Had-Fab, one of the UK’s top structural engineering and fabrication companies, has secured a £100 million contract for the electricity grid that will help double its workforce.
The Tranent-based company will manufacture almost 500 steel towers for SSEN Transmission to upgrade the grid across the north of Scotland.
The towers are for the proposed Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV overhead line that is being delivered by SSEN Transmission’s supply chain partners Murphy and Wood Transmission and Distribution. The contract value is the largest in Had-Fab’s history.
It has seen its workforce over the last 18 months grow from 120 to 197 and this will rise to more than 250 people over the next 12 months. An additional 70 jobs are directly associated with the work announced today, with other posts also supported by SSEN Transmission grid upgrade projects.
The new posts range from design and engineering to project management and planning. There will be an increase in apprenticeships.
Had-Fab has a long-standing relationship with SSEN Transmission, having provided fabricated steel and aluminium for several other overhead line and substation projects. These include the Argyll and Kintore 275kV Reinforcement Project that is in construction.
The company has recently opened a commercial, projects and engineering office in Glasgow, employing 15 people.
Had-Fab plans to galvanise the towers using supply chain companies in the UK, including Glasgow-based Scottish Galvanizers.
As the transmission operator for the north of Scotland, SSEN Transmission expects to invest at least £22bn in the period to March 2031 as part of a wider renewal of the electricity transmission system across Britain.
Anthony Jones, chief commercial officer at Had-Fab, said: “These contracts reflect the continuing trust placed in Had-Fab’s capabilities.”
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray added: “This is great news for our country’s clean power ambitions, and for more skilled jobs in here in Scotland.
Scotland’s Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said: “Ensuring renewable power can flow from where it is generated to where it is needed is critical to Scotland’s just transition to net zero and for fully realising the economic opportunities from our abundant resources.”
Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission: “The scale of this work secured by Had-Fab demonstrates the major economic opportunities that are generated by investing to upgrade our electricity transmission infrastructure.”
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