Appendix B – Portfolio of community benefits and engagement activities

There is a focus on the provision and delivery of community benefits as part of our contracts. Transport Scotland has developed bespoke guidance to help project managers identify community benefits that could be included in their contracts.

Community benefits may include opportunities such as:

• generating employment and training opportunities for priority groups
• vocational training
• up-skilling of the existing workforce
• equality and diversity initiatives
• making sub-contracting opportunities available to SMEs, the third sector and supported businesses
• supply-chain development activities
• encouraging and developing capacity in community organisations
• educational support initiatives
• working with schools, colleges and universities to offer work experience, mentoring and curriculum development minimising negative environmental impacts, e.g. impacts associated with vehicle movements and/or associated emissions and impacts on protected areas, buildings or sites.

Measures introduced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic meant engagement with the community, including local schools and colleges, has continued to be challenging for our suppliers, contractors and operators during this reporting period. This appendix provides details of community benefits that were achieved during this reporting period, which contribute towards the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework. Key statistics of additional employment opportunities, sub-contracting and training provided as a result of our contracts are shown in Table 4, followed by case studies under three headings:

• Community Engagement Activities
• Educational Engagement Activities
• Environmental Activities

Table 4: Key statistics from 01 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

Key Statistics during period 01 Apr 2021 - 31 Mar 2022	Figures
Number of new entrant positions (excluding graduates and apprentices)	478
Number of graduate positions	124
Number of apprentice positions	81
Total number of new sub-contracts awarded	597
Total value of all sub-contracts	£93,052,648
Of these, total number of new sub-contracts awarded to Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs)	344
Total value of all sub-contracts awarded to SMEs	£23,110,054
Total spend with supported business and social enterprise	£435,583
Number of work placements undertaken	45
Number of qualifications gained (SVQ2 and above)	93
Number of industry certification gained	681

Community engagement activities

As the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions were relaxed during the reporting period, our contractors, suppliers and operators have continued their engagement activities with the community where they have been allowed to do so. The following examples highlight some of the innovative ways that they have engaged with the local communities.

Provision of Air Services Between Glasgow Airport and Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra– Loganair Limited

As the UK’s largest regional airline and majority operator at Aberdeen Airport, Loganair is a lifeline resource for the Scottish Islands community, operating Public Service Obligation (PSO) air routes from Glasgow to Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra. Loganair’s charity partner, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), progressed its ambitions to reach and support more children and young people with life-shortening conditions thanks to a new partnership with Loganair. Through their partnership with CHAS, Loganair fundraised throughout the year to provide children and nurses with flights for CHAS at Home services, offering vital respite to families.

During 2022, Loganair provided a special Easter flight for families and actively worked with CHAS to improve the garden environment at their hospice.

Provision of Management Consultancy Services – Ernst & Young 

Ernst & Young (EY) are providing management advisory services to Transport Scotland. The EY Accelerate Programme provides business support, coaching and mentoring from volunteers at EY to those who have setup newly formed social enterprises. This provides them with pro-bono legal advice around areas such as employment law and tax law as well as workshops on digital marketing and anything else where support can be provided to improve the social enterprises’ footprint and business going forward. In the 2021 cohort, EY engaged with more than 30 social enterprises including six in Scotland which were based in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness. In the current 2022 cohort, EY are working with another 20+ social enterprises with four of these being Scotland based.

A90/A96 Haudagain Improvements Project – Farrans Construction

Farrans were appointed as the main contractor on the Haudagain Improvement project, which is a major road junction in Aberdeen and was operating over capacity, causing significant queues and delays to traffic on the approach roads. The project opened to traffic in May 2022 to improve traffic flow and journey time reliability and help alleviate traffic congestion.

From the outset of construction, Farrans delivered a wide range of community benefits. During the 2021-2022 reporting period this included the following examples:

Farrans donated funding and materials to the Middlefield Community Project for a Sculpture Trail project to benefit the local community. The contractor kept the local community regularly updated on the progress of the construction through their own newsletters as well as providing articles for publication in the community newsletter, The Middlefield Mirror. Farrans also provided articles on other initiatives in the local area including ‘A walk review of the Auchmill Nature Trail’ to encourage more active travel.

Farrans established a relationship with the Middlefield Nursery helping them with their plans for their outdoor area. The contractor explored sustainable ways to support this request and discovered the local Men’s Shed at Bridge of Don. They donated materials to the Men’s Shed who recycled and repurposed the offcuts of  timber and pallets into planters and other garden items for the nursery.

Farrans staff made regular donations of food to the Northfield foodbank as well as donations of refurbished laptops to the Middlefield Community project. The laptops were donated as part of an initiative to help increase the number of people in Aberdeen with digital access and to enable them to become more IT competent as well as enabling people to stay in touch with family and friends.

A9/A82 Longman Junction Improvement – Jacobs UK Ltd

Jacobs are providing engineering and design work on the A9/A82 Longman Junction Improvement project. Participants from the Jacobs project team took part in the ‘Run the Runway’ event in August 2021, which involved running the length of Inverness Airport runway. This was in conjunction with members from the A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) project team and raised a total of £960 for Maggie’s Highland.

