Annex F – Glossary of terms
Social impact
Scottish Procurement Policy Note (SPPN 10/2020) Measuring social impact in public procurement explains social impact as “the effects on people and communities that happen as a result of an action, activity, project, programme or policy.”.
Social Impact is the terminology commonly used in Scotland, whereas in England the concept is generally referred to as ‘Social Value’.
Meaningful social impact is realised when communities are involved in the process. The Place Principle promotes a shared understanding of place, and the need to take a more collaborative approach to a place’s services and assets to achieve better outcomes for people and communities.
Priority Groups
Groups identified as facing barriers to employment or being at higher risk of inequality. Priority groups will differ depending on the procurement, sector and tendering organisation. Priority groups may include but are not limited to young people who are not in employment, education or training; long term unemployed people; people with protected characteristics; parents who are unemployed or facing in-work poverty (six family types identified as being at higher risk of child poverty); care experienced people; homeless people; veterans; people with a conviction; people with health conditions; disabled people; women; people with caring responsibilities or unpaid carers; people from racialised minorities.
Please also refer to the section on Identifying priority groups.
Green skills / green jobs
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) describes green skills as “the knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.”.
Scotland’s Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan 2020-2025 (CESAP) explains that “Green jobs include those in renewable energy, the circular economy and zero waste, and the nature based sector”. CESAP categorises green jobs as new and emerging jobs, jobs affected by the transition to net zero, and existing jobs that will be needed in greater numbers. It identifies five broad areas of economic activity that can make a significant contribution to achieving net zero transition, and offer potential opportunities for jobs growth:
- Energy transition (including oil and gas, on and offshore wind, hydrogen, electricity, carbon capture and storage)
- Construction (including the retrofitting of housing and non-residential properties)
- Transport (including road transport, railways, domestic aviation, shipping and aircraft support vehicles)
- Manufacturing (with a focus on engineering)
- Agriculture and land use management (including forestry)
Support Businesses
Means an economic operator whose main aim is the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons and where at least 30% of the employees of the economic operator are disabled or disadvantaged persons.
No One Left Behind
No One Left Behind is our approach to employability services in Scotland that tackles inequalities in Scotland’s labour market, which helps people of all ages who experience the most disadvantage and inequality to progress towards employment, to stay in employment and to progress in the workplace.
Through the partnership working agreement, Scottish and Local Government are committed to working in partnership to deliver employability support to achieve the best outcomes possible for participants.
Local Employability Partnerships (LEPs) play a critical role in the planning and commissioning of employability services locally providing support to help individuals overcome personal and systemic barriers to employment by addressing the broader needs of those who are disadvantaged in the labour market. This could be for example help with an addiction or specialist support for a mental health condition, etc.
Fair recruitment procedures
All applicants are treated fairly, choosing people based on their skills and suitability, and avoiding bias or discrimination. The process should be transparent, consistent, and follow employment legislation and the Equality Act 2010, while also encouraging diversity and inclusion. For example, ensuring job adverts are accessible and inclusive, using tools like anonymous applications and structured interviews, offering support to candidates with disabilities (reasonable adjustments), and having a diverse interview panel.