BELLSHILL-based BH Civil Engineering has secured a contract to deliver a complete formwork, reinforcement, and concrete package on the Eccles Substation project in the Scottish Borders for electricity distributor and transmission network operator SP Energy Networks.
The company will work in partnership with Luddon Construction and Hitachi Energy on the initiative, which aims to extend and reinforce the transmission network. The firm will also carry out groundworks and supply all the labour, plant, and formwork directly.
Ben Hall, director at BH Civil Engineering, told Project Scotland, that securing the Eccles Substation project was a ‘fantastic milestone’ for the business. “We’re proud that Luddon has placed its confidence in our team, and we look forward to bringing our proven expertise and collaborative approach to deliver resilient infrastructure for the local network,” he added. “This win is testament to the hard work and dedication of our people, and we’re excited to get started.”
BH Civil Engineering has grown rapidly since being founded in 2020. Other current projects it is involved in include the transformation of Edinburgh’s iconic Jenners department store building into a mixed-use space. The company has been working alongside GRAHAM at the historic site, providing a package of works that include formwork and falsework, in-situ concrete, façade retention, and groundworks.
Other recent developments include a significant investment in the firm’s in-house construction equipment fleet and the launch of a new website, featuring an in-depth look into the company’s services and footage of projects showcasing its capabilities.
To mark recent growth, and address well-documented industry skills shortages, marketing co-ordinator Devon Hall visited a Primary 3 class at a local school near the firm’s Bellshill HQ to discuss the opportunities a career in construction can offer.
“Anyone I speak to who doesn’t have a family member that works in construction doesn’t really know what’s going on,” Devon told Project Scotland. “I think at all levels it’s so important to introduce the construction industry and plant into schools and education so people are aware it’s something they can look at as a potential career – there’s so many different sections of it, and I’d say there’s probably something for everybody.”
Having met with the class teacher prior to the visit, a bespoke presentation was created that was honed to the interests and existing knowledge of the children – with specific attention paid towards Minecraft and Roblox, two popular games which feature elements of building and strategy.
“If they enjoy playing games such as Roblox and Minecraft at home, then they’re picking up skills that are transferable into a future career in construction,” Devon said, before explaining how the games prompt youngsters to think creatively and strategically, whilst also helping in their understanding of how things are put together when building structures. “Those skills are so important to bring into roles in construction, so having these games they play at home creates a positive link in their minds between the two – and hopefully they’ll consider becoming future project managers, engineers, and joiners!”
Much of the classes’ natural interest in construction was on show, with many keen to tell of the toy excavators they had at home – so a live video call with project engineer Joe Hough, showing a Sáez crane in operation, went down a treat!
“They were all crowded round saying how cool it was,” Devon added, before the visit progressed to a ‘show and tell’ section, where groups learnt about different pieces of equipment and roles within plant and construction before presenting them to classmates.
With the bulk of the class being girls, BH Civil Engineering had an important opportunity to dispel misconceptions around who careers in plant and construction are available to. According to 2022 figures, just 15.4% of Scotland’s construction sector was made up of women. “The girls were all so excited and I think it was nice for them that it was a woman (in construction) who talked to them,” Devon continued, telling how one youngster dawned a hardhat and excitedly declared her ambition of becoming a civil engineer. “It was so sweet to see them so engaged and excited.”
In a 2024 article in Project Scotland, BH Civil Engineering detailed its belief in giving opportunities to youngsters, with many of the senior team revealing that they didn’t start flourishing until they’d left school and found their calling on site. Two of the firm’s apprentices are due to start HNC and HNDs at Kelvin College later on in the year, with BH Civil Engineering hoping to take the class for a site visit.
The firm has already collaborated with the City of Glasgow College to provide communication and marketing students with construction-related work, with Devon keen to showcase the opportunities on that side of things to scholars.
