SSEN Transmission has launched a new supply chain framework worth up to £7.4 billion over the next eight years.
The organisation said it will create significant opportunities for suppliers across the north of Scotland and beyond, with a strong focus on supporting local businesses and regional economies.
The framework will support the delivery of critical infrastructure projects as part of SSEN Transmission’s £29 billion investment programme to upgrade the electricity transmission network.
Covering a range of onshore transmission works, including civils, building construction, overhead lines, and underground cable installation, the framework is expected to enable up to £7.4 billion of investment. This will support essential network upgrades and new connections needed for a ‘secure, cleaner and more affordable’ energy system.
Paul Leddie, director of procurement and commercial at SSEN Transmission, said, “This framework represents another key step in building the strong, capable and resilient supply chain we need to deliver our investment plans at pace. It creates a broad range of opportunities across our programme and, through a dedicated regional pathway for civils works, opens the door for local businesses and smaller suppliers to play a direct role in delivering critical infrastructure across the north of Scotland.”
The framework is structured across six lots, aligning activities to contractor capability and project complexity, while enabling both regional participation and delivery at scale.
- Lot 1 – Civils up to £10m (regional): enabling works and access infrastructure
- Lot 2 – Civils over £10m (national): complex, multidisciplinary civils packages
- Lot 3 – Buildings and infrastructure: design and construction of operational buildings
- Lot 4 – Overhead line (OHL) pole construction: design and build of pole-based lines
- Lot 5 – OHL tower construction: design and build of lattice tower lines
- Lot 6 – Underground cable construction: design and installation of cable systems
A key feature is Lot 1, which has been designed to encourage greater participation from local suppliers and smaller businesses. Unlike other lots, Lot 1 is split into regional zones, allowing contractors to bid for specific areas and helping ensure opportunities are accessible to locally based businesses across the north of Scotland.
These projects typically include standalone or enabling works such as access tracks, foundations, drainage, public road improvements, peatland restoration and environmental mitigation.
By structuring the framework in this way, SSEN Transmission aims to create more accessible entry points for SMEs and regional suppliers, support the growth of skilled local workforces, strengthen regional supply chains, and maximise the economy benefits of investment within communities.
The framework is open to both existing partners and new suppliers. Suppliers can access the tender documents via the Jaggaer procurement portal until Thursday July 16.
