The Scottish government is ending its reliance on ‘onestop shops’ and is using more specialist and local recruitment agencies.

Nikki Bell, deputy head of National Procurement Scotland, told Recruiter that under changes to its procurement processes, staffing contracts for public sector bodies will be reduced in size and tendered at a local rather than regional level to increase competition. “There will be more opportunities for specialist agencies to compete and we have taken a number of steps to ensure local players get involved.”

Bell is encouraging local authorities to meet with recruiters as much as possible during the tendering process.

However, Lisa Boutineau, regional director of finance, legal and public sector recruiter Badenoch & Clark, which recruits into several councils and local housing associations, told Recruiter smaller agencies — some of the intended beneficiaries of the new procedures — may be put off by the increase in paperwork.

Bell advised recruiters to register on the Public Contracts Scotland website and make themselves aware of the opportunities available.

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