Balfour Beatty has started construction on the new £61 million Nairn Academy in the Scottish Highlands, after being awarded the contract by The Highland Council at the end of 2025.

The company will handle the design and construction of the 9,767 square meter school and a new 3G artificial grass sports pitch, replacing the existing Nairn Academy and providing space for 745 students.

This will be Balfour Beatty's second Passivhaus-certified school in Scotland, following their work on Liberton High School in Edinburgh. To achieve this certification, high-performance windows and doors will be installed, along with mechanical ventilation with heat recovery to minimize carbon emissions, improve air quality, and reduce energy demand.

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Balfour Beatty is also partnering with the Construction Industry Training Board and Inverness College UHI to create ten apprenticeships for local young people.

"We are delighted to have been appointed to deliver this latest new school, further enhancing our legacy in delivering state-of-the-art, sustainable educational facilities across Scotland," said Hector MacAulay MBE, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty's regional business in Scotland. "With works now underway, we are working closely and collaboratively with the Highland Council to successfully deliver this new school which will provide an exciting and inspirational learning environment for hundreds of students and teachers, serving both current and future generations."

Construction began at the start of 2025 and is expected to be completed in 2026.

The project will employ 170 people at its peak.