Supporting a just transition
Investing in local economies, jobs and skills
As part of our OnPath Together approach, we are committed to building a local supply chain, boosting the local economy, delivering jobs and long-term economic benefits.
We believe it’s better for everyone involved if local people benefit from our projects. We hire locally wherever possible, targeting a 65% lifetime spend on all new wind farms being spent locally. We create long-term partnerships with local businesses and guide our suppliers to subcontract locally. Tenders for work need to include a statement of local economic benefits, demonstrating our commitment to prioratising local businesses on our tender lists.
The biggest opportunity we can bring to local economies relates to the installation and operation of the wind farms. As part of our OnPath Together development approach we commit to £1 million per MW being spent in locally. Local firms that typically benefit from our projects include those providing the facilities and infrastructure such as access roads, crane pads and turbine foundations needed to install the turbines.Other opportunities involve the development and design, and the electrical grid connection, with long term local opportunities also existing in the ongoing operations and maintenance of the wind farms.
“It’s good to see a developer prioritising local firms throughout the supply chain – and then sticking to their word. Our contract is principally with RJ McLeod, who likewise are committed to using local businesses wherever possible thanks in part to their agreement of the OnPath Together framework.”
Gordon Campbell Commercial Manager at Hillhouse Quarry (supplier of sand and gravel for concrete).
Supporting local investment, jobs and skills.
An interview with RJ McLeod’s Lorcan Hayes
Our commitment to hiring locally was demonstrated in the development of Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension. Our principal contractor, RJ McLeod spent almost £10 million on local subcontractors within 50km of the project throughout the build.
The firm itself is headquartered in Glasgow and employed 15 members of staff on the project, a further 20 on sub-contracts and a further 75 as labourers, most of whom lived locally.
The approach we took for the Kype Muir Extension mirrors the approach used for the original Kype Muir Wind Farm, in which over 70% of contractor spend (around £12 million) was on sub-contractors located within 30km of the site.
OnPath Together commitments
As part of our OnPath Together development approach we commit to supporting a just transition that is fair and inclusive for everyone supporting local communities with investment, jobs and skills. Take a look at some of our OnPath Together supply chain commitments. Read the full list of commitments here.
£1 million / MW
We target a local economic benefit of £1 million/MW for all onshore wind projects.
65% local spend
We target 65% of the lifetime spend on a windfarm being spent locally
Local business benefits
We require tenders for work to include a statement of local economic benefits.
Supporting local communities with investment, jobs and skills
Prioritising local businesses
Hamilton Tarmac is a tarmac surfacing company. The family owned business was contracted by our principal contractor for Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension, RJ McLeod to lay the roads to enable access to the site for turbine deliveries.
We spoke to Wilson Rankin, contracts director at Hamilton Tarmac to learn about the value of contracts such as this for local businesses, economies and communities. Watch the video opposite.
Kype Muir Extension local spend
We spent £14,986,324 when developing Kype Muir Wind Farm Extension. Our OnPath Together development approach ensures at least 65% of that spend benefits local people, local businesses and the local economy.
£ 5,197,661
Invested within 30km
£4,389,180
Invested within 50km
£5,390,482
Invested nationally
OnPath Together
Learn more about our OnPath Together development approach, values and commitments