Community Benefits from Construction Programme

A new report highlights the continued success of the City Council’s community benefits policy in generating meaningful employment, apprenticeship opportunities, and work experience placements through major construction initiatives.

A wide-ranging building programme delivered local spend of nearly £55 million in 2024/25 and used 73% of local labour, councillors will hear.

Capital projects include the Drumgeith Community Campus, the Green Travel Hub at the Bell Street multi-storey car park, and the modern office accommodation at James Thomson House on the Waterfront.

In 2024/25 the community benefits policy delivered 38 Work Experience Opportunities, 40 employment and 23 new start employment opportunities.

There were 29 project-initiated apprenticeships as well as 68 existing apprenticeships recorded during the year.

The recently launched Community Wealth Building Strategy is helping shape the direction for efforts to further boost the economy and support local jobs in the future.

It builds on years of dedicated work across the city and is strategically designed to complement and enhance a range of existing activities that support sustainable economic growth in Dundee.

The annual procurement report and community benefits update to be considered by councillors also shows Dundee City Council completed 39 regulated procurements with a value of over £27 million across the year.

It also shows that the Council achieved 95% of all invoices being paid within 30 days, with 104,077 invoices paid in 2024/25.

City governance convener Councillor Mark Flynn said: “This report outlines the efforts the city council and its partners are making to support local businesses through our spending in the economy.

“This has a positive knock-on effect for individuals and communities and highlights how important this work is for the future of the city.

“But there is still much more we can all do to take forward our approach to ensure that local economic development can have the maximum impact on communities and people's lives.

“This is about making the city a better place for everyone by helping to increase opportunities, reduce unemployment and address issues like deprivation and poverty, as well as the climate emergency.”

The report will be considered by the City Governance Committee at its next meeting on Monday September 1.