Appendix B

• generating employment and training opportunities for priority groups
• vocational training
• up-skilling of the existing workforce
• equality and diversity initiatives
• making sub-contracting opportunities available to SMEs, the third sector and supported businesses
• supply-chain development activities
• encouraging and developing capacity in community organisations
• educational support initiatives
• working with schools, colleges and universities to offer work experience, mentoring and curriculum development minimising negative environmental impacts, e.g. impacts associated with vehicle movements and/or associated emissions and impacts on protected areas, buildings or sites.

Key statistics of additional employment opportunities, sub-contracting and training provided as a result of our contracts are shown in Table 3, followed by case study from one of our contracts.

Key Statistics during period 1 Apr 2022 - 31 Mar 2023

• Number of new entrant positions (excluding graduates and apprentices) - 774
• Number of graduate positions - 101
• Number of apprentice positions - 114
• Total number of new sub-contracts awarded - 451
• Total value of all sub-contracts - £98,433,924
• Of these, total number of new sub-contracts awarded to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) - 312
• Total value of all sub-contracts awarded to SMEs - £19,511,487
• Total spend with supported business and social enterprise - £355,476
• Number of work placements undertaken - 52
• Number of qualifications gained (SVQ2 and above) - 139
• Number of industry certification gained - 1182

Case Study

BEAR was appointed as the Operating Company for the North West section of the Scottish Trunk Road Network Management Contract in April 2022. Through this Contract BEAR has created a total of 70 new jobs over the reporting period. This comprises 62 new entrant roles, 3 apprentices and 5 graduates. Other community benefits were offered by the supplier as part of the procurement and subsequently delivered through the contract. Some examples are:

Several community benefits initiatives delivered by over 100 employees which resulted in over £48,000 being donated to good causes, such as charities and community groups

• The team from the Inverness depot helped raise £1,400 for Highland Hospice by taking part in a zipline across as section of the Kessock Bridge
• A donation of £1,000 was made to each of the following causes:
  • The Queensferry Churches Care in the Community, which provides daily support to those who are socially isolate, have reduced mobility, long-term health conditions, or diagnosis of dementia
  • The Lighthouse for Perth charity which offers crisis support to anyone aged 12 or above at risk of self-harm or suicide
  • Caithness Broch project which is dedicated to the promotion, preservation and conservation of Caithness archaeology and heritage sites
  • Transform Community Development, based in Dundee, which supports the needs of vulnerable people
• Placing contracts of over £120,000 with the supported businesses such as, Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, who have been able to employ military veterans and people with disabilities thanks to an ongoing partnership with BEAR Scotland
• BEAR Scotland’s staff football tournament raised £3,728 for Scottish Action for Mental Health, which included a £2,000 donation from Highways Management Group. The remainder was raised through the football team’s entry fees
• The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was chosen as the Charity partner of the year and BEAR donated over £5,400 to the charity
• Newtonmore Primary School received funding for hi-vis safety vests for pupils
• Furnace Primary School received funding for waterproofs for their pupils

BEAR helped fund a minibus to enable eight young talented swimmers from Falkirk Intergraded Regional Swim Team (FIRST) to travel to Aberdeen for a competition. The FIRST programme supports swimmers from Grangemouth, Falkirk and Bo’ness to improve the level of competitive swimming of clubs in the area.