Procurement: annual report 2022 to 2023

2. Reporting highlights

Some of our significant achievements in the period April 2022 to March 2023:

2.1 Good for business and their employees

• In 2022-23, we managed 836 live contracts worth over £4.5 billion throughout their lifetimes (across all types of contracting activity).
• We awarded 288 new regulated contracts with a total value of over £871 million (across all types of contracting activity).

£145 million, Our contracts and frameworks (across all types of contracting activity) saved the public sector just under £145 million.

£1.3 billion, Public sector bodies across Scotland spent over £1.3 billion on goods and services through the national contracts and frameworks we awarded, contributing to the economy and supporting a 'once for Scotland' approach.

£637 million, Of the £637 million core Scottish Government spend with suppliers in reporting period 2022 to 2023, over £380 million or 60% went directly to 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.

95%, 95% of our suppliers committed to paying the real Living Wage.

2.2 Good for places and communities

• Just over £154 million (24%) of £637 million core Scottish Government spend in 2022-23 was spent with suppliers in Scotland. More than £125 million of the £154 million (81%) went to Scottish SMEs.

2.3 Good for society

• Spend by Scottish public sector bodies through our national supported businesses framework for the reporting period was over £2 million, bringing total spend through the framework since it was awarded to over £11.4 million.
• As well as supporting existing jobs, Scottish Government core contracts enabled the creation of 177 brand-new jobs, 69 apprenticeships, 312 work placements and 18 qualifications.

2.4 Open and connected

• Our national advertising portal (Public Contracts Scotland - PCS) aims to make it as easy as possible for 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, 14,895 new public sector business opportunities were advertised and 18,079 suppliers were awarded public sector contracts through PCS during the reporting period.
• We continued to develop our engagement with our supply base and the SME community through a series of roundtables to discuss the most important issues and through engagement with the Procurement Supply Group (PSG).^[2]

In the reporting period, a highly collaborative approach was taken by a cross-sectorial working group with representatives from each sector, led by the Scottish Government, to develop the first-ever Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland.