LOCAL businesses have been awarded more than £2 million in contracts to support the set-up of Social Security Scotland offices in Dundee and Glasgow.
The Scottish Government Framework for Supported Businesses was used to invite bids from organisations that employ at least 30% disabled or disadvantaged people within their workforce.
Dundee’s Dovetail Enterprises and Glasgow’s City Building were successful in gaining contracts totalling £2m for furniture including tables, chairs and desks.
Dovetail Enterprises is a furniture manufacturer that offers training and job opportunities to disabled people. City Building works with its manufacturing facility at Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries to support employment opportunities for disabled people, including those who are visually impaired.
Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Co, a social enterprise based in Renfrewshire that employs people adjusting to life outside of the military, was awarded £50,000 to provide bespoke signs for offices.
Social Security Scotland has published its Corporate Procurement Strategy, setting out how it will continue to provide community benefits through its spending on goods and services.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Shona Robison, said: “The impact of Scotland’s newest public service is broader than the payment of benefits to people across Scotland. It is also a major employer and contributes to the wider economy through awarding contracts for goods and services.
“When we talk about delivering our social security service with dignity, fairness and respect, this isn’t exclusive to the experience of clients. We want this to apply equally to the people and organisations who will work for and with Social Security Scotland.”
Michelle Ferguson, director at Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, added: “As the leading social enterprise in Scotland providing employment to our nation’s heroes, doing business with us genuinely changes lives. Being awarded the tender to deliver bespoke signage for Social Security Scotland has made a significant impact across our manufacturing facility.
“It has been clear since the start of this project that the team at Social Security Scotland wanted this to be a partnership between our organisations.”
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