A total of 58 businesses have been selected to support the delivery of Scottish Water's (SW) new £3.5 billion investment programme.

Selected following an extensive procurement process, the small to medium sized businesses form a framework of rural contractors.

They will be used to support Scottish Water and its construction Alliance partners in the delivery of construction and maintenance projects between now and 2021.

The businesses posses a wide range of skills and roles including pipe fitting, pipe laying, electricians, electrical and mechanical fitters, welders, labourers, water and waste water repair squads.

Geoff Aitkenhead, Executive Director Capital Investment at SW, said:

"These 58 companies are our rural framework contractors, which form the final pieces of the jigsaw as part of the partnering arrangements to deliver our new £3.5 billion, six-year investment programme.

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"They provide us and our Alliance partners with a pool of resources to deliver further improvements to water and waste water services in Scotland for the benefit of our customers.

"The vast majority of these small to medium sized firms have bases or locations in and around communities. This will provide us with vital local knowledge with skills honed and retained in the community."

"The new investment programme will help support vital employment in the Scottish economy while enabling Scottish Water to build on the significant improvements made to water and waste water services in recent years."

Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said: "I warmly welcome Scottish Water’s efforts to engage small and medium-sized businesses to deliver projects in rural parts of Scotland.  Providing high quality, skilled jobs are key to supporting Scotland’s wider economic growth, particularly in our rural areas."

SW is now commencing its 2015-21 investment programme, which will see both maintenance and improvements to existing assets - such as pipes, pumping stations and water treatment works.

For a full list of companies selected, click here.

(LM/MH)