€262M investment will upgrade 20,000+ km of grid infrastructure, strengthening the UK’s push toward electrification and net-zero goals.
500+ jobs supported, including 50+ new linesmen roles, boosting regional employment and technical skill development.
Strategic partnerships extended with six overhead line firms to drive long-term supply chain resilience and innovation.
ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN), Iberdrola’s UK distribution arm, is investing over €262 million to upgrade and future-proof the UK’s electricity distribution infrastructure. The initiative aligns with the country’s climate targets and SPEN’s ED2 business plan (2023–2028), setting the stage for the next regulatory cycle (ED3).
“We are set to invest more than £220 million to help deliver the electricity grid and support the workforce of the future,” said Nicola Connelly, CEO of SPEN.
The funding will be channelled through extended contracts with six specialist overhead line partners, covering more than 20,000 km of grid across Scotland and North West England. These partners include Aureos, Gaeltec, PLPC in Scotland, and Emerald Power, IES, and Network Plus in England and Wales.
“Ensuring we have the partners, resources and technical skills in place to deliver on our bold and ambitious plans for our network is vital for the modern and resilient grid needed to support the doubling of demand,” Connelly added.
The project supports over 500 jobs, including 50+ new linesmen roles, reinforcing SPEN’s regional presence and workforce pipeline in energy infrastructure. Partner companies are committing to training initiatives, apprenticeships, and recruitment of local talent to meet the grid’s growing demands.
Daniel Rodrigues, Managing Director at Gaeltec, stated: “This is great news for both Gaeltec and our employees, giving certainty looking ahead and creating confidence to grow our investment in our business and our people.”
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Adrian Rowley of Emerald Power highlighted: “This is an extremely significant milestone… and enables a fantastic opportunity for anyone across the communities we serve to have a very fulfilling and rewarding career.”
Iain Thomson of Aureos added: “We have invested heavily in recruiting local trainees and will continue to upskill our existing staff while increasing trainee intakes to deliver on SPEN’s investment programme.”
Conor O’Neill of IES Utilities Group emphasized: “This extension is a testament to the collaborative efforts and shared commitment between SPEN and IES.”
This long-term infrastructure programme cements ScottishPower’s role as a critical driver of sustainable energy transformation and local economic development in the UK.
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