ECCI and Sniffer win competitive tender for Sustainable Scotland Network

ECCI, in a partnership bid together with Sniffer, has won a Scottish Government contract to provide the secretariat service to the Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) – Scotland’s largest network of public sector sustainability professionals.

ECCI and Sniffer’s ambitious approach to developing the network will help connect climate change action being taken across Scotland’s public sector with a wider audience of decision makers. They aim to enhance and grow the strong capacity-building, training, knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer opportunities offered by the SSN. They will also add value by connecting the network to innovative and untapped partners and channels.

ECCI proposes a number of ambitious developments for the SSN. These align closely with the change in climate action needed to deliver on the newly-published Climate Change Plan – particularly around the decarbonisation of heat and transport. 

Scotland’s 2009 Climate Change Act places duties on all public bodies. In 2015 the Scottish Government introduced an Order requiring all public bodies from the Major Player list to report annually to Scottish Ministers on their compliance with the climate change duties. The SSN supports the public sector to comply with this duty and in 2017 all major public bodies completed emissions reporting.

ECCI and Sniffer are working closely with the Scottish Government and the existing project team at Keep Scotland Beautiful to ensure continuity of service to SSN members. A full project team will be in place at ECCI later this spring – watch this space for details.

ECCI Executive Director Andy Kerr said: “ECCI is delighted to be appointed to the secretariat for the SSN.

“This is a crucial time for our public sector, when its ambition and leadership is vital to galvanise private sector climate innovation and help deliver Scotland’s ambitious emissions goals.

“Our proposal is based on leveraging the incredible success of the reporting to develop the opportunity for leadership on climate action.

“We are very grateful to our colleagues at Keep Scotland Beautiful for the hard work and stewardship of the network over recent years and we will work closely with them to ensure a smooth transition for members.

“Our first action will be to meet with the steering group, followed by wider engagement and conversations with the whole network to help inform the vision and development of the SSN.”

Ruth Wolstenholme, Managing Director of Sniffer, said: “Sniffer welcomes this opportunity to strengthen our existing relationship with ECCI, and in particular to contribute to the capacity-building element of the network. 

“This closely aligns with our role supporting the public sector through the delivery of the Adaptation Scotland programme.”

Derek Robertson, CEO at Keep Scotland Beautiful, commented: “We are proud to have provided the secretariat for the SSN for the past 15 years. During this time, we have, with support from the Scottish Government, a dedicated Steering Group, and excellent staff team, seen the Network grow to become the largest of its kind. 

"We will continue to support the Scottish Government’s ambitions and look forward to supporting the work of the Network as it begins a new chapter with ECCI and Sniffer.”