ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½

Welcome to the winter edition of our quarterly Supplier Newsletter, our first for the new year!

We begin with an overview of our recent Supplier Engagement event where we met with local businesses and third sector organisations to help them become ‘tender ready’ by providing an opportunity to learn about potential routes to market and business support available. The event was a great success, keep an eye out for future sessions.

The newsletter also includes information on recruitment support and incentives such as the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Guarantee, a service offering support to businesses with free job advertising, work experience opportunities and access to the network of employability providers. We also highlight funding available to benefit both employers and employees to secure fair and sustainable work. 

We share an appeal from the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ School Uniform Bank for financial and clothing donations to keep local children and young people warm this winter. This may offer an opportunity to support delivery of Community Benefit obligations whilst directly benefiting children and young people in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, this is voluntary and should not detract from mandated benefits already agreed.

As always, we’ve included a list of upcoming tender opportunities and encourage you to register for alerts on the .

We look forward to working with you.

Lynette Robertson

Head of Commercial and Procurement Services

The City of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Council – Supplier Engagement Event

On the 14 November 2024, the Commercial and Procurement Services (CPS) team in partnership with the Supplier Development Programme (SPD) welcomed 158 local businesses and third sector organisations to our main office in Waverley Court. The CPS team engaged with local businesses and third sector organisations in advance to ask what they would like from an in-person event. A common ask was for clarity on the tendering process and potential business growth support to be in one place at the event to make it worthwhile and accessible to all. The team organised this event based on these key factors to support the Council’s strategic economic, social, and environmental commitments.

The event was a great success with local businesses and third sector organisations having the opportunity to learn about the different routes to market and the business support available, as well as  meeting with the Council’s CPS team, Business Growth and Sustainability teams, Supplier Development programme, ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Chamber of Commerce and Capital City Partnership.

There were two keynote sessions on the day from both the Council (how we buy and what influences our approach) and SDP (top tips for tendering). Both were fully booked so for anyone that may have missed them, you can find all the from the event on our website. In addition, the Council in conjunction with SDP will deliver an online version of the Councils keynote session on 26 February 2025, to access this please register on the .

Additionally, one of the highlights of the event was the adoption of the ‘Buy Social’ Pledge ceremony by the Council. This reinstates our commitment to Fair Work practices, commitment to Net Zero, commitment to promote social enterprises and prompt payment. 

Finally, if you would like to receive our quarterly supplier newsletter direct to your inbox, please email us at supplierdevelopment@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Recruitment support

The ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Guarantee offers a free and bespoke service to suppliers/employers to support recruitment needs. This service includes:

• access to the jobs board to advertise employment opportunities
• recruitment and facilitation support to help find and hire candidates
• connecting suppliers to our network of employability partners who can help to find and support candidates
• access to funding to contribute towards recruitment, salary, training and other staff costs
• support in creating work experience and employer engagement opportunities to bring greater benefit to the community

Further information is available on the and you can get in touch with the ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Guarantee team for advice and support on 0131 529 3525 or by email edinburghguarantee@edinburgh.gov.uk.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s Employer Recruitment Incentive (EERI)

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½’s Employer Recruitment Incentive (EERI) provides the opportunity for employers to access up to £8,000 of funding to contribute towards the costs of recruiting and employing a new employee. This Scottish Government funding is specifically designed to help people who reside in ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ and may have a perceived employability barrier(s), to secure fair employment. The fund is administered by the City of ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Council and further information including the online application is available on our website.

The closing date for funding applications is 1 March 2025.

EERI team (email: wage.incentives@edinburgh.gov.uk, tel: 0131 529 3139) are on hand to answer any queries and provide support in accessing the funding.

Supplier drop-in sessions

Commercial and Procurement Services team runs monthly virtual 1-2-1 engagement sessions. These are an excellent opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have if you’re interested in working in, or becoming part of, the supply chain that delivers goods, services or works to the Council. If you’d like to drop-in, please email procurement.delivery@edinburgh.gov.uk.

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ School Uniform Bank – winter warmers appeal

ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ School Uniform Bank (ESUB) are appealing for both warm clothing and/or financial donations to buy winter-wear for children and young people facing hardship this winter.

Donation to the ESUB is an existing option on all Community Benefits menus. If you have outstanding Community Benefits to deliver, financial or agreed clothing donations to the ESUB could be an option that directly benefits our local children and young people. Should you prefer to buy clothing donations yourselves, please check with the ESUB to agree items needed, as there are specific requirements.

Please note however this is a voluntary opportunity to fulfil your contractual requirement to deliver Community Benefits, delivery of which should not detract from any committed/mandated benefits already agreed.

For more information and contact details please visit .

Tender opportunities

You can find details of contract opportunities with the Council on the . You will also find future opportunities for noting interest and engaging in the development where appropriate, we expect these will include the following.

Current opportunities

• , deadline 31 January 2025
• , deadline 1 April 2025

Prior Information Notices

• , estimated contract notice date January 2025
• , estimated contract notice date January/February 2025
• , February/March 2025
• , estimated contract notice date March/April 2025

Future opportunities

• Construction Professional Services Framework, estimated publishing date January 2025
• Public & Civic Clock Maintenance, estimated publishing date January 2025
• Letter Distribution and Installation, estimated publishing date February 2025
• Fleet Asset Disposals, estimated publishing date February 2025
• Rope Access Surveys, minor repairs and associated services, estimated publishing date February 2025
• EV Charging Expansion Concession Contract, estimated publishing date March 2025

Useful resources