Scottish Government Tries To Appease Nationalists

The government in Scotland is trying to appease discontented Nationalists who resent the non-Scottish companies that have acquired contracts totalling £1 billion on the FRC (Forth Replacement Crossing) project. The government has released information detailing the suppliers of domestic components.

Main Contractors are Not Scottish

The main contractors for construction belong to a consortium which includes, the USA American Bridge Company, German owned Hochtief International constructors, Spanish owned Dragados and Morrison Construction which formerly was Scottish owned but isn’t now. These companies form FCBC (Forth Crossing Bridge Constructors and they will be working on the £790 million project.

Aggregate Industries from England will be supplying materials such as cement and admixture and the steel is likely to be coming from Spain, China or Poland.

Concrete from Local Firms

However, Transport Scotland who is the project client has issued a statement to the effect that two local suppliers will be delivering the ready mix concrete that will be necessary for concrete work on the roads approaching the bridge.

From its facility in South Gyle and Livingston, Tarmac will be one such supplier for the work scheduled on the Forth south side. The other will be Skene Group which has a facility in Fife and will supply the concrete for work on the Forth north side.

A further subcontract has been given to Tarmac for the supply of aggregate, from its West Lothian facility at Revelrig Quarry and also from Lanarkshire. This will be used for concrete works on the main bridge.

870 out of 1,041 orders to Scottish Companies

Off the 1,041 orders for supplies, 870 have been placed with companies in Scotland according to Alex Neil, the secretary for Scottish Infrastructure.

Training and Job Opportunities

In an attempt to subdue mounting political unrest about the project procurement situation, Alex Neil explained that businesses and workers in Scotland will derive many benefits from the FRC project which will create a further 3,000 jobs and maintain the existing 1,200 jobs. He outlined the training opportunities that will arise out of the project including 45 vocational and 21 professional body training positions together with a further 46 opportunities for people who had been unemployed long term. There will also be scope for increasing opportunities for Modern Apprenticeship.

Benefits for Scottish Companies

The project will be the largest infrastructure for transport that has been seen in Scotland in a generation. The FCBC will complete the construction within budget and the designated time frame and whilst admitting that subcontracts and supplies were commercial considerations, Alex Neil explained that clearly there would be benefits for Scottish companies in the construction of the FRC.

Further Subcontracts

The project will take 6 years to complete during which time there will be further subcontracts available. Alex Neil stated that there were already 118 Scottish companies involved in working on the project totalling £20 million to them with more to follow.

Authored by Tina Reeves, Construction Industry Writer, Top Tradespeople