Procurement body welcomes new committee to drive public value

A leading not-for-profit procurement organisation has announced the rotation of its committee members for the 2025 term.

The updated team will bring new perspectives to the Scottish Procurement Alliance’s (SPA) work with more than 130 public sector organisations, enhancing SPA’s ability to address evolving procurement, technical and community benefit needs across Scotland.

With nearly 600 active projects valued at over £1.1 billion, SPA assists Scotland’s councils, housing associations, the NHS, and other public bodies in securing essential services including construction, refurbishment and maintenance.

The committee comprises 13 representatives from a diverse range of public sector organisations, including Berwickshire Housing Association, Cairn Housing Association, Perth & Kinross Council, South Lanarkshire Council, West Lothian Council, and Wheatley Group. This term, Queens Cross Housing Association and North Lanarkshire Council have joined the committee.

SPA Committee Chair, member of the LHC Procurement Group Board, and Director of Procurement, Fleet and Utilities at Wheatley Group, Laurie Carberry, says:”Being part of the SPA committee is a valuable opportunity. It provides rich insights that encourage sector collaboration among a small group of experienced peers who are equally committed and on the same journey to achieve success.
The committee provides an inclusive forum where our experiences, challenges, and opportunities can be shared and discussed, to inform solutions and assist in navigating obstacles that could derail our plans and ambitions.

From these meetings, eligible committee members can apply for £10k from the SPA Community Benefit Fund to invest within our communities and create a far-reaching impact on areas such as access to wellbeing services, food access, addressing social isolation, and upgrading facilities.”

Lesley Anderson, Regional Director of SPA, added: “Our committee members bring invaluable, first-hand insights into the complexities of public sector procurement, helping SPA deliver tailored frameworks that address evolving requirements while ensuring best value and compliance.

This rotation allows us to bring fresh ideas to the table and enhances our ability to support our partners and suppliers.”

In their advisory role, SPA’s committee partners meet quarterly to provide input on operational improvements, discuss industry challenges, and share insights on policy and legislative changes. They also assess new procurement opportunities and help shape SPA’s future frameworks based on real-world requirements and experiences.

Recently, committee feedback enabled the development of a Repair and Maintenance DPS (Dynamic Purchasing System) that will greatly benefit suppliers and particularly SME’s. The DPS will alleviate the challenge of sourcing suppliers that can deliver flexible contracts to carry out maintenance works.

This forward-thinking approach highlights SPA’s commitment to addressing emerging challenges in public sector procurement through collaborative insights.

Another example of SPA’s dedication to future proofing is having secured Gold Standard Verification for all its frameworks in October last year. The accolade, awarded by Constructing Excellence and endorsed by the UK Government’s Cabinet Office, sets benchmarks to ensure best practices in public sector procurement.

Lesley added: “The feedback we gather from partners allows us to refine our frameworks and explore new service areas to meet emerging challenges across the sector.

By working closely with our committee, we can proactively address pressing issues, ensuring that our procurement solutions are always relevant, compliant, and effective for Scotland’s public sector.”

SPA supports community development through its Community Benefit Fund (CBF), which, in partnership with the Lintel Trust, has distributed over £1 million since 2017.

These funds have supported more than 28,000 people across Scotland through projects addressing social inclusion, digital access, and mental health support.