The public sector is one of the most important vertical markets for Scotland’s digital technologies industry but information about its current size and future developments has been very limited.
ScotlandIS has gathered and analysed data for current and projected public sector ICT expenditure in Scotland to make it easier to assess market opportunities and take informed investment decisions.
Launching today, the Public Sector ICT Expenditure in Scotland report provides a comprehensive view of the sector, valued at £811 million in 2016/17, at a level of detail that has never been available before.
The report, produced in partnership with the Scottish Government, breaks down the actual spend by area of public sector over the past six years on ICT as well as forecasting outlays up to 2021. The report examines various areas of the market, and highlights opportunities for businesses to win contracts.
Colin Cook, Director Digital of the Scottish Government, said: “This report demonstrates the importance of the public sector within the digital economy, and the Scottish Government is actively strengthening this relationship. I trust that this report will provide tech companies already supplying goods and services to the public sector with further guidance on future business opportunities, and provide companies that are new to public sector procurement with a better understanding of the opportunities that are available”.
The report predicts an increase in spend on mobile and flexible working. The move to the cloud in both private and hybrid forms is forecast to continue and increased public sector spend on cyber security hardware and software is also expected.
Polly Purvis, CEO of ScotlandIS, said: “We conducted this research to respond to demand from members. The report is focused purely on the situation in Scotland with findings at a level of granularity that has not been available before.”
Breakfast briefings to launch the report will take place on the 17th January in Edinburgh and 18th January in Glasgow. The events will outline the key opportunities on the public sector ICT market and provide attendees with advice on ways to seize these opportunities.