Appendix B - Community benefits statistics and case study

There is a focus on the provision and delivery of community benefits in Transport Scotland’s contracts. Community benefits may include opportunities such as:

  • 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 reported by suppliers as being delivered through Transport Scotland’s contracts are shown below, followed by a case study from one of our contracts.

Key Statistics during period 01 Apr 2024 – 31 Mar 2025

  • number of new entrant positions (excluding graduates and apprentices) - 832
  • number of graduate positions - 172
  • number of apprentice positions - 63
  • total number of new sub-contracts awarded - 570
  • total value of all sub-contracts - £162,116,349
  • of these, total number of new sub-contracts awarded to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) - 351
  • total value of all sub-contracts awarded to SMEs - £52,202,108
  • of these, total number of new sub-contracts awarded to supported business and social enterprises - £419,173
  • total spend with supported business and social enterprise - £560,056

Case Study: “BEAR Cares” - community support in 2024

BEAR Scotland who are one of Transport Scotland’s Network Management Contractors has a long-standing corporate social responsibility programme, designed to support local communities. This initiative is termed “BEAR Cares”. In 2024 a total of £50,539 was donated to charities and community groups.

The dashboard below shows the key highlights.

Figure 15. BEAR Scotland “BEAR Cares” Dashboard, as described in following text
Figure 15. BEAR Scotland “BEAR Cares” Dashboard

The key information presented in Figure 15 is listed below.

  • £50,539 donated to good causes in 2024
  • 3 major fundraising events hosted in 2024
  • 31 charities supported across Scotland
  • 8 regional charities received £750 each
  • £20,093 of corporate donations
  • 39 community groups and clubs supported
  • 786 volunteer hours of CSR logged
  • £5,158 employee fundraising
  • 5K school pupils from across Scotland engaged with STEM programme

BEAR’s support includes several long-term charity partnerships including “Cash for Kids”, Scottish Action for Mental Health, Royal British Legion Industries and “My Name’5 Doddie”. In 2024 there was also an annual charity partner, nominated by BEAR staff, Macmillan Cancer Support. This charity was aided through coffee mornings, a sponsored hike and a Forth Road Bridge Doors Open Day. In addition, at the start of 2024, BEAR employees were asked to nominate a smaller local or regional causes. The eight selected organisations were:

  • Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity
  • Scottish Borders Donkey Sanctuary
  • Borders Water Rescue Team
  • Moodiesburn Coffee House
  • The Reconnection Project
  • Befrienders Highland
  • Highland & Islands Blood Bikes
  • Munlochy Animal Rescue

Finally, BEAR has taken part in 38 local community engagement exercises including supporting local sports clubs and other organisations as highlighted below.

Figure 16. BEAR Scotland local community engagement distribution, as described in following text
Figure 16. BEAR Scotland local community engagement distribution

A full list of organisations represented in Figure 16 is shown below.

  • Stirling City Heritage Trust
  • Rotary Club of Perth – Classic Car Tour
  • St Catherine’s Primary School
  • Currie Star FC 2017s
  • Horseshoe Bar Dalkeith fundraiser for CHAS
  • Eyemouth Girls Football Team
  • Craigie’s Over 35 FC
  • Clackmannan Early Learning Centre
  • Kingussie High School Shinty Team
  • Musselburgh Sea & Royal Marine Cadets
  • Biggar Nursery School
  • Newtongrange Juvenile Shinty Team
  • Perth & Kinross Greyfriars House
  • Five Sisters Zoo
  • Easthouses War Memorial
  • Christmas in Queensferry
  • Langholm Christmas Fund
  • Newton St Boswells Christmas Lights
  • Speakability Tayside
  • Scone Thistle Football Club Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance
  • Strathendrick Under 16s Rugby
  • Combie Residents’ Association
  • Eyemouth Primary School Nursery
  • Queensferry High School
  • Ruthven Primary School
  • Highland 4x4 Response
  • Dunbar United Colts Under 16s
  • Auchengeich Colliery Memorial Fund
  • Milton of Leys Kids Football Club
  • Handicabs Lothian Ukraine Bus Conversion Project
  • Newtongrange Primary School Playground Improvements
  • Perth Highland Games European Pipe Band Competition
  • University of Glasgow – Suicidal Behaviour Research
  • Kidz Stop Nursery, Linlithgow
  • Queensferry Ferry Fair
  • Dalgety Bay & Hillend Gala