over £299 million or 54.4% went directly to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

99%

In the reporting period, the Scottish Government paid 98% of valid invoices within ten days and 99% within 30 days, getting cash into the economy as quickly as possible and supporting the economic recovery.

The Scottish Government mandate paying the real Living Wage where it is appropriate and proportionate to do so.

2.2 Good for places and communities

• Just over £177 million (31.6%) of £561 million core Scottish Government spend in 2023-2024 was spent with suppliers in Scotland. More than £119 million of the £177 million (69%) went to Scottish SMEs.

2.3 Good for society

• There were 128 contracts awarded to supported businesses by Scottish public bodies over the reporting period with spend totalling £22.8 million.
• As well as supporting existing jobs, Scottish Government core contracts enabled the creation of 867 brand-new new jobs, 26 apprenticeships, 202 work placements and 2,344 qualifications.

2.4 Open and connected

• Our national advertising portal (Public Contracts Scotland – PCS) aims to make it as easy as possible for all suppliers but especially SMEs to bid for public contracts through notice alerts and enabling main contractors to advertise sub-contract opportunities, giving suppliers the chance to bid for contracts further down the supply chain.
• Across Scotland, 12,904 new public sector business opportunities were advertised and 17,310 suppliers were awarded public sector contracts through the reporting period.
• We continued to develop our engagement with our supply base and the SME community through a series of roundtables with SMEs and the third sector and to discuss the most important issues and through engagement with the Procurement Supply Group (PSG).^[2]