Freight speaks out against Scottish Parliament Design Roster
Freight speaks out against Scottish Parliament Design RosterFollowing the announcement by the Scottish Parliament of its new design framework, one Scottish design agency has spoken out about the appointment of Norfolk based Turton Middleton.
Adrian Searle, director of Glasgow based design agency Freight, said the agency was disappointed to lose out on the tender by 1.12% to the English agency. Avian, Lawrence Creative, Mortonward, and Shandwick Design were also appointed.
“We don’t want to be bad losers but I’m surprised and disappointed to miss out to an English agency on such a flagship contract,” said Searle.
“Everyone knows how much work goes into public sector tenders and to miss out to an agency 370 miles from Edinburgh by such as small margin is a shame.
"Rationally, I wish Turton Middleton all the best, whoever they are. But emotionally, I wonder how Alex Salmond might feel knowing that some of the parliament’s design work will be created by a south-east of England agency when a similar level of creativity and service is undoubtedly available locally.
"We’ll certainly be asking for feedback on the decision-making process.”
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Been there and done that with the Executive roster you are wasting your time with people who hide behind mounds of paper and the procurement routine. Same for medium and large companies and if it goes onto a procurement web site anyone from the European Union can apply. The best ever laugh I got was Scottish Enterprise (waste of space) going to Denmark to order furniture. Obviously supporting all Scottish small companies NOT!!! Every company should all be treated the same which they are not and even when you do ask for feedback you get nothing.
"love out on the tender?"
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The kind of protectionism suggested by Adrian Searle is just plain wrong, Scottish companies constantly win work from the rest of the UK and deliver an excellent job regardless of distance, why shouldn't Turton Middleton do the same.
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“We don’t want to be bad losers but..."
...you do. Sorry Adrian.
I agree it's annoying that you narrowly missed out, but miss out but you did. Would it really have been easier to accept if it had been another Scottish outfit?
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Who is mks ss?
Who am I?
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I'm afraid I have to agreed with Geordie Jim Richardson...for once. If I was heading up a Scottish firm (maybe I might again, soon!) who won a contract in Norfolk, I wouldn't be bothered about the bleatings of a Fens-based agency who didn't get appointed. It's tough but if you enter into a 'public'sector' Tender, you should expect it to be biased, cloaked in secrecy, half-baked or 'jobs-for the-boy-ish' because they usually are. That's why some firms don't bother. Said it already, loyalty is a rude word now.
operating in a free market has nothing to do with devolution. Honestly.
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Perhaps the headline should read "big win for Avian, Lawrence Creative, Mortonward, and Shandwick Design and Turton Middleton" who were were appointed
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