McTaggart pledges to buy social in first for Scottish housebuilders

The new national initiative, led by Social Enterprise Scotland, aims to strengthen opportunities for social enterprises within the country’s supply chains.

The builders signed up as part of its commitment to bolster efforts to work with the third sector.

Managing director Janice Russell said: “We firmly believe that building quality affordable homes positively changes lives and communities and part of that is understanding the importance that Social and Supported enterprise plays in communities and supporting marginalised groups.

“As well as our commitment to investing in local employment and apprenticeship schemes, we are delighted to be leading the Scottish construction industry by signing this pledge.”

Launched last year, the pledge brings together corporate businesses, SMEs, academic institutions, and public sector bodies who are looking to make a commitment to bring social enterprises into their supply chains.

McTaggart Construction CSR manager Ross Hammell said: “I am delighted we have signed up to build on the positive work we already do with the third sector. We currently have commitments for orders with RSBI Kitchens, Community Wood Recycling and Scotland’s Bravest Signage but want to create many more opportunities and raise our investment in social enterprise beyond our current spend of £250,000.”

Speaking at a visit to McTaggart Construction’s new social housing development in Glasgow, Janice Nicol, business and enterprise manager at Social Enterprise Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to welcome McTaggart Construction to the Buy Social Scotland Pledge and applaud them for setting a powerful example to the housebuilding sector of how organisations can drive positive change and promote a more inclusive economy across Scotland by integrating social enterprises into their supply chain.”

The Buy Social Scotland Pledge has five key commitments: recognise Fair Work principles; make a commitment towards a Net Zero Policy; promote social enterprises within the organisation’s procurement and supply chain; agree to prompt payment to its suppliers; and commit to reporting annual spend with social enterprises.