Over 300 jobs are set to be created as a new £450 million investment programme looks to upgrade Scotland’s electricity distribution network.

The Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Distribution (SSEN) announced five contract partners as part of the programme which will update overhead lines, substations, wooden poles, and improve the underground networks of Scotland’s electricity grid.

The five companies include OCU Utility Services Ltd, Clancy Ltd, Freedom Group Ltd, Macaulay Askernish Ltd and Brush Group, which will lead the delivery of upgrades in nine allocated areas within SSEN’s north of Scotland license area.

This region includes rural communities, towns and villages, as well as Dundee and Aberdeen, stretching to Argyll, the Highlands, and all of Scotland’s isles.

SSEN says that the investment will make the existing electricity network in Scotland more resilient and provide additional capacity to support the decarbonisation of communities and industry.

The work will support the realisation of SSEN’s net zero goals, and play a critical role in delivering the holistic benefits the move to net zero will provide communities.

SSEN’s distribution network takes electricity on the final part of its journey into homes and businesses, so it’s a critical link to allow people to connect both existing devices – and new technologies like EV chargers, solar panels, and heat pumps – to the network.

“Decarbonising Scotland’s economy depends heavily on significant investment in the upkeep and futureproofing of our electricity system, so the network can meet the demand from users now and in the future,” Gillian Martin MSP, the Scottish government’s acting cabinet secretary for net zero and energy, said.

“I welcome this substantial investment from SSEN Distribution in the north of Scotland, which will not only bring benefits for our workforce, our supply chains, and our regional and national economies but also support our net zero targets.”

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SSEN’s director of large capital delivery, Fraser Hood, said: “We’re proud to have signed agreements which will deliver massive improvements to local electricity networks in the north of Scotland.

“The transformative investment we’re making means we’re in the best-possible position to deliver an electricity system which will support sustainable economic growth, benefit the environment in the decades to come, and create significant job opportunities during construction in communities across the north of Scotland.

“In selecting these five contract partners after a fair, open, and competitive tendering process, we’ve secured the ability to deliver our massive programme of investment efficiently and effectively. This transformation will ensure increased resilience, flexibility, and capacity for our 800,000 customers in the north of Scotland.

“The way these partnerships have been drawn up will mean we can reduce supply chain risks and secure the specialist skills we need to help deliver decarbonisation effectively for our customers and communities.”