Executive Summary

• National Grid has launched £624 million of contracts across 78 companies in England and Wales to support critical electricity network maintenance, as part of its wider £40 billion investment programme
• One project at a major converter station could support around 270 local jobs, provide more than 3,000 apprenticeship weeks, as well as benefit 30 local SMEs
• National Grid is helping to ‘build the network that will connect people to jobs, support economic growth and create opportunity in communities across the country’, said UK president Cordi O’Hara

National Grid has announced £624 million of contracts across 78 companies in England and Wales to help support critical electricity network maintenance and enhancements across the two countries.

The move is part of National Grid’s wider £40 billion investment programme to upgrade the UK’s energy infrastructure, and will be a ‘key enabler’ to the delivery of thousands of new homes, factories and data centres as part of the government’s plans.

The move will also provide opportunities for local businesses, jobs and communities. For one major converter station project, a supplier has identified opportunities that could support around 270 local jobs, provide more than 3,000 apprenticeship weeks, as well as benefit around 30 local SMEs and community organisations.

Roger Smith Skilled Services, a three-person maintenance and construction firm established more than 40 years ago and based in Plymouth, is one of the companies cited to benefit through work across West Cornwall and Devon.

“This is a great opportunity for our business, providing a steady pipeline of work and giving us the confidence to invest and grow,” said Adrian Kidd, director and co-owner of Roger Smith Skilled Services. “We’re proud to play our part in helping National Grid maintain local substations and future-proof key local power infrastructure.”

“Reliable, resilient and affordable energy infrastructure is essential to the country’s prosperity,” said Cordi O’Hara, president, UK of National Grid. “By backing British businesses of all sizes, National Grid is helping to build the network that will connect people to jobs, support economic growth and create opportunity in communities across the country, giving people a stake in the transformation of our energy system.

“The benefits of this programme extend far beyond the infrastructure itself,” O’Hara added. “From small local firms to major national suppliers, this programme is helping businesses to grow, to invest in skills, to create jobs, and to build the capabilities needed to support communities across England and Wales for years to come.”

This is by no means the only investment taking place. Last week, it was announced that planning permission had been granted for three new substations across south Yorkshire and the east Midlands as part of the National Grid’s Great Grid Upgrade programme.

Image credit: National Grid