Case studies

Outside the Box Grows with SDP Help

Since participating in SDP tender training and events, the charity Outside the Box has won £117,000 of public sector work. Read on to find out more about its success...

24/7 Elite Healthcare Wins Place on NLC Flexible Framework for Self-Directed Support

In Autumn 2024 24/7 Elite Healthcare renewed its SDP training, and by Feb 2025 it won a place on the £800m, Self-Directed Support Flexible Framework in North Lanarkshire

Scottish Borders Council Partners With SDP to Support Local SMEs

In partnership with the Supplier Development Programme (SDP), Scottish Borders Council helped local SMEs understand how to bid for its Repairs and Maintenance Framework, by hosting a free Aligned Tender Training webinar in April 2023.

NHSGCC Procurement Leads the Way in Increasing Supplier Diversity

SDP and NHSGGC have won the 2023 GO Awards Scotland, accolade for Developing Supplier Diversity. Discover how they encouraged supply chain inclusivity here…

Community Wealth Building Raises the Roof

Old Plean Roofing attended the Stirling Council Community Wealth Building event held in partnership with SDP in July 2022. Feedback demonstrated how supplier engagement events support local companies.

Robertson FM engages with over 100 suppliers with the help of SDP

Robertson Facilities Management (FM), in partnership with the Supplier Development Programme (SDP), hosted an online engagement event for suppliers of all sizes to fulfil the local supply chain requirements of an upcoming contract with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Success Stories: Dundee Science Centre proves education really does pay off!

Dundee Science Centre was awarded a place onto Education and Social Support Services Framework after attending SDP’s aligned tender training with Dundee City Council.

Success Stories: Concept Northern gains direction with SDP

Concept Northern first registered with the Supplier Development Programme in 2016 and won its first tender with the University of Highlands and Islands in early 2021.

Success Stories: Remarkable wins top marks through SDP

After accessing free tender training through the Supplier Development Programme, Remarkable learned how best to fully describe its services in its tenders and subsequently found bidding success!

SDP Supports Suppliers in Glasgow’s Economic Recovery

The Supplier Development Programme is a lead delivery partner under section 6 – Stimulate New Long Term Employment Opportunities in the Glasgow City Region’s Economic Recovery Plan and will be running engagement events related to the Glasgow City Region City Deal Infrastructure Tier One Contract Pipeline.

City of Edinburgh Council Facilitates Transparency in Hard FM Supply Chain with Supplier Development Programme

The City of Edinburgh Council partnered with the Supplier Development Programme to deliver two online supplier engagement events during on-going restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020.

Success Stories: Complete Weed Control Hedges Bets with Public Sector Contracts and SDP

From first registering with SDP Scotland in 2019, Complete Weed Control has won work in 2020 with six local authorities, including South Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire and Falkirk Councils.

Success Stories: SDP Sparks Business with Perth & Kinross Council for E W Edwardson (Electrical Contractors) Ltd

E W Edwardson (Electrical Contractors) Ltd accessed training and support through the Supplier Development Programme that has helped win public sector contracts with Perth and Kinross Council and other public sector organisations.

Success Stories: Keela Supplies COVID-19 PPE to NHS Scotland

Amid supply issues of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, a deal was agreed for Keela that began its SDP journey in 2011, to manufacture more PPE for NHS Scotland in May 2020.

New SDP Supplier Set for Public Sector Success

In response to restrictions from COVID-19, this sole trader registered with the Supplier Development Programme and attended several SDP training webinars from April to June 2020, including participating in the Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event.

South Ayrshire Council Engages with Suppliers During COVID-19 at Virtual Meet the Buyer

South Ayrshire Council participated in a planned takeover of SDP’s Twitter account during the Supplier Development Programme’s Meet the Buyer 2020: Live Virtual Event on 2 June 2020.

Success Stories: Adamsons Drinks Takes a Shot at Tendering

In April 2020, Adamsons Drinks won its first ever public sector opportunity: a framework place with Scotland Excel on two Lots.

