Two construction projects have been honoured at the GO Awards Scotland for excellence in public procurement.

Morrison Construction Scotland and East Ayrshire Council were awarded the Best Service Award (Contractors working with the Scottish public sector) for bringing Whatriggs Primary School and Early Childhood Centre together with Kirkstyle and Bellfield primaries under the one roof - improving the learning opportunities of the pupils.

The scope of the project included a community library and early childhood centre for 110 children under five who would then attend the primary school and enhanced sporting facilities.

Transport Scotland’s A82 Pulpit Rock Improvement was crowned as the best Infrastructure Project of the Year for the reintroduction of two-way traffic, where signals had significantly restricted the flow of vehicles along the narrow 400m section of road.

The work, which was completed in a sensitive National Park location, provided a slender curving structure between the loch’s shores and a steep cliff-line, while being environmentally friendly to the surrounding area.

The GO Awards Scotland, organised by BiP Solutions, are the only awards dedicated to public procurement in the country. Winners were announced in front of 400 guests at a ceremony held in Glasgow’s Marriot Hotel during the recent two-day Procurex Scotland exhibition.

A total of 10 organisations received a trophy, with a triple success for the education sector which celebrated after collecting three prizes.

Other notable winners include Aberlour Child Care Trust for a creative approach to providing care homes for young people in the region and Falkirk Council which was crowned for its work on eliminating SOC from the procurement process.

Also making it to the podium on the night was City of Glasgow College, the University of Glasgow, Skills Development Scotland, Morrison Construction in partnership with East Ayrshire Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NHS National Services Scotland with NHS Lanarkshire and Scotland Excel.

Simon Burges, group chief executive of GO Awards Scotland organiser BiP Solutions, said: “The quality of applications to this year’s GO Awards were exceptional, demonstrating the hard-work of procurement and supply chain professionals across Scotland. The judging panel thoroughly enjoyed the decision-making process, testament to the high-standard of work they were considering as well as the overall level and range of services which were delivered as a result of best practice procurement.

“A huge well done to Morrison Construction Scotland, East Ayrshire Council and Transport Scotland for two outstanding construction procurement projects which impressed the judges with their innovative work.”

The GO Awards Scotland event was set up in 2008 following the success of the UK-wide National GO Awards, established in 2002.