Construction News
10/02/2025
ScottishPower Boosts Apprentice Salaries In Recruitment Drive
![Construction News Image](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316094_scottish-power.jpg)
ScottishPower has announced a significant increase in starting salaries for its apprentices, with the company now offering a minimum of £24,310 per year for first-year craft apprentices.
This move by SP Energy Networks, ScottishPower's electricity grid business, makes it the first electricity grid company in the UK to pay the Real Living Wage to its craft apprentices.
The salary increase is part of a wider recruitment drive that will see ScottishPower add around 130 new apprentices to its workforce in 2025. The company is aiming to expand its overall workforce from 6,500 to 11,000 by 2030.
"We're ramping up recruitment and we want to attract and retain the best talent," said Sarah McNulty, ScottishPower people and organisation director. "This reflects our commitment to fair pay and development of our apprentices and strengthens our workforce as we embark on an ambitious journey to transform the UK's energy infrastructure."
This significant investment in apprenticeships comes as ScottishPower doubles its UK investment to £24 billion to upgrade and transform Britain's energy infrastructure.
This move by SP Energy Networks, ScottishPower's electricity grid business, makes it the first electricity grid company in the UK to pay the Real Living Wage to its craft apprentices.
The salary increase is part of a wider recruitment drive that will see ScottishPower add around 130 new apprentices to its workforce in 2025. The company is aiming to expand its overall workforce from 6,500 to 11,000 by 2030.
"We're ramping up recruitment and we want to attract and retain the best talent," said Sarah McNulty, ScottishPower people and organisation director. "This reflects our commitment to fair pay and development of our apprentices and strengthens our workforce as we embark on an ambitious journey to transform the UK's energy infrastructure."
This significant investment in apprenticeships comes as ScottishPower doubles its UK investment to £24 billion to upgrade and transform Britain's energy infrastructure.
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316097_land-reform.jpg)
10/02/2025
Scottish Land & Estates has warned that calls for more radical changes to the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill could have a devastating impact on rural businesses and communities.
The organisation, which represents landowners and rural businesses across Scotland, expressed concern over calls from campai
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316096_scottish-hydropower.jpg)
10/02/2025
A new report has highlighted the increasing challenges facing Scotland's hydropower sector due to climate change, particularly the impact of increased sediment buildup.
Commissioned by Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), the report, published today, warns that climate change is expect
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316095_watertap.jpg)
10/02/2025
Scottish Water has launched a seven-week public consultation on its draft Long-Term Strategy, inviting stakeholders, customers, and communities to provide feedback on its plans for the next 25 years.
The strategy outlines the challenges facing water and waste water services in Scotland, including t
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316094_scottish-power.jpg)
10/02/2025
ScottishPower has announced a significant increase in starting salaries for its apprentices, with the company now offering a minimum of £24,310 per year for first-year craft apprentices.
This move by SP Energy Networks, ScottishPower's electricity grid business, makes it the first electricity grid
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316087_cairngorm-funicular.jpg)
10/02/2025
Maintenance work has commenced on the Cairngorm Funicular Railway, with staff carrying out essential checks on the electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems that govern the movement of the carriages.
An engineer from Swiss funicular specialist Garaventa will join the team this week to conduct s
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316089_nhbc.jpg)
10/02/2025
NHBC CEO Steve Wood has announced his intention to step down from the role later this year, bringing to an end eight years of leadership at the organisation.
Under Wood's guidance, NHBC has undergone a period of significant transformation, strengthening its position within the housing sector.
"It
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316064_kier.jpg)
07/02/2025
Kier Construction has been awarded a £683.8m contract by the Scottish Government to deliver a new, state-of-the-art prison in Glasgow.
The new prison, HMP Glasgow, will replace the existing HMP Barlinnie, which was built in 1880 and has been deemed unfit for purpose.
"It's an honour to be awarded
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316063_stirling.jpg)
07/02/2025
Stirling Council has approved a 7.2% rent increase for council tenants for the 2025/26 financial year. The increase will generate approximately £18.5 million, which will be reinvested in the council's housing stock.
The decision follows a consultation with tenants, with 61% of respondents supportin
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316062_shetland-islands.jpg)
07/02/2025
Shetland Islands Council is once again seeking the input of local residents on a range of community issues as part of the 'Our Place – Your Say' project.
The project, which was last conducted in 2016, aims to gather public opinion on 15 key themes, including transport, housing, community safety, an
![](https://www.buildscotland.co.uk/newsimages/1_316058_m90-halbeath.jpg)
07/02/2025
Essential maintenance works have been announced for the Halbeath Road in Dunfermline, with the aim of improving the road surface and traffic flow.
The project, which is scheduled to begin on 24 February and last until March 14, 2025, will involve resurfacing the road from Garvock Bank Railway Bridg