Published reports

THE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SCOTLAND CO. LIMITED

Company number: SC202659

This information is as reported by the business, and responses are in their own words.

Reporting period:

1 October 2025 to 31 March 2026

Report filed on:

20 May 2026

Approved by:

Cheryl Mallon


Contracts and payments

Do any of this business's construction contracts with its suppliers include retention clauses? No

Payment statistics

Average time taken to pay invoices: 4 days

Total value paid:

  • within 30 days: £69,044,526  (100%)
  • in 31 to 60 days: £204,578  (< 1%)
  • in 61 days or more: £0  (0%)

Invoices paid:

  • within 30 days: 100%
  • in 31 to 60 days: 0%
  • in 61 days or more: 0%

Late and disputed:

  • total value of payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: £204,578
  • payments due in the reporting period which have not been paid within the agreed period: 0%
  • not made in the reporting period due to a dispute: 0%

Payment terms

Shortest standard payment periods

30 days

Longest standard payment period

Answer not provided

Standard payment terms

Skills Development Scotland (SDS), in line with other public sector organisations, is bound by the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 and makes payment within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice, unless alternative contractual terms apply. Payment terms are agreed when orders for goods and services are placed, and SDS adheres to those arrangements. Where possible, SDS aims to comply with the Scottish Government’s target of making payment of authorised invoices within 10 working days of receipt.

Were there any changes to the standard payment terms in the reporting period?

No

Were suppliers notified or consulted about these changes before they were made?

N/A

Maximum contractual payment period agreed

30 days

N/A

Any other information about payment terms

Invoices submitted to Skills Development Scotland are processed in accordance with agreed contractual terms and internal controls, including purchase order matching and invoice approval. Payments to suppliers are made on a regular basis in line with established payment cycles.

Dispute resolution process

Suppliers may contact Skills Development Scotland to raise queries or disputes regarding relevant invoices or payments. Any disputes are reviewed promptly and resolved in accordance with agreed contractual terms, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary delays to payment.

Other payment information

Has this business signed up to a code of conduct or standards on payment practices? If so, which?

For example, signatories to The Fair Payment Code must commit to paying 95% of their invoices within 60 days.

Yes, this business has signed up to: The Scottish Public Finance Manual

Does this business offer e-invoicing in relation to qualifying contracts?

This is where suppliers can electronically submit and track invoices. It's not just allowing suppliers to email them an invoice.

No

Does this business offer supply chain finance?

This is where a supplier who has submitted an invoice can be paid by a third-party finance provider earlier than the agreed payment date. The business would then pay the finance provider the invoiced sum.

No

Under its payment practices and policies, can this business deduct sums from payments under qualifying contracts as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No

During the reporting period, did the business deduct sums from payments as a charge for remaining on a supplier list?

No