Now in its eighth year, the long-running rebate initiative has returned more than £4.8 million to public sector partners, rewarding their investment in housing, community infrastructure, energy efficiency upgrades and public building projects across Scotland.

The Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) has confirmed the substantial sum will be distributed in early September, with individual awards spanning from a few hundred pounds to a standout £101,658.77.

This year marks the final cycle of the rebate in its current form. On 1 April 2025, the scheme merged with SPA’s Community Benefit Fund to offer partners more flexible, community-focused support. The first awards under the new scheme will be distributed from April 2026.

Lesley Peaty, regional director for SPA, said: “Communities are facing greater pressures than ever before. The lasting impact of Covid, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, and rising costs across construction all mean it has become harder for organisations to deliver the level of support people need.

“Local authorities and housing providers are being asked to do more with less, and budgets are under immense strain.

“That is why SPA’s rebate programme is so important. It provides much-needed relief at a time when every pound matters, offering supplementary funding that can be directed straight back into communities.

“Procurement should be a force for good, not only delivering efficiency but also creating positive change. This rebate scheme is a clear example of how we can reinvest in communities and give them the resources to achieve their ambitions.”

Since 2017, SPA has helped more than 140 public sector partners harness procurement spending for good. Across the wider group of regional procurement alliances, the total value of rebates awarded this year alone have reached £1,160,641.

Under the new model, partners will still qualify based on project spend through eligible SPA frameworks, but rather than receiving a direct financial rebate, any funding accrued will be nominated by the recipient and directed into local initiatives aligned with SPA’s social value priorities.

Delivered via SPA’s charitable partner, Lintel Trust, this approach will enable more targeted support for grassroots programmes, with guidance available to help public sector partners identify suitable causes in their areas.

Lesley added: “It’s been hugely encouraging to see rebates rise year-on-year, with more partners than ever before sharing in the returns.

“This reflects not only the strength of our frameworks but the way they are being used to unlock real value for communities.”

“Compared with last year, six additional organisations will now benefit, five of which will be awarded a rebate for the first time - a clear sign of the growing confidence in our approach.

“The increased scale of rebates means more funding can be directed to frontline projects, from community facilities and local initiatives to skills and training opportunities.

“Looking ahead, embedding rebates within our wider Social Value Strategy ensures this success is not a one-off. It creates a sustainable model that will continue to channel procurement spend into measurable social impact, supporting partners to deliver for their communities long into the future.”