SP Energy Networks has officially commenced a landmark £12bn investment plan aimed at rewiring the electricity grid across central and southern Scotland. The "T3" investment programme represents the most significant overhaul of the network since its inception and is designed to bolster Britain's energy security while supporting the transition to an all-electric future.

The five-year initiative is set to create 1,400 direct jobs and support a further 11,000 positions within the supply chain. Infrastructure upgrades will include the construction of 12 major new substations and the replacement or enhancement of over 570km of electrical lines. These improvements are intended to increase grid capacity and reduce constraint costs for homes and businesses.

Nicola Connelly, CEO of SP Energy Networks, said: "The next five years are pivotal to achieving Britain's clean power ambitions. Our electricity networks are the backbone of the country's electricity system, getting the power from where it's generated to homes and businesses across the country. Between now and 2031 we are undertaking the biggest overhaul of the electricity grid since its inception, with tens of thousands of people helping transform and modernise aging infrastructure."

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The investment is already delivering substantial benefits to the UK and Irish supply chain. Kirby Group Engineering, which has partnered with SP Energy Networks for 13 years, is one of 19 suppliers secured on a strategic framework worth up to £5.4bn over the next decade.

To manage its expanding workload, Kirby Group Engineering has opened two Scottish offices and recently moved to a larger premises in Glasgow. The company currently employs 180 people, having already created 70 new roles with further recruitment planned. The firm's apprenticeship programme is also expanding, with three new apprentices joining the Scottish team in 2026. In 2025, the company dedicated 10,000 apprentice hours to SP Energy Networks projects—a figure nearly triple that of 2023 levels.

Michael Murray, Power and Renewables Director at Kirby Group Engineering, commented: "Through our strategic partnership with SP Energy Networks, we are expanding our operations, creating employment opportunities and scaling our training and development programmes. The delivery of this critical infrastructure upgrade is already creating high‑quality, skilled jobs and will leave a legacy of social value in communities across Scotland."

The collaboration between the two organisations was recently highlighted when Kirby Group Engineering was named Global Supplier of the Year by Iberdrola, the parent company of ScottishPower.