Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator: corporate plan 2025–2028

Vision of Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator

The SPCA is committed to fostering a fair, transparent, and sustainable pub sector in Scotland. By ensuring compliance with the Scottish Pubs Code, the Adjudicator upholds the rights of tied pub tenants while promoting responsible business practices among pub-owning companies.

Through impartial oversight, effective dispute resolution, and proactive engagement with stakeholders, the Adjudicator seeks to create an environment where tenants and businesses can operate with confidence and clarity. The vision is to support a thriving hospitality industry that balances commercial interests with fairness, ensuring long-term stability and growth for all parties governed by the Code.

Although the Adjudicator is an independent regulator, the work of the office supports the purpose and vision of the Scottish Government as detailed in the National Performance Framework (NPF) to deliver the National Outcomes for Scotland.

Our purpose

To focus on creating a more successful country with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through increased wellbeing, and sustainable and inclusive economic growth

Our values

We are a society which treats all our people with kindness, dignity and compassion, respects the rule of law, and acts in an open and transparent way

• We have a globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable economy
• We are open, connected and make a positive contribution internationally
• We tackle poverty by sharing opportunities, wealth and power more equally
• We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe
• We grow up loved, safe and respected so that we realise our full potential
• We are well educated, skilled and able to contribute towards society
• We have thriving and innovative businesses, with quality jobs and fair work for everyone
• We are healthy and active
• We value, enjoy, protect and enhance our environment
• We are creative and our vibrant and diverse cultures are expressed and enjoyed widely
• We respect, protect and fulfil human rights and live free from discrimination

In particular, the work of the Scottish Pubs Code Adjudicator contributes to these NPF outcomes:

• Fair work and business – we have thriving and innovative businesses, with quality jobs and fair work for everyone
• Economy – we have a globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable economy

The regulatory principles of the 2021 Act ensure that the Adjudicator has regard to fair and lawful dealing between pub-owning businesses and tied pub tenants and maintaining a fair share of risk and reward between these businesses and their tenants. These principles support fair work and business, and sustainability for the tied pub sector in Scotland. There is also the opportunity for innovation, with the Scottish Pubs Code promoting the right to guest beer agreements, allowing wider choice and supporting smaller-scale providers in the brewing sector.