Ready for Business Update Roddy Stewart

Ready for Business Scottish Government funded programme Aim to support third sector participation in the design and delivery of public services Partnership of CEIS, Social Firms Scotland & Senscot Supported by MacRoberts and Sustainable Procurement LLP Current focus is on PSP development

Current Developments Ready for Business Support PSP Supported Business Development SPPN Research Social Enterprise Register

Supported Businesses – 2016 Change in Definition The definition of those businesses who can benefit from access to reserved contracts is in two parts: Firstly, a supported business’ primary aim is the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons. This may be evidenced in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, or similar documentation that underpin the formation of the business.

Supported Businesses – 2016 Change in Definition Secondly, at least 30% of the employees of those businesses should be disabled or disadvantaged. The precise proportion of staff may fluctuate over time. However with this requirement being underpinned by the main aim of the business (the social and professional integration of disabled and disadvantaged people), then assurances should be evidenced through the HR and resourcing policies of the business. In order to be considered for a reserved contract, businesses will need to fulfil both parts of the definition.

Understanding the New Landscape Work commissioned by the Scottish Government’s Third Sector Division: RfB administered a survey of third sector and asked organisations to identify themselves as a Supported Business under the new definition. Then checked details about their employees to assess whether they met the 30% disabled and disadvantaged employees’ criteria and reviewed their governing document. In total, 75 Supported Businesses completed the survey.

Categorisation of the 75 Responses 37 Supported Businesses - businesses that meet the current definition. 6 Possible Supported Businesses - businesses with objectives in their governance document that appear broad enough to encompass providing employment to disabled or disadvantaged people, but which do not expressly state this as a primary aim; or businesses that currently fall short of the 30% but employ 25-30% disabled or disadvantaged people. 32 Potential Supported Businesses -businesses that meet the 30% criteria and have stated in the survey that providing employment to disabled or disadvantaged people is an aim of the organisation, but their governance document falls short of having a relevant primary aim.

Survey Findings The number of supported businesses has grown considerably as a result of the widening of the definition It is likely that the current Register has not captured all Supported Businesses and that more social enterprises will transform into Supported Businesses in the future. A significant number of organisations (52%) will probably have to adjust their governing document to meet the Section 21 Public Contracts Scotland 2015 criterion. Supported Businesses offer a wide range of products & services.

Use of the term ‘Supported Business’

Services Provided by Supported Businesses

The Register The online Supported Business Register is now incorporated into the “Ready for Business” register and can be found at www.p4p.org.uk

The Register