Who we are

As a Non-Ministerial Office we are independent of the Scottish Government and accountable to the Scottish Parliament. Our Board commenced their responsibilities in April 2022.

Organisation

Since Summer 2021 we have been following a detailed programme to establish Consumer Scotland.

Over the winter months we developed our Workplan. We are grateful to the Energy Consumers Commission (ECC) for their support in this. The ECC has become the Energy Consumers Committee of Consumer Scotland and will continue to play a key role in our work.

We have followed a phased Implementation Plan to achieve initial operational status. On 1^st April Consumer Scotland legally came into existence, with the Board taking on its powers and responsibilities.

On 1^st May levy-funded staff transferred from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) following a TUPE process. We appreciate CAS’s supportive and constructive approach throughout and have built firm foundations for our future relationship. The publication of this Interim Strategic Plan marks the conclusion of our phased Implementation Plan.

For the rest of our first year we will continue to develop our organisation.

Chief Executive

Sam Ghibaldan has held a number of senior roles in government, consumer advocacy and utilities regulation.

His recent roles include :

Programme Director for Consumer Scotland, leading to its establishment
Director of the Customer Forum, focused on building the Strategic Review of Scottish Water around customers’ expectations
Member of Scottish Power Energy Networks’ Customer Engagement Group
Head of the Consumer Futures Unit in Citizens Advice Scotland

As a Senior Special Adviser in the Scottish Government between 1999 and 2007, he led the adviser teams of successive Deputy First Ministers.

Before that he worked in a corporate communications consultancy, on the Scottish devolution referendum campaign in 1997, and as a researcher in the House of Commons.

Board members

Our Board operates under agreed Standing Orders and we have a Framework Agreement with the Scottish Government.

Meet the board

Board governance

Our Board operates under agreed Standing Orders and we have a Framework agreement with the Scottish Government.

Committees

We have three committees - Audit & Risk, Consumers in Vulnerable Circumstances and Energy Consumers

Audit & Risk Committee

We will publish more information about these committees once their activities are under way.

Who we are

Organisation

Chief Executive

Board members

Meet the board

Board governance

Board Minutes

Code of Conduct for Members

Framework Agreement

Register of Members' Interests

Standing Orders

Committees

Audit & Risk Committee