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.

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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."

(GK)