The ESD (Efficient Service Delivery) joint venture will oversee the delivery of projects including work on reservoirs, water treatment works and pumping stations over the next six years.

A further announcement of local contractors around Scotland to support the investment plans is expected to be made later this spring.

As part of the non-infrastructure Quality and Standards IV framework agreement ESD will take on 15 modern apprentices in the first year with six in each year which follows making a total of 45 apprentices.

ESD will also employ 10 graduates in the first year with four in each following year.

In 2014, Scottish Water announced that Caledonia Water Alliance, a partnership of Morrison Utility Services and Aecom, would be its water infrastructure alliance partner.

It was also announced that aBV Alliance, a partnership of Amey and Black and Veatch, is Scottish Water’s waste water infrastructure alliance partner.

Rural framework partners, to be announced later this spring, will enable many local firms to play a key role in helping to deliver the programme around Scotland.

Greg Fitzgerald, Executive Chairman of Galliford Try, said: “We are delighted to have secured such a substantial amount of long-term business in a key sector for us.

“We look forward to building on our relationship with Scottish Water and bringing the benefit of our experience of collaboration across the UK water sector to Scottish Water and its customers.”