The Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) have announced plans to hold their first-ever awards ceremony this year to celebrate housing associations, local authorities and their supply chain partners throughout Scotland.

The ceremony, to be held at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Wednesday 3rd October, will be hosted by twice World Record long distance cyclist, Marc Beaumont.

The daytime event, running from 12pm to 4pm, will recognise those organisations who have gone above and beyond to deliver projects that have made a real impact on local communities.

The categories include Best Housing Project, Most Sustainable Project, Best Community Benefit Initiative, Most Innovative Project, Best Use of Rebate and Gold Hat.

Nominations are welcome from partners and suppliers in all the categories apart from the Gold Hat Award, which celebrates the work done by SPA suppliers and is voted for by partner organisations.

The awards will be judged by Dr Robert Hairstans, associate professor at Edinburgh Napier University; Sally Thomas, chief executive at SFHA; John Skivington, group director at LHC; Alice Thompson, co-founder of Social Bite; Nile Istephan, chief executive of Eildon HA; and Mary Mitchell, SPA chair.

Clive Feeney, SPA director, said: “Representing over 80 public sector organisations throughout Scotland, SPA is leading the way in collaborative procurement.

“The awards event will give our partners the opportunity to celebrate their success and recognise those projects and organisations who have demonstrated commitment to delivering excellence.”

The SPA awards will also be fundraising for the Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), who save and improve lives throughout Scotland by forming an integral part of Scotland’s frontline emergency response network.

The event is open to public sector organisations in Scotland that provide housing, building maintenance and to the companies that supply these services to them.