The deals are designed to empower utility sector organisations to shape their projects and programmes through an accelerated, direct award model.

A £3bn framework covers England, Wales and Northern Ireland and a separate dedicated £1bn framework will serve Scotland.

SCAPE has appointed Kier and McLaughlin & Harvey to deliver projects in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and McLaughlin & Harvey and RJ McLeod to lead the Scotland framework.

The frameworks have been created to provide clients with access to specialist contractors capable of helping them to deliver the low carbon energy, transport and water infrastructure needed to meet sustainability targets and serve community needs in the years ahead.

The frameworks will enable the delivery of projects across a variety of sectors including docks, ports and harbours, rail and metros, aviation, water, renewables, energy and telecommunications.

John Simons, group procurement director at SCAPE, said: “We are excited to welcome our new partners, who have all demonstrated their ability to deliver efficient and effective best-in-class projects for clients. The quality of these new frameworks is a testament to the research and development applied across all of SCAPE’s procurement services.”

Andrew Bradshaw, Group managing director for Kier Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks added “We’re thrilled to have been appointed to the SCAPE Utilities Works and Services framework for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We have a proven track record of delivering successful projects and we’re looking forward to working with SCAPE to bring our capabilities to new clients.”

Chris Boyle, Framework Director at McLaughlin & Harvey said: “This framework offers the opportunity to provide utility companies and their customers real value for money in project delivery whilst also providing economic and social benefits for local communities across the United Kingdom.”

The SCAPE Utilities Works and Services frameworks will now enter the mobilisation phase, with clients anticipated to be able to begin using these from the end of February 2024.