Our organisation has gained supported business status and is now a supplier listed on the Procurement – requirements reserved for supported businesses – dynamic purchasing system: guidance – gov.scot.

The key aim of the Requirements Reserved for Supported Businesses DPS is to provide Scottish Public Sector Bodies with a clear path for the purchase of goods and services from Supported Businesses and in doing so, support the integration of disabled and disadvantaged citizens into the mainstream workforce.

Supported businesses are organisations whose main aim is to integrate disabled or disadvantaged people socially and professionally.

In this context, Scottish Procurement has updated us that they have been working collaboratively with cross sectoral colleagues and key stakeholders in developing the DPS and that the ambition for this DPS is to offer a straightforward, flexible, and quick route to market for all Scottish public sector bodies and to have a proportionate entry barrier for Supported Businesses suppliers who meet the minimum criteria to gain entry.

At the same we are aware that a Scottish Procurement Policy note SPPN 1/2025 – Public procurement update – Reserving contracts for supported businesses: SPPN 1/2025 – gov.scot has been published that outlines the Scottish national procurement position on reserving contracts for Supported Businesses and has been issued to all Scottish public bodies.

We know also that the Sustainable Procurement Duty within the Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 also requires contracting authorities to consider how their procurement activity can improve social, environmental, and economic wellbeing, including facilitating the involvement of SMEs, thirdsector organisations, and Supported Businesses.

Recent Scottish ministerial direction also further emphasises this priority. The Minister for Public Finance has strongly encouraged all public bodies in Scotland to:

1. Aim for at least 1% of procurement spend with Supported Businesses where suitable goods/services exist,
2. Use Reserved Contracts procedures where appropriate,
3. Recognise the significant social impact and preventative spend value these contracts deliver.

You may also have seen the newly published Guidance for Public Sector Buyers on the Purchase of Goods and Services from Supported Businesses – Sustainable Procurement | Procurement Journey which provides practical advice to help public sector buyers reduce barriers and incorporate Supported Businesses into procurement plans. We have been informed that this guidance has been shared with Heads of Procurement across Scotland and includes a ministerial foreword reinforcing this expectation.

With all the above information, policy context, and the strong Scottish ministerial steer to all public bodies in Scotland, we look forward to finding out if you have any planned or upcoming requirements for the services we offer the market.

Scottish Procurement have informed us this can be via the DPS or through a Reserved Contract.

We would also be happy to support your procurement team in identifying suitable opportunities and look forward to finding out how you might be able to help our organisation increase our long term sustainably, as well as

1. Deliver measurable social value,
2. Support local employment and inclusion,
3. Strengthen Scotland’s Supported Business sector,
4. Demonstrates leadership in sustainable and community wealth building procurement.