Procurement Helps Drive Economic Benefits

A new report is highlighting the continued impact of the city council’s procurement and community benefits policies in generating local economic and employment opportunities. 

Councillors will hear that during 2025/26, £134.2 million of procurement spend was directed to Dundee-based suppliers.  

Meanwhile, a major council construction programme across the city used 85% of local labour. 

Projects included Greenfield Academy and Drumgeith Community Campus, the Bell Street Hub, modern office accommodation at James Thomson House on the Waterfront and new housing at Blackness Road  

The annual procurement report and community benefits update reveals that spend with locally based SMEs has remained consistently between approximately 18% and 21% of total procurement spend over recent years.  

Councillors will hear that this demonstrates the city council’s ongoing commitment to community wealth building and supporting the local economy.  

City governance convener Councillor Mark Flynn said: “This report outlines the efforts the city council and its partners are making to support local businesses through our spending on projects. 

“This has a positive knock-on effect for individuals and communities and highlights how important this work is for the future of the city. 

“We are working to make the city a better place for everyone by helping to increase opportunities, reduce unemployment and address issues like deprivation and poverty, as well as the climate emergency.” 

The community benefits report also outlines a number of ‘community wishes’ where groups can ask for a donation of time from contractors to complete a specific task or donate their expertise, a donation of goods or materials or sponsorship to fund specific activities or funds which support the community. 

The report will be considered by the City Governance Committee at its next meeting on Monday September 21.