LATEST NEWS: Council spend supports jobs and spreads community benefits

In a report considered by the Finance and Resources Committee today (Thursday 18 September), Councillors heard how the city’s procurement programme is helping to boost community wealth building in the city.

The Annual Procurement Report confirms contracts awarded by the Council last year brought in £253,954 in community benefits, supporting 316 work placements, 84 apprentices and 91 local jobs.

With a focus on supporting fair work and local business, almost half of Edinburgh’s spending power has been with SMEs (49%), with support for local suppliers also above the Scottish average (36%). That is alongside 93% of all Council suppliers committed to paying the Living Wage.

Community benefits delivered over the last year include:

• Construction skills: Working with builders on Council construction projects, opportunities have been delivered in schools, colleges and the local community, helping to promote a new generation of specialist trades needed in Edinburgh like stonemasonry. This year 195 young people are engaged in construction pathways.
• Local apprenticeships: The Granton Waterfront regeneration alone is supporting 220 apprenticeships and employability services.
• The Edinburgh School Uniform Bank: With support from Council suppliers, £21,700 has been raised to roll out 20 on-site uniform banks in schools, so that young people can get the basics they need straight away and without any stigma.
• Food pantry donations: Charities like Fareshare and Cyrenians have worked with suppliers to gather donations for local food banks and pantries.
• Buddies for ‘New Scots’: Job support, a buddy scheme and English language teaching have been delivered thanks to 115 hours of volunteering by suppliers with The Welcoming project.
• The Million Trees Project: Contractors have helped to plant new trees in contribution to Edinburgh’s Million Tree target, with contractor Anderson Strathearn planting 60 trees on the side of Arthur's Seat to save 60 tonnes of carbon.
• Community clean ups: Volunteers have worked with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust to carry out community clean ups, with CMS sending 25 volunteers to tidy waste in the Water of Leith.

Councillor Mandy Watt, Finance and Resources Convener, said:

“We’re using our spending power to create local job opportunities and support Edinburgh-based businesses as far as we can. This is bringing fantastic community benefits, helping us to address issues like poverty and climate change while creating good places to live.

“This latest report shows just how much progress has been made. The difference we can make when we work together with contractors and other community organisations is huge. I’m keen to build on this even further to keep spend local and with Living Wage suppliers, to create even more good quality jobs and local opportunities.”

John McKinney, Scottish Traditional Building Forum, said:

 “We have been working with the City of Edinburgh Council to coordinate community benefit activities in construction to maximise their long-term impact for the benefit of young people and businesses in the city.

“We have made significant progress in the last year with the creation and delivery of a construction pathway piloted in schools and using community benefits. We have been working on developing and delivering this programme for the last three years and are looking forward to working with the Council to roll it out across the city.”

Julia Grindley, Trustee on the Board of the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank, said:

“Donations facilitated by community benefits have significantly aided Edinburgh's most disadvantaged families by supporting the Edinburgh School Uniform Bank to provide school uniforms and essentials, helping children overcome barriers to education, inclusion and participation.”

ENDS