Team members from the Inverness office collected food donations within the office along with cash donations for the local Inverness Food bank.

A9 Dualling: Luncarty to Pass of Birnam – Balfour Beatty

Balfour Beatty were appointed as the main contractor on the A9 Dualling: Luncarty to the Pass of Birnam scheme. They sponsored the monthly Lunch Club event in Stanley following its return after the pandemic restrictions were lifted, which helped increase social wellbeing of older and socially isolated people in the village of Stanley. In addition to sponsoring the events, two members of the project team also volunteered their time to help host the event where 45 lunch club members reconnected with their community to enjoy live music and catch up over a meal.

Balfour Beatty provided professional volunteering support to a proposed new active travel project between Luncarty and Stanley, being driven by the Stanley Development Trust. This involved design support by the design consultancy for the project, Atkins, and also an overhead drone survey of the proposed route by the A9 Dualling team’s supply chain partner Vantage Images.

Balfour Beatty invited members of the local community and other key project partners to an event in September 2021 to recognise the range of benefits delivered to the communities of Perthshire throughout the project’s construction period.

Members of the local Stanley Development Trust were able to explore some of the 4 km of cycle paths constructed as part of the project, with help from some trishaws provided and piloted by charity Cycling Without Age.

ScotRail Franchise– Abellio

The ScotRail franchise encompasses all National Rail services operating wholly within Scotland. In October 2014, the Scottish Government awarded the franchise to Abellio ScotRail and since 2015, Abellio have granted more than £4 million combined investment to community station regeneration (with partner support). This includes the Basement Project at Kilmarnock Railway Station, which redeveloped a disused basement room at the station into a cycle and general storage area, toilets and shower unit for cyclists, a multimedia room with surround sound capabilities, a fully equipped training bakery, and a counselling room.

ScotRail has provided a local community space at Saltcoats railway station which is used for a variety of activities including a local karate club and is utilised as a community meeting space.

Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network– BEAR Scotland

BEAR Scotland manage and maintain the Trunk Road Network in the South East, North East and North West areas. The BEAR Scotland North East Unit staff took part in the annual Kiltwalk event in 2021 to raise funds for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), BEAR’s then national charity of the year. Over £2,700 was raised which was matched by the Hunter Foundation taking the total to over £4,000. A Christmas Jumper Day was also hosted in December 2021 to raise funds for the SCAA.

A new charity initiative was launched by BEAR in 2021 which saw six local and regional charities that are within areas BEAR works, benefit from a £1,000 donation. Across the north, donations were made to Perth Autism Support, International Otter Survival Fund and Lochaber Mountain Rescue.

In May 2021, BEAR donated £500 to the Rookie Minds charity, a young person’s mental health service. The donation was made in support of their ‘Rookie Tubeathon’, which involved a 30-hour non-stop broadcast online. A £500 donation was made again to the charity in January 2022.

A five-strong team from BEAR helped raised £1,210 for the Highland Hospice by taking part in their fundraising event which involved abseiling 100 ft off the iconic Kessock Bridge in Inverness. BEAR topped this up with an additional £1,000 on behalf of all staff as part of the charity initiative.

BEAR demonstrated support for employees’ fundraising challenges throughout the year. BEAR staff from the North West Planned Maintenance team helped raise money for the charity Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) by walking The West Highland Way in 2021. They raised over £1,100 which included a £250 donation made by BEAR. £250 was also donated to Myeloma UK in support of a BEAR colleague taking part in a running event and BEAR made a donation towards Movember. 

Corporate donations were also made to BEAR’s long-standing charity partners including the Scottish Association Mental Health (SAMH), My Name’s Doddie, RBLI and Cash For Kids. A Golf Charity Tournament was hosted by BEAR in September 2021 which raised over £10,000 for the Cash For Kids charity.

BEAR donated to the Tay Trampoline Club to help fund new equipment.

BEAR sponsored Team Five in a Row. The team took part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, which involved rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. The team raised funds for the charity Reverse Rett. 

In February 2022, BEAR staff undertook the annual staff raffle in aid of Cash for Kids raising £910.

Twenty BEAR staff took part in the Doddie Aid challenge. Fundraising efforts were cemented with a corporate donation where a total of £1,010 was raised.

BEAR supported the Sporting Memories Awards event with a sponsorship of £250.

BEAR made the first of six £1,000 donations to The Lighthouse for Perth, a charity that offers crisis support for anyone aged 12 or above who is at risk of self-harm or suicide, or who find themselves in emotional distress or crisis. The charity focuses on the Perth and Kinross region.

Donation boxes for the Scottish SPCA have been placed across depots in support of BEAR’s nominated national charity for 2022.

BEAR continued its award-winning partnership with Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company. The Commercial Director of BEAR Scotland says: “We are very proud to support Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company - The dedication, quality and skill they bring to their work is everything we are looking for in a supply chain partner, and we look forward to continuing a long-term relationship with them. As a company, we have long supported employment opportunities for ex-Forces members and are delighted that working with Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company will not only supply us with a high-quality product but will also provide essential employment opportunities for our brave veterans”.

