Cost of transitioning to Qualifications Scotland: FOI release

Information requested

1. The total expected cost of transitioning from Scottish Qualifications Authority to Qualifications Scotland.

2. The total expected costs of re-branding the SQA to QS.

Response

Question 1: The total expected cost of transitioning from Scottish Qualifications Authority to Qualifications Scotland.

Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.

The Education (Scotland) Bill establishes the new body called Qualifications Scotland. The information you requested regarding the cost of transition from SQA to Qualifications Scotland is available in the Financial Memorandum which accompanies the Bill.

The Financial Memorandum sets out all expected costs and financial aspects relating to the establishment of Qualifications Scotland. The Financial Memorandum is available to view at the following link: Financial Memorandum accessible (parliament.scot) . Table 3, page 8, sets out the forecast set up costs of Qualifications Scotland per annum:

One-off Establishment Costs of the Bill to Scottish Administration – Qualifications Scotland (£000)		2025-26	2026- 27
Staffing costs	Low	514	169
	High	628	209
Branding / Website costs	Low	140	0
	High	166	0
Staff transfer costs	Low	200	0
	High	400	0
Total costs	Low	854	169
	High	1,194	209

Question 2: The total expected costs of re-branding the SQA to QS?

Work to develop the names of the three new national education bodies - including Qualifications Scotland - cost £12,000. It is not possible to separate out the costs for Qualifications Scotland only.

Forecast costs to be incurred are set out in the Financial Memorandum. Table 3, page 8, breaks down the different costs for the set-up of Qualifications Scotland including the website/branding costs.

The table is supplemented by the relevant paragraph in the Financial Memorandum regarding branding costs (para 32, page 9, Branding/website costs) which reads as follows:

'Estimated one-off costs of between £140,000 and £166,000 are expected for new branding and website updates. This comprises costs of between £40,000 - £46,000 to develop and create the new brand and logo and carry out independent user testing.'

'These cost estimates have been produced following discussions with marketing colleagues within the Scottish Government and are based on comparative work carried out previously. The remaining £100,000 - £120,000 are costs estimates provided by SQA which cover trademarking the new logo, replacing interior and exterior signage in buildings, producing new certificates and exhibition stands, replacement ID cards and lanyards for staff, replacement stationery bearing the new logo and website updates.'

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.