National Grid announces £624m of network contracts across 78 suppliers

National Grid has announced £624 million of contracts across 78 suppliers as it expands the supply chain supporting electricity network maintenance and upgrades across England and Wales.

While big projects like transmission upgrades are typically associated with large firms, whether it’s the manufacturers of the equipment such as Hitachi Energy, or contractors such as Balfour Beatty, 69 of the 73 companies awarded network contracts in the latest round are said to be SMEs. Those SMEs will help support critical network maintenance and enhancements over the next five years.

The work comes as National Grid increases investment across its UK electricity networks. The company expects to invest around £31 billion in electricity transmission and £9 billion in distribution during the five years to March 2031.

That investment is already changing how some of its largest infrastructure projects are procured. Last year, National Grid launched an £8 billion Electricity Transmission Partnership covering around 130 new and upgraded substations across England and Wales. The latest announcement shows that work is also reaching much smaller regional contractors.

Roger Smith Skilled Services, a three-person maintenance and construction company based in Plymouth, is among the suppliers highlighted by National Grid. The company has started a new contract covering work across West Cornwall, Bodmin, Plymouth and Devon.

Adrian Kidd, Director and co-owner of Roger Smith Skilled Services, noted, “This is a great opportunity for our business, providing a steady pipeline of work and giving us the confidence to invest and grow.

“We’re proud to play our part in helping National Grid maintain local substations and future-proof key local power infrastructure.”

By targeting smaller contractors, National Grid could have an outsized impact on helping new entrants into the market. In fact, on one unnamed converter station project, a supplier has identified early opportunities that could support around 270 local jobs, provide more than 3,000 apprenticeship weeks and benefit around 30 local SMEs and community organisations.

Cordi O’Hara, President, UK of National Grid, commented, “The benefits of this programme extend far beyond the infrastructure itself. From small local firms to major national suppliers, this programme is helping businesses to grow, to invest in skills, to create jobs, and to build the capabilities needed to support communities across England and Wales for years to come.”