Bellshill-based Advance Construction is one of Scotland’s largest civils and groundworks firms employing around 2,000 staff and turning over around £300m.

It is understood to be aiming to buy a 25% stake in the driven concrete piling specialist NPL, which has a turnover of around £10m employing up to 35 staff from its nearby base also in the Bellshill area to the south east of Glasgow.

A deal would create a strong alliance between the two firms with Advance able to offer clients full ground modelling with design and precast piles and beams capability.