SCAPE’s achievement of the Gold Standard demonstrates that its approach to procurement, performance management and framework operation is compliant and aligned with Central Government policy set out in the Construction Playbook. Through this approach to smarter procurement and Early Contractor Involvement, SCAPE has saved the public sector more than £118m over the past five years.

Constructing Excellence’s Gold Standard Verification scheme was established in 2021 by Professor David Mosey CBE on behalf of the Cabinet Office, with the aim of ensuring that the public sector adopts urgent measures to improve value, reduce risk and achieve strong socioeconomic outcomes through its procurement. SCAPE, which has been championing public procurement best practice for over a decade, has achieved verification for its suite of consultancy, civil engineering, construction and utilities frameworks.

SCAPE joined the Task Force for the Gold Standard scheme in 2023. Since then, it has worked collaboratively with selected industry peers, including the Ministry of Justice, Environment Agency and CHIH to inform criteria in areas such as building safety and information, risk management, collaborative delivery, sustainability and supply chain engagement.

Assessment criteria for the Gold Standard include demonstrating high levels of SME and supply chain engagement, providing visibility of future pipelines and fostering a collaborative, outcomes-based approach to the design and delivery of procurements.

From its transparent pre-market engagement and evaluation processes through to its project and commercial delivery model, SCAPE has rigorous procedures in place throughout the lifecycle of its frameworks to ensure they are compliant and competitively tendered.

The mandate for public sector procurement to have a greater focus on the outcomes for local communities is aligned with how SCAPE has operated since it was first established by its six local authority shareholders in 2006. For almost 20 years, SCAPE has been helping clients with significant buying power, such as central and local government, to maximise the value of their investment, as well as providing price and quality assurance.

SCAPE’s focus on improving communities, creating jobs and promoting local economic growth drives projects that regularly exceed the legal requirements for social value return. This in turn supports better supply chain engagement, enabling local SMEs to operate more sustainably, invest in technology, skills and resources and build resilience – reflecting one of the core tenets of Construction Excellence’s criteria for Gold Standard status.

To this end, SCAPE recognises the important role that its framework delivery partners, local SMEs and supply chains play in designing solutions to the problems facing clients. Measures are in place to ensure that all of SCAPE’s delivery partners act with transparency and integrity, pay their supply chains fairly and promptly and adhere to ethical labour best practice.

SCAPE’s approach to technology and innovation also ensures that its frameworks provide solutions throughout the lifecycle of a project, which helps clients reduce their carbon, construction waste and environmental impact.

As a public sector organisation, SCAPE believes in transparent, collaborative procurement and works closely with Constructing Excellence collaborative groups such as the UK Green Building Council, the National Association of Construction Frameworks (NACF) and Build UK to share best practice and improve standards.

Mark Robinson, SCAPE Group chief executive, said: “Collaborative, compliant and transparent procurement has been at the heart of our approach for over a decade. This Gold Standard achievement for our frameworks across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest standards in public procurement and framework operation.

“Smarter procurement helps drive efficiency, innovation and quality in public services. Faced with a complex set of economic pressures, it is important that government departments and local authorities are making the right choice and using compliant frameworks effectively to achieve value for money and community benefits.

“As a mark of quality, the Gold Standard verification enables us to further demonstrate the value of our work, delivering continuous improvement for our local authority clients, shareholders and the wider public sector.

“It also highlights the alignment between SCAPE’s values and behaviours and what our clients and their communities expect from public sector frameworks. We share their aspirations for using procurement to drive meaningful change and are committed to maximising value for the taxpayer through improved efficiency, social value and environmental outcomes.”

Professor David Mosey CBE, chair, Constructing Excellence Gold Standard Task Group, said: “I am very pleased that SCAPE has achieved Gold Standard Full Verification of their 11 current frameworks. SCAPE and their Independent Verifier, Katie Saunders of Trowers & Hamlins, have put enormous work into the verification process and have shown the power of Gold Standard frameworks and framework contracts to deliver significant benefits for public sector clients and the construction industry.

“Implementing the 24 Gold Standard recommendations will place SCAPE in a strong position to work collaboratively with their clients and supply chain members through strategic planning, integrated teams and continuous improvement which will deliver better, safer, faster and greener project outcomes.”