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We Make a Difference
Delivering Economic Development
SAC supports industries and communities through consultancy, research and learning. Our annual contribution to UK economy and beyond is £140 million and our wideranging activities enhance delivery of the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework.
1. Investing in Communities
Our consulting activities span the length and breadth of Scotland and the north of England, reaching more than 7,000 clients. In 2009/10 we were responsible for submitting applications for a total of £188 million in Single Farm Payments on behalf of our farming clients. We also helped nearly 1,000 clients access £45 million in grant aid from the Scottish Rural Development Programme’s Rural Priorities Scheme. This represented
39% of successful applications to the scheme.
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2. Returns on Research
For every £1 spent on SAC research, Scottish farm output is estimated to increase by £1.35, representing a 35% return on investment. Case study examples of SAC’s research portfolio in animal health, animal genetics and greenhouse gas mitigation suggest annual industry benefits of about £23 million. Crop and animal disease surveillance work provides benefits of around £67 million by mitigating damage and control costs.
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3. Sustaining Livelihoods
We provide a progressive and unique portfolio of degree courses. Around one quarter of SAC students leave us having achieved a higher qualification than their original registration. The added value attained by SAC graduates equates to £42 million a year (as measured by the Graduate Lifetime Premium). A recent review by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education gave SAC the highest grading of its management of academic standards and quality of student learning experience.
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4. Investing in Business
Over 17,000 SAC clients generated an income of £26.8 million.
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5. Corporate Social Responsibility
We are socially responsible in our business activities, our work with communities and our response to environmental issues. As we grow and diversify, we support and develop our staff - for example, through our Investors in People accreditation. Our work with communities ranges from installing footpaths on the West Highland Way to helping small scale dairy farmers in Malawi. In response to climate change, we have our own organisational carbon management plan, deliver the Scottish Government’s Farming for a Better Climate programme and are preparing to launch the new SAC Carbon Management Centre.
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SAC’s Top 10 Contributions to the National Performance Framework
| National Outcome | SAC Contribution | Value |
| 1. Business / Public Services | Supporting Government and farmers in providing a more efficient Common Agricultural Policy administration | In 2009/10 29% of Scottish Single Farm Payment applications (37% of value) through SAC (47% of all the online) |
| 2. Business | SAC’s direct Gross Value Added (GVA) | £29 million per annum (or £36,800 per annum per full time staff member) |
| 3. Employment Opportunities | Additional lifetime earnings for graduates | £42 million per annum |
| 4. Employment Opportunities | GVA generated by SAC students in term time | £2.2-£5.4 million per annum |
| 5. Research and Innovation | Return on SAC investment in Scottish Research & Development (1973- 2009) | 35% (for each £1 spent, Scottish farm output increases by £1.35) |
| 6. Healthier Lives | Disease prevention in animals and plants | £65 million and £2.4 million annual mitigation value respectively |
| 7. Tackling Inequalities | Increased educational access for mature and part-time students (%) | 46 and 10 % of Full Time Equivalents (2008/9) |
| 8. Sustainable Places | Adapting to global challenges | New Sustainable Building and Green Technology courses and 271 students on environmental courses |
| 9. Environment / Business | Scottish Rural Development Programme applications | 39% of successful Rural Priorities applications completed in 2009/10 with total project value of £114 million |
| 10. Environment | Promotion of low carbon farming | Delivering SG’s Farming for a Better Climate programme and new SAC Carbon Management Centrel the online) |