Amanda Gauld, who has a solid background in community benefits in construction and human resources focusing on employability, will oversee the SPA’s Community Benefit Fund (CBF) while also playing a vital role in helping and supporting businesses to help deliver meaningful lasting change in their communities.

Amanda said: “Community benefits shouldn’t be an add-on, they should be part of an organisation’s DNA, embedded in boardroom discussions right through to delivery on site.

“My goal is to support organisations in shaping meaningful, long-term strategies that prioritise what communities actually need.

“It’s been a fast start for me, but I’ve loved every moment of it so far. It’s been fantastic to be able to speak with our partners, appointed companies and those in community groups by listening and understanding what they need to make benefits work better for them.

“What’s been eye-opening is the shift in focus. Last year, 75% of SPA‘s community benefit fund projects’ main aim was to tackle social isolation. This year, we have seen a considerable increase in projects focusing on addressing the cost of living and fuel poverty.

“These are still the ripple effects of the pandemic, and now we’re seeing a rise in food insecurity and financial hardship, the need for grassroots support has never been greater and SPA is right at the front, delivering real change.”

SPA is a not-for-profit organisation that reinvests surpluses back into communities through its partnership with the Lintel Trust, which administers the fund and supports grassroots initiatives across Scotland.

Since 2017, its CBF has awarded  £1.1 million in grants, supporting over 35,000 people across 116 community groups, charities, and various causes, generating social value of more than £5.9m.

Lesley Peaty, regional director of Scottish Procurement Alliance, said: “Our commitment to social value goes far beyond policy, it’s embedded in how we operate, invest and support our partners.

“Amanda’s appointment strengthens that promise. She is already helping to reshape conversations with housing associations and appointed companies, challenging them to think more strategically and sustainably about the long-term impact of their procurement decisions.

“Her insight and lived experience are already an invaluable asset to both us and our partners as she has brought forward a fresh and practical perspective that empowers organisations to make the changes they need to support their communities.”

Amanda’s role will see her support SPA partners and appointed companies to shape their social value strategies.

A key focus area will be demystifying the difference between community benefits and social value, particularly for smaller housing associations that may lack dedicated in-house expertise.

Amanda added: “For many smaller organisations, social value can feel like an alien concept, there’s often confusion between community benefits and social value but really, the benefits are the actions that lead to wider social value.

“My role is about stripping it back, helping partners identify what matters most in their communities, and building strategies that are both meaningful and achievable.

“A lot of organisations are already delivering real social impact, they just need help recognising it, embedding it, and building on it.

“A great example is the Be Well initiative run by Berwickshire Housing Association in partnership with Penumbra.

“It was first funded in 2020 to provide tailored mental health and wellbeing support to tenants, helping individuals sustain their tenancies through direct one-to-one guidance and interventions.

“It’s now in its fifth year, and that kind of long-term, community-led support shows exactly how social value can be sustained and evolved over time.”