A Childminder’s First Bid

Jeni Halliwell runs a childminding business called “Jeni’s Rainbow Cubs” in Arbroath, Angus. As a first time bidder, Jeni took part in free SDP training on Tuesday, 22 October 2019 to prepare for an upcoming contract opportunity with Angus Council, and won!

Success Stories: SDP Helps M2M Cloud Win Silver Lining with Highland Council Contract

Based in Dundee, M2M Cloud won its first public sector contract with the Highland Council in August 2019, after engaging with free training through the Supplier Development Programme.

Dundee Charity Bids for First Time

The University of Dundee Nursery Limited is a charity that provides early learning and childcare services to families in the Dundee area. Two members of staff took part in free SDP training on Monday, 21 October 2019 to prepare for an upcoming contract opportunity with Dundee City Council.

Dundee City Council Partners with Supplier Development Programme to Provide Free Training to Early Learning and Childcare Providers

More than 50 small businesses were given vital support by Dundee City Council, through the Supplier Development Programme, to become ready to tender to provide free childcare places to local families.

Success stories: Consult Lift Services

Consult Lift Services Ltd is a supplier of Lift and Escalator solutions to businesses and institutions throughout Scotland. After undertaking training through the Supplier Development Programme, Consult Lifts has gone on to win more than £5m of business from the public sector.

Success stories: Horisk Leslie Development

The Supplier Development Programme helped us with our successful bid for a place on the Scottish Government Application Design and Development Framework.

SDP “Dovetails” Success with Social Enterprise

A Supported Business credits engagement with SDP for helping to win two public sector contracts in the Spring of 2019.

Supplier Development Programme Provides Free Training to South Lanarkshire Early Learning and Childcare Providers

In June and July 2019, more than 120 South Lanarkshire businesses were given vital support by South Lanarkshire Council, through the Supplier Development Programme, to make sure they are ready to tender to provide more free childcare places to local families.

Connect the Dots in Fife

As a registered partner of the Supplier Development Programme, Fife Council is committed to providing support to the local business community in the tendering process, ultimately supporting the economic growth for the area.

Success stories: Provista

The service and training available from SDP helped us to achieve our goal. By using the knowledge and experience gained from SDP, we are more strategic on which tenders we bid on, resulting in an increase in the number of tenders we win.

AquAid Wins 1st Contract

AquAid is a supplier of bottle fed, mains fed coolers and hot water boilers. AquAid also works very closely with two charities: Christian Aid and The Africa Trust.

North Lanarkshire Council’s Proactive Approach to Childcare

SDP Scotland arranged for two courses to be delivered, free of charge, to childcare providers and private early learning providers, in the evenings of Wednesday, 20 and Thursday, 21 March 2019.

Wean's World: Procurement Time

Through the Supplier Development Programme, North Lanarkshire Council arranged for two Public Contracts Scotland training sessions in March 2019 to provide practical assistance to SMEs interested in apply for a place on its 1140 Hours interim Framework.

Success stories: Cleaners Solutions

Cleaners Solutions have been making use of SDP’s training and support for 6 months and have accessed 5 courses in that time taking them through all of our level one course and some of our policy webinars.

East Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire Supplier Event

Over 200 suppliers filled Paisley Town Hall on 29th August 2016 to find out more about opportunities arising from the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

Inverclyde Supplier Event

The Supplier Development Programme (SDP) supported Inverclyde Council to host a free information session regarding the Glasgow City Region City Deal.

Glasgow Supplier Event

Over 230 suppliers filled Glasgow Chambers’ Banqueting Hall on 25th January 2016 to find out more about opportunities arising from the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal.

Lanarkshire Supplier Event

Over 100 SME’s and Tier 1 contractors traveled from across Scotland to learn more about the City Deal in Lanarkshire at a Supplier Event held in Hamilton on 6th November 2015.