Had-Fab, the Tranent-based structural engineering and metal fabrication firm, has secured more than £100 million of contracts with SSEN Transmission in the north of Scotland.
Had-Fab has secured the work to fabricate nearly 500 steel towers for the proposed Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV overhead line electricity transmission project that is being delivered by SSEN Transmission’s supply chain partners Murphy and Wood Transmission and Distribution Ltd.
The overall value of the work is more than £100 million — the largest contract award in Had-Fab’s history.
SSEN Transmission is the end customer for the towers, and the work is being delivered under UK energy regulator Ofgem’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) framework, introduced in 2022 to help meet 2030 renewable electricity generation ambitions.
Over the next three years, Had-Fab will fabricate 28,000 tonnes of tower steelwork under the terms of the work.
“In the last 18 months, Had-Fab has increased its employee numbers from 120 to 197, enabling a continued skilled labour force for the future, with most based locally in East Lothian,” said SSEN Transmission.
“Overall, the number of its employees will increase to more than 250 people over the next 12 months, based on the planned tower and substation requirements and other work.
“An additional 70 jobs are directly associated with the work announced today, with other posts also supported by SSEN Transmission grid upgrade projects.
“Had-Fab has a long-standing relationship with SSEN Transmission, having provided fabricated steel and aluminium for several other overhead line and substation projects, including on the Argyll and Kintore 275kV Reinforcement Project that is in construction, and this new work accelerates the company’s investment and employment growth plans …
“As the transmission operator for the north of Scotland, SSEN Transmission expects to invest at least £22bn in the period to March 2031 as part of a wider renewal of the electricity transmission system across Great Britain – including several new 400kV overhead lines – that are required to enable the homegrown low-carbon electricity needed to deliver UK and Scottish clean power and energy security targets.
“At the contracts award ceremony, senior representatives of Had-Fab, SSEN Transmission, Murphy and Wood Transmission and Distribution Ltd were joined by the Secretary of State for Scotland in the UK Government, Ian Murray MP, and the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy in the Scottish Government, Gillian Martin MSP.
“Also in attendance were MSPs Paul McLennan, the constituency member for East Lothian; and Martin Whitfield, member for the South Scotland region, which includes East Lothian.”
Anthony Jones, Chief Commercial Officer of Had-Fab, said: “These contracts reflect the continuing trust placed in Had-Fab’s capabilities and the strength of our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and engineering excellence. We are proud to play a central role in building the infrastructure that will help power a greener future.”
Energy Secretary Gillian Martin MSP said: “Ensuring renewable power can flow from where it is generated to where it is needed is critical to Scotland’s just transition to net zero and for fully realising the economic opportunities from our abundant resources.
“I welcome this investment by SSEN Transmission to upgrade the grid across the north of Scotland and ensure companies based in Scotland benefit from the supply chain opportunities.
“It is also vital that local communities and businesses benefit from all aspects of our green revolution and just energy transition to net zero. We are committed to working with partners to ensure the delivery of renewable energy comes with benefits for people in Scotland and support a green and growing economy in which nobody is left behind.”
Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, said: “The scale of this work secured by Had-Fab demonstrates the major economic opportunities that are generated by investing to upgrade our electricity transmission infrastructure.
“Maximising the opportunities presented by Scotland’s clean power potential and growing the economy to support high quality jobs go hand in hand. That is exactly what is happening here in East Lothian, and in many other communities across the country, and demonstrates that we have supply chain companies with the skills and experience to support the journey we must complete to a clean power future.”
Iain Lamont, General Manager and Director, Wood Transmission and Distribution Ltd, said: “Upgrading the electricity grid across northern Scotland is a vital part of the UK’s broader transmission system renewal, supporting national low-carbon and energy security goals.
“Wood has partnered closely with SSEN Transmission and Had-Fab for years to deliver high-quality transmission infrastructure across Scotland. This award reflects the collective expertise we bring to this critical project, and we’re proud to strengthen local supply chains and contribute to the regional economy.”