Case studies

SDP Supports Suppliers in Glasgow’s Economic Recovery

At Meet the Buyer 2021, Glasgow City Region City Deal formally launched the latest contract pipeline for its £1 billion City Deal infrastructure programme including details of over £150 million worth of tier one infrastructure contracts due to go to open tender in the coming three years.

The Supplier Development Programme (SPD) was also named a lead delivery partner in the City of Glasgow Region’s Economic Recovery Plan as a short-term solution to simulate new long-term employment opportunities for businesses in Glasgow.

Glasgow City Region City Deal (GCRCD) has identified 60 ‘ready to go’ projects that will deliver and support a range of infrastructure, commercial and residential projects that can be implemented quickly. GCRCD plans to engage with the Supplier Development Programme to get micro, small and medium sized businesses tender ready and successful secure contracts.

Councillor Susan Aitken, Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet and Leader of Glasgow City Council, said:

“Communities should benefit from start to finish from government projects, so I encourage the region’s businesses to take full advantage of this latest round of contracts.

“Across Scotland we are investing more than £1.5 billion into Growth Deal projects that will help us to build back better from the pandemic.”

Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said:

“I’m very pleased that the latest contract pipeline for the Glasgow City Region Deal will be launched in the coming weeks. This is a great opportunity for local businesses and I would encourage participation in the online event.

“The Scottish Government is a full partner in the Glasgow City Region Deal, contributing £500 million over 20 years. Contracts awarded through the Deal will contribute to the region’s economic recovery by creating jobs, and providing the commercial infrastructure to support and attract businesses to Glasgow and the surrounding areas.”

A new Regional strategy for Sustainable Procurement and Community Benefits was formally launched at the event on 8 June.

With procurement spend across the eight Regional councils in the realm of £2 billion per annum, there is an enormous opportunity for local companies and SMEs of all sizes to bid for and win not only tier one contracts but all of the ensuing sub contracts coming through from those.

The strategy sets out an intention to bring on board other key Regional public sector partners as part of the collaborative approach and also to go beyond the City Deal to include the wider capital infrastructure procurement programmes of all eight councils in the Region. Work is already underway to map out an overall Capital Investment Plan which will show planned capital investment for public sector agencies across the whole City Region area for the next three years.

The new Glasgow City Region City Deal Infrastructure Tier One Contract Pipeline is available online.

Gillian Cameron, Programme Manager of the Supplier Development Programme, said:

“Meet the Buyer 2021 is the event of the year for supplier engagement with buyers, particularly as the public sector turns towards economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses will be able to raise their profile as a business, learn about upcoming bidding opportunities through the Glasgow City Region City Deal that could offer much-needed stability in the long-term, and be supported every step of the way through the Supplier Development Programme.”