BEAR supported various mental health events including the Samaritans Brew Monday, See Me Scotland’s Time to Talk Day and the Mental Health Foundation’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

BEAR showed their support towards Scottish Apprenticeship Week in March 2021 and 2022 by sharing a series of videos and graphics celebrating the career progression of current and former apprentices.

Forth Road Bridge Expansion Joint Replacement Project– American Bridge International

American Bridge International (ABI) were engaged on replacing expansion joints on the Forth Road Bridge and have been supporting the local community in North Queensferry. This included various initiatives such as gifting new barrel planters, painting the community boat yard toilet block, presenting to a local school on the bridge work and litter picking in the community.

Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie to Tipperty Scheme– Aberdeen Roads Limited

Balfour Beatty are the contractor maintaining the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, Balmedie to Tipperty scheme, on behalf of Aberdeen Roads Limited. In response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Balfour Beatty launched a campaign to help those who are affected by the current war in Ukraine and the millions of people who have fled to the neighbouring countries such as Poland and Romania. Balfour Beatty responded to the North East Ukraine Appeal (organised by the OWN Woman group), who are based in Dyce and working in partnership with the charity, Abernecessities.

Balfour Beatty assisted the charity through a range of activities. In March 2022, Balfour Beatty in Aberdeen organised a team of eight employees to help the North East Ukraine Appeal by sorting out donations including first aid items, food, clothes and other necessities. The volunteers helped both charities during the first day and Balfour Beatty staff from the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) project, the Social Impact team and Plant and Fleet services helped Abernecessities to sort donations for children and families. The team supported the North East Ukraine Appeal sorting donations for Ukraine and while in attendance, a large delivery of donations of 16 pallets arrived from Howdens North Scotland depots and the AWPR team acted quickly to assist by bringing across a forklift and unloading the donations into the depot for safe storage and distribution. Balfour Beatty staff have continued to assist with unloading and sorting through thousands of donations which have now been transported to Poland.

As part of this initiative, Balfour Beatty collected items including first aid and food from their sites in Aberdeen and donated these to the North East Ukraine Appeal. Balfour Beatty in Aberdeen is proud to be part of this movement and continues to provide assistance to the North East Ukraine Appeal.

Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network– Amey

Amey manages and maintains the Trunk Road Network in the South West area. A joint collaboration between Amey/Dumfries & Galloway local authority and a local community group in Kirkconnel, removed a dilapidated brick bus shelter near Kirkconnel. This was at the request of the local community group before the bus shelter collapsed with the potential to cause injury. Amey provided Traffic Management and labour resources to enable the work to be completed. 

Amey donated £300 to the Star Project, a local charity group in Paisley that helps to tackle food poverty in the area.

Amey provided 200 traffic cones and labour free of charge to lay out an Astroturf pitch for a Schools Value Day attended by 800 primary school pupils.

Amey took part in the Local Authority Christmas Toy Appeal via the local newspaper, The Standard. They donated approximately £350 worth of toys and selection boxes. The Dumfries & Galloway Council provided these gifts to approximately 600 disadvantaged children on their agency lists including Social Services, The Willows NHS, Women's Aid, NCH, nursery nurses, Barnardo's, Shelter and others.  

Amey came to the aid of the village of Mauchline ahead of a community switch-on event in December 2021. The community required urgent installation of their Christmas lights when their appointed contractor fell through. Amey donated their time and service to get the village Christmas-ready with a starry display along the A76 trunk road. Amey also provided the village with timers that will be installed in the light columns to prevent the festive LED lanterns burning 24 hours a day and reducing the community's energy consumption.

Amey local staff donated 20 of their own Centenary Hampers, valued at £25 each, to the Trussell Trust Foodbank in Falkirk.

Amey participated in a Christmas toy appeal by The Reinvention: Triumph over Injury at Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity HQ. The Reinvention is a community that provides support, advice and assistance to those who have experienced a life-changing injury, as well as for families and friends of those coming to terms with their injuries. Amey donated £500, assisted on a shopping trip to select toys, for the patients at the hospital and delivered the gifts to Glasgow Children's Hospital Charity HQ aided by helpful elves from the charity.

Northern Isles Ferry Service– SERCO Ltd

Serco Northlink Ferries (SNF), which serves Aberdeen, Scrabster and the Northern Isles, raised more than £10,000 to support people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). Crew members on board MV Hjaltland raised £10,376 during a two-year charity partnership with MS Society Scotland. The crew organised a number of fundraising events, including a sponsored walk from Lerwick Ferry Terminal to Scalloway, a quiz, bingo event and horse racing night. Passengers were able to purchase SNF fundraising merchandise, including branded hoodies on board, or drop spare cash into collection buckets.

SNF teamed up with Orcadian artist Alex Leonard in May 2021, known for his much-loved cartoon strip ‘The Giddy Limit’ to debut a new family of Vikings! A competition to name characters was launched and sponsored by SNF.

One of SNF’