Not-for-profit framework provider, Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) has distributed rebate cheques totalling £290,188.55 to 28 of its public sector partner organisations comprising local authorities, housing associations, and co-operatives.
The rebate programme has been in place since the formation of SPA in 2016 with the purpose of giving back surplus funds, providing further opportunities for public sector organisations to support local projects and progressing the ongoing investment in communities across Scotland. Open to all partner organisations, the programme provides the opportunity to receive additional funds that have been generated by partner organisations procuring projects using SPA frameworks and the dynamic purchasing system (DPS). As a not-for-profit organisation, SPA retains its running costs and any operating surplus is directed back into developing local communities through the partner rebate programme and the Community Benefit Fund.
The largest rebate presented to an individual partner for the fiscal year of 2021-2022 was £137,899.78 which was accrued from four projects utilising its frameworks including Whole House Refurbishment (WH2), Energy Efficiency Measures (N8), Kitchen & Bathroom Replacements (DPS), Windows & Doors (WD2) and Roofing Works (RS4).
Lesley Anderson, Interim Regional Director at Scottish Procurement Alliance said: “The rebates offer an opportunity for all partners to achieve funds from their projects procured using our procurement solutions. We actively encourage partners to use their rebate to invest in additional improvements within their local communities. Providing an opportunity to accelerate the improvement of communities using funds that have been generated from individual projects is an ambition that is intrinsic to the SPA values. I’m positive that these funds will support some great projects and initiatives and drive towards building stronger and happier communities.”
Alongside the rebate programme, SPA launched its Community Benefit Fund in 2017 as means of supporting its ethos to give back to the wider community aligning with its vision of “Improving lives and places through quality procurement solutions”. There are fourteen executive board members appointed on rotation who are entitled to apply for an equal share of the £140,000 fund offered annually. The fund is managed and distributed by Lintel Trust, a Scottish charity with a 44-year heritage supporting Scottish housing communities. Prior to funds being distributed, all applications are reviewed and measured using the recommended community benefits outlined in the Procurement (Scotland) Act 2014.
Since it was set up in 2017 the SPA Community Benefit Fund has generated close to £1.4 million across 78 individual projects helping to build healthy and vibrant communities in Scotland. The fund has supported the launch and continuation of a variety of unique and ground-breaking projects such as community gardens, food banks and pantries, digital and social inclusion, and mental health support services. Over 16,000 people have benefitted or have been supported by the projects to the value of £710k being awarded in grant funding and an additional £681k has been sourced through match funding. The social value that has been generated from these projects amounts to over £3.3 million.
