In Scotland, public sector procurement is governed by rules set out by the Scottish Government. Therefore, there is certain information, policies, and processes which must be in place before your business can begin to bid for public sector contracts. This webinar aims to help Scottish SMEs and social enterprises become tender ready. One of our […]
The biggest learning curve in tendering is understanding the time, energy, and resources that go into creating a winning bid. The more planning you do before writing your bid, the easier you'll find it when you begin your response. This training will walk you through the steps of how to plan and manage your bid. […]
Do you know how to complete the Single Procurement Document? The Single Procurement Document (SPD) is a set of questions, that cannot be altered, which helps buyers identify if your business is suitably qualified to carry out the contract you are bidding for. Most buyers use the SPD for the tendering process, as it ensures […]
Consortium bidding offers numerous benefits for small businesses, social enterprises, supported businesses and third sector type organisations including increased access to larger contracts, reduced individual risk, and enhanced market reach. By pooling resources and expertise, small businesses can compete for projects they might not be able to undertake alone. Many SMEs, social enterprises and supported […]
Understanding what a buyer is looking for and creating a response to show how you are the best candidate for the job can be tricky. At this training, you will learn what skills are needed for your business to write a good tender response and stand out from your competitors. One of SDP’s expert trainers […]
Don’t miss the annual Meet the Buyer Tayside event, on Tuesday 3 March 2026 (10am – 2pm) at the Innovation Hub at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, Dundee. Dundee City Council and the Supplier Development Programme, invite local businesses of all sizes to this free, in-person event, which will take place at the Innovation Hub at Michelin Scotland Innovation […]
On 4-5 March 2026, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Net Zero Summit returns to the QEII Centre, London, co-located with Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit. This major two-day conference and expo brings together senior procurement and supply chain leaders to tackle today’s biggest challenges: supply chain resilience, cost efficiency, risk mitigation, and long-term […]
Frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) are fast becoming a popular way for buyers to manage common purchases. Frameworks and DPS’s can also be a lucrative source of business for suppliers but it is vital you understand the agreement before getting on a Framework. At this training, you will get an understanding of what a […]
Getting the highest possible score in your bid is essential to winning a contract, but it can be difficult to know exactly what the buyer is looking for. Every supplier putting in a bid will tell the buyer they can do what it wants them to do. To improve your bid score and win bids, […]
Scotland has a vision of becoming one of the most innovative small nations in the world over the next decade. This is key to our efforts to transform the economy, improve our Public Services and drive lasting improvement in Scotland’s economic performance. Public procurement can play an important part enabling innovation in our public services. […]
Public sector procurement in Scotland is guided by several policy requirements that were put in place so that organisations, operations, and procurement exercises achieve specific, desirable outcomes. So, what does that mean for suppliers? During this training, you will get an overview of the most common policy requirements including Sustainability, Community Benefits, Fair Work Practices, […]
So, you’ve been awarded onto a contract, now what? You now need to manage the contract in partnership with the buyer to deliver on everything you promised in the bid. This training will explain how to successfully deliver on your contract, what to do if things go wrong, and how to win again when it […]
Do you want to grow your business by exploring new public sector markets? Wider opportunities are not always as easy to find, so you need to commit time and resources into investigating them. Businesses may be surprised to learn that the procurement rules in Scotland and the rest of the UK are currently largely the […]
Join us for Meet the Buyer 2026, Scotland’s largest free procurement event! Now in its 17th year, Scotland’s National Meet the Buyer event will take place on Tuesday 2 June 2026, from 10am to 3pm. This free event is hosted by the Supplier Development Programme, and partnered by Scottish Government. Come along to meet procurement […]
