SME contractors together employing more than 3,200 people with bases or locations around Scotland have been chosen to support the delivery of Scottish Water’s new £3.5 billion investment programme. The 58 small to medium sized businesses form a framework of rural contractors which can be used to support Scottish Water and its construction Alliance partners in the delivery of construction and maintenance projects for the benefit of customers between now and 2021. Geoff Aitkenhead, Executive Director Capital Investment at Scottish Water, said: “The vast majority of these small to medium sized firms have bases or locations in and around communities. This will provide us with vital local knowledge with skills honed and retained in the community. Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, said: “The fact that SMEs delivering projects for Scottish Water will be able to use their local knowledge will be important to ensure that services continue to be first-rate, best value for money and suitable for the future needs of rural communities.”A full list of the companies can be found at: https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/about-us/media-centre/latest-news/09072015-rural-framework