More than 9,000 industry jobs are being supported thanks to over £1 billion of community-based facilities under construction across Scotland.

New figures released by the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) reveal the value of Scotland's community infrastructure programme has reached £1.16bn.

Major highlights of the programme include;

• The £69m East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington

• The £55m Anderson High School in Lerwick

• The £36m Stirling Care Village

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• The £24m Waid Academy in Anstruther

• The £43m Largs Academy

• The £23m Barrhead High School

The most construction activity is taking place in East Central Scotland (£509m), with SME's securing 79% of contract awards.

Overall, nearly 40 schools are under construction on the programme, along with several community health facilities and care homes.

David MacDonald, hub programme director at SFT, said: "The hub programme is a unique way of delivering best-value community facilities that provide the public sector with a quick and efficient way of getting their projects into construction.

"Integral to the hub programme are community benefits. So far, 153 new graduates and over 770 new apprenticeship and trainee positions have been created which represents a considerable contribution to the industrial skill base supporting Scotland's future economic development."

Image: CGI of Anderson High School.

(LM)