Welcome to the Supplier Development Programme

If you’re a Scottish SME or third sector organisation interested in working with the public sector, we can help. We offer expert training, support and information to help you win work and grow your business. And best of all – it’s completely free.

Fife Council Meet the Buyer on Thursday 7 November at 8:30am

The 15th Annual Meet the Buyer, organised by Fife Council in partnership with the Supplier Development Programme, once again returns to the Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline from 8:30am till 12:30pm

In Person event - Book now

1.2 Using Public Contract Scotland (PCS) – How to Find and Bid for Opportunities on 5 November at 2:30pm

Join this webinar to learn about PCS, the national public sector tender portal for Scotland.

Book your place today!

1.3 Getting Your Business Tender Ready - The Checklist on 6 November at 2pm

Knowing what your business needs to have in place before you start tendering is the foundation to success. This webinar will provide you with an easy to use checklist and description of all the policies, processes and evidence you need to have ready before you bid on an opportunity.

Book today!

1.4 Planning You Bid - Time and Resources on 12 November at 1:30pm

The biggest learning curve in tendering is understanding the time, energy and resources that go into creating a winning bid. This webinar will walk you through the steps of how to plan and manage your bid, making it as stress free as possible.

Book Now!

Supplier Development Programme - eLearning Platform

Need help with your tender writing and can't wait, SDP now allows 'on demand' training to Scottish SMEs, third sector organisations and supported businesses through eLearning

Click Here to get started!

Latest news

SDP Awarded Highly Commended at GO Awards Scotland 2024

30 Oct: The Supplier Development Programme, alongside Scottish Borders Council, were delighted to receive a Highly Commended in the Collaborative Procurement Initiative category at the GO Awards Scotland 2024/25.

SDP Publish 2023/24 Annual Report

30 Oct: The Supplier Development Programme has published the annual report for the 2023/24 financial year. This report covers the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Economy and Fair Work Committee Inquiry into Scotland’s City Region and Regional Growth Deals

21 Oct: The Economy and Fair Work Committee will undertake an inquiry to look at the implementation and effectiveness of deals. They will consider how deals have contributed to addressing local issues and supporting development and inclusive growth

Tender opportunities

Public Contracts Scotland

Featured events

Fife Council Meet the Buyer

Thursday 7 November 2024, 9.00am-12:30pm

Dunfermline • SDP Event

The 15th Annual Fife Council Meet the Buyer Event returns on Thursday 7 November!

1.4 Planning Your Bid – Time and Resources

Tuesday 12 November 2024, 1.30-3:00pm

Webinar

The City of Edinburgh Council: Supplier Engagement Event

Thursday 14 November 2024, 9.00-11:30am

Edinburgh • SDP Event

The City of Edinburgh Council welcomes local micro, small and supported businesses, as well as third sector organisations, to its Supplier Engagement Event.

Lanarkshire Meet the "Real" Buyer

Wednesday 20 November 2024, 10.00am-2:00pm

Airdrie • Partner Event

This event is an opportunity for local businesses to talk to leading contractors and local authority services from North and South Lanarkshire, supported by SDP.

1.2 Using Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) – How to Find and Bid for Opportunities

Tuesday 26 November 2024, 1.00-2:30pm

Webinar

Join this webinar to learn everything you need to know about Public Contracts Scotland, the national public sector tender portal for Scotland.

2.1 Passing the Selection Stage – The Single Procurement Document (SPD)

Wednesday 27 November 2024, 10.30am-12:00pm

Webinar

During this webinar we take an in-depth look at the Single Procurement Document (SPD), which was formerly known as the ESPD and PQQ. Attend this course to gain tips and hints that will help you ace this first step and move forward in the bidding process.

2.2 How to Write Outstanding Tenders - The Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage

Thursday 5 December 2024, 1.30-2:00pm

Webinar

Bidding is all about getting the right words on the page and getting a compliant bid submitted on time. This webinar will demonstrate how to use PCS and PCS-T and will also look at how to construct excellent responses to buyers' questions.

View & book more events