Community Benefits and Social Economic Impact

Contract for Hot Beverages

Following a mini-tender through a national catering framework, Coffee Conscience, an SME in Scotland, was awarded the contract to supply ethically sourced coffee and tea to our 21 campus cafés and wider conferencing and events functions. Recognising the potential for meaningful local community impact, the procurement was designed to reward strong community benefit proposals and this was supported by the piloting of a new sector-leading community benefits menu. 

Coffee Conscience commitment to the delivery of community benefits was evident within their submission, pledging several local initiatives in partnership with the University of Edinburgh that could be delivered across the Edinburgh City Region. Over the full 6-year term, the contract will result in £30,000 being recirculated into local communities across the region. 

Since the contract was awarded in July 2025, the following has already been achieved:

• £2000 invested in the Community Orchards programme where each acre of apple trees planted has the potential to absorb 11-12 tons of carbon per annum as well as provide fruits for the community/wildlife.
• As part of Project Hospitality, Coffee Conscience has been working closely with students and staff at Boroughmuir High School to inspire interest in careers within the hospitality and tourism sectors. The initiative introduces students to diverse career pathways while supporting progress toward Prince’s Trust certification and SVQ Barista qualifications. Through workshops, presentations, and hands-on experiences, students develop barista and teamwork skills that enable them to support school events, run a school café, host community activities, and explore social enterprise opportunities. There are 14 schools in the Edinburgh region that have been identified for continued engagement; Edinburgh Napier University, West Lothian College, and Edinburgh College actively support the initiative, which aims to run at least annually.
• The University of Edinburgh donated a coffee machine for community use, complemented by Coffee Conscience’s in-kind contribution of a grinder, barista materials, and stock valued at £1,000 to Ross High School, Tranent. Integrated into Project Hospitality, the equipment enhances students’ practical learning, supporting progression toward Prince’s Trust Awards and SVQ Barista qualifications. This donation extends the life of the equipment and provides vital support to the school’s vocational training programme, acting as a catalyst where budgets were limited. Coffee Conscience has an ongoing commitment for at least 2 donations per year in the Midlothian region and elsewhere in Scotland.
• Coffee Conscience actively supports local sourcing within the region and across Scotland, with over 20% of 2024/25 purchases made from Edinburgh-based suppliers and two-thirds of total annual spend directed to Scottish companies. This local spend is expected to increase over the next six years in line with the company’s growth-focused business model. As direct consequence of this contract, £100,000 has already been spent within local supply chains.
• Coffee Conscience are already an accredited Living Wage employer and have now applied for Living Hours accreditation following the award of this contract.  The Living Hours accreditation builds on the foundation of the living wage, ensuring that everyone has the secure working hours they need to thrive. 

The list above is only part of what Coffee Conscious have delivered so far in the commencement of the contract, but they have committed to further benefits to be delivered as the contract progresses.