Breakdown of Costs Setting Up Qualifications Scotland
FOI reference: FOI25/26 273
Date received: 16/03/2026
Date responded: 14/04/2026
Information requested
In response to previous FOI requests you have given me some details of the spending around setting up Qualifications Scotland. I would like to now request more information.
So far, I have been advised that £3,735,000 has been spent setting up Qualifications Scotland (at least that was the figure up to the end of Jan 26).
I would like to request as full a breakdown of this spending as you are able to provide, as so far the information provided to me only accounts for around £36,000.
I would hope that a publicly funded organisation would be able to provide me with a detailed breakdown of the total spend accounting for the full total of £3,735,000, would therefore like to request this under FOISA.
Response
Spend to 31st Jan 2026
| Category | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 |
| Fixed Term Staff Costs and Agency | 457 | 537 | 293 | 488 | 1,775 |
| Digital Transition | 0 | 0 | 128 | 504 | 632 |
| Microsoft Updates | 0 | 0 | 31 | 408 | 439 |
| Website | 0 | 0 | 221 | 563 | 784 |
| Signage | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 18 |
| Legal Fees | 0 | 0 | 12 | 15 | 27 |
| Finance / HR System Changes | 0 | 0 | 7 | 35 | 42 |
| Access Cards / Lanyards | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 18 |
| Totals | 457 | 537 | 707 | 2,034 | 3,735 |
The fixed term and agency staff were used to support digital transition, human resources, strategic governance and programme management.