Foreword

Procurement is pivotal to the delivery of Transport Scotland’s corporate goals and enables us to use our influence as a contracting authority to deliver outcomes that are good for Scotland. Our procurement activity supports the Scottish Government’s key priorities.

The transport sector is a major pillar of the Scottish economy. Connecting Scotland - the Value of Transport assessed that it is estimated to support more than 1 in 20 jobs and contribute a similar share of overall economic activity. Even on this measure alone, its influence is significant and wide ranging.

Beyond these direct contributions, transport plays an even broader role in shaping both the economy and daily life. It underpins the everyday activities we rely on and acts as a vital foundation for many of the opportunities we pursue. Transport can help to deliver social and economic benefits at national, regional, and local levels as well as enhancing productivity, improving public health, reducing inequalities, and supporting efforts to address climate change.

Transport Scotland's National Transport Strategy (NTS2), sets out a long-term vision for Scotland’s transport system until 2040, which is:

We will have a sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport system, helping deliver a healthier, fairer and more prosperous Scotland for communities, businesses and visitors.

The NTS2 vision is underpinned by four priorities to: reduce inequalities, take climate action, help deliver inclusive economic growth, and improve our health and wellbeing. This vison and the Strategic Transport Project Review 2 form the basis upon which we take decisions and evaluate the success of Scotland’s transport policies going forward. This approach is consistent with the procurement objectives we detailed in our Transport Scotland Corporate Procurement Strategy 2024-2025, which also align with those in the Scottish Government’s Public Procurement Strategy: 2023 to 2028. 

In addition to funding allocated by grants and subsidies to public and private organisations, Transport Scotland’s spend on procured contracts during the financial year 2024-2025 was over £985 million. An important part of this (10%) was direct spend with Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

Procurement also enables us to deliver policies and priorities that support the Scottish Government in achieving the National Outcomes. Transport Scotland’s vision for procurement is:

To support the delivery of value for money, sustainable and innovative infrastructure and services in fulfilment of the Scottish Government’s ambition and vision for transport and Transport Scotland’s corporate commitments through a strategic and systematic approach to procurement.

This Annual Procurement Report 2024-2025 sets out how we are providing value for money and ensuring compliance with our obligations to provide sustainable, inclusive, safe and accessible transport infrastructure and services. This supports the Scottish Government’s vision of putting public procurement at the heart of a sustainable economy to maximise value for the people of Scotland. Transport Scotland continues to focus on placing sustainability at the heart of all our procurement activity as we deliver on the priorities of the Scottish Government.

Alison Irvine
Chief Executive
Transport Scotland