One year on from its formation in 2016, the Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) used its first AGM to announce a rebate of £1,039,279 to its local authority, housing association and other registered social landlord partners across Scotland.

The SPA was created both by and for organisations that buy products and services for the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of social housing and public buildings in Scotland.

Its formation coincided with the introduction of new procurement regulations in Scotland, which placed additional requirements on organisations involved in procurement using public funds. Today the SPA has 54 Associate Partners in addition to its 14 Founding Partners.

The annual rebate to partners of the SPA is a percentage of the total value of contracts commissioned in a financial year using SPA frameworks. £67,000,000 of products and services were purchased in Scotland using SPA frameworks during its first year.

Clive Feeney, chief officer of the SPA, said: “This year’s rebate is a big success story for the SPA. It indicates how well suited our frameworks are for Scottish organisations involved in the construction, refurbishment and maintenance of public buildings and homes.

“I look forward to the rebate being even higher next year, as our Partners continue to contribute their insights into the needs, standards and aspirations for communities and homes in Scotland. Through our procurement frameworks, with their focus on community benefit, and the annual rebate, we are helping our Partners make a difference to people’s lives.”

In her opening remarks to Partners gathered for the AGM, Mary Mitchell, from Perth & Kincross Council, and chair of the SPA, applauded the reinvestment the £1 million rebate would enable: “Efficiency, collaboration and the reinvestment of savings, are three key areas of focus for members of this Alliance. The potential for us as a Board to influence the development of frameworks that deliver on these needs means communities around the country will benefit.

“Additionally the SPA’s investment in a Community Benefit Fund means we are able to target the impact of our work to have the greatest benefit for our communities.

“I know we can achieve even more in our next year, as we enter into closer collaboration that will enable us to buy effectively together. We have a significant role to play in the building of 50,000 affordable new homes by 2021. Having representation from remote communities as well as the M8 corridor means we have an exciting role to play in shaping the how the market responds and contributes to these ambitious plans for affordable housing.”

Attendees at the AGM also shared their positive feedback on the SPA’s first year, with many remarking that the procurement frameworks SPA made available increased the speed of initiating vital projects and furthered the benefits to local communities and economies.

“Our expectations of the SPA have definitely been met,” said Deborah Bailey from Port of Leith Housing Association. “They’re a really helpful organisation and have replaced the need for us to create our own frameworks. We’re looking forward to using the new build framework that launches in January and working with the SPA to develop new maintenance frameworks.”