Construction Jobs Boost for East Central Scotland

The Programme Board of the East Central hub Territory, which comprises 17 public bodies, has formed the East Central hub Scotland Limited, (a joint venture company with a private sector consortium) which will be welcomed by Scottish-based construction firms as a boost to securing future work.

The deal by the local authorities, health boards and other public bodies in the Tayside, Fife and Forth Valley areas will help secure long-term opportunities for local employment as the region’s pipeline of work is valued at £500m over the next ten years.

The private sector consortium comprises two major Stirling-based companies, Robertson and the FES Group, along with Amber Infrastructure, a major investor in social infrastructure projects.

The East Central hub Territory partners include: Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Falkirk, Fife, Perth & Kinross and Stirling Councils, as well as Central Scotland Fire and Rescue, Central Scotland Police, Fife Fire and Rescue, Fife Constabulary, NHS Fife, NHS Forth Valley, NHS Tayside, Tayside Fire and Rescue and Tayside Police.

Allan Gow of Central Scotland Police and who chairs the programme board, said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the agreement which will deliver better value-for-money on our construction projects over the long term. The structure of this relationship will also bring the required level of flexibility to ensure local firms get real opportunity.”

Neil McCormick, the new chief executive of East Central hubCo, commented: “The East Central hubCo’s Private Sector Development Partner, Amber Blue, includes two Scottish businesses (Robertson and FES) with more than 100 years experience in the Scottish construction and building services industry.

“This experience, combined with that of the wider supply chain, represents a resource with more than 2,000 employees in the region with a turnover of £200m per annum in the local economy. The long-term nature of the East Central hub programme will help provide both continuity of employment and future growth for this significant workforce together with opportunities for over 60 design team organisations and 500 sub-contractors who all operate within the East Central area. 

“The formation of the hubCo will also facilitate the creation of new employment and training positions in a difficult economic environment, supporting the development of long-term sustainable businesses. This commitment to local community benefits will see a structured programme of training and employment positions. With £500m to be invested into the area over the coming years, the hubCo will deliver over 350 work placements, over 300 apprentice positions, nearly 500 vocational training qualifications, more than 500 additional training positions and substantial local employment positions."

Barry White, chief executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, said: “This is a huge achievement for the hub initiative and SFT looks forward to working with the public and private sector partners to deliver significant local benefits."