Scottish Government procurement: annual report 2021 to 2022

Foreword

I am pleased to introduce the Scottish Government's fifth annual procurement report. This report demonstrates a strong set of results for 2021 to 2022. During the reporting period we faced new and unexpected challenges as we transitioned into a phase of recovery following the pandemic. The war in Ukraine and the emerging cost of living crisis meant that this year, more than ever, we needed to strive to further harness our significant public procurement spend to promote a green and just economic recovery, delivering the most benefits possible to society.

The Scottish Government uses our significant public spending power through the goods, works and services we purchase to make Scotland a better place to live, work and do business. We harness the power of innovation and collaboration to accomplish real social impact, in line with our published procurement outcomes that are Good for businesses and their employees, Good for society, Good for places and communities and Open and connected.

During the 12 months outlined in this report, we made significant steps forward in the Fair Work first agenda, with the Scottish Government announcing that we would mandate payment of the real Living Wage in relevant contracts.

In growing local economies, there was continued focus on working with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as well as larger business, through open engagement and roundtables and through formalised networks. This contributed to an increase in spend by the Scottish Government both with SMEs and with Scottish SMEs in the reporting period.

The leadership group for public procurement in Scotland published a set of Public Procurement Priorities for all Heads of Procurement across Scotland. This was to encourage a collective focus and consistent approach by public sector bodies to support the delivery of a robust, sustainable, inclusive economy and respond to the challenges of the climate emergency, EU exit and Covid-19.

We also continued to provide collaborative frameworks for the rest of the public sector to use, ensuring value for money and policy impact through public sector spend.

The achievements of the reporting period have provided the basis for moving forward more dynamically, collaboratively, more innovatively
and more efficiently.

Nick Ford, Director Procurement & Property, Scottish Government