SMEs join big boys on Scottish Water’s £3.5bn contracts framework

The businesses will be able to bid for work or be selected by larger contractors for a range of construction and maintenance projects over the next six years.

Among the 58 selected are independent Scottish firms such as civil engineer George Leslie, tarmac specialist Seivwright Brothers and engineering group Aird Walker & Ralston.

The Scottish operations of companies including are also on the list. According to Scottish Water the contractors selected employ collectively 3,200 people.

Projects are scheduled to t ake place across the Highlands, Shetland, Orkney, Argyll and Bute, Grampian, Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.

Geoff Aitkenhead, executive director for Capital Investment at Scottish Water, said: “The vast majority of these small to mediumsized firms have bases or locations in and around communities. This will provide us with vital local knowledge with skills honed and ret ained in the community.”