FOI23/24 039 PR and Communications Spend 2022-2023

Date published: 18/08/2023

I am requesting the following information under freedom of information legislation.

 Request: Public relations and communications

For the years 2022-2023 how much was spent on external companies to handle public relations and communications?

Please provide:

The total cost 2022-2023 financial year.
The amount of money paid to each firm (including VAT)

For the years 2022-2023, how much was spent social media advertising, including a breakdown by year and by form of social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)

For the years 2022-2023 how much was spent on external companies to handle public relations and communications?

Please provide:

The total cost 2022-2023 financial year.
The amount of money paid to each firm (including VAT)

We are unable to provide the information requested as it is not held by the SQA. Section 17 of FOISA provides that where an authority does not hold information requested it should notify the requester to that effect.

SQA does not use external companies for public relations and/or communications activity and did not do so during the time period stated.

For the years 2022-2023, how much was spent social media advertising, including a breakdown by year and by form of social media (e.g. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)

A total of £70,893.01 (to end of July 2023) has been spent on social media advertising in the time period stated.

Our targeted and responsible investment has been central to a learner campaign that engaged and supported more than 100,000 learners across Scotland throughout their journey to Results Day, directed learners to support materials and vital ‘next steps’ advice, and also boosted our strong commercial performance within the UK and across many countries across the globe.

The totals for each platform are stated below:

Linkedin - £23,074.93

Facebook and Instagram - £18,207.69

Snapchat - £6,896.77

Twitter/X – £15,831.16

TikTok - £6,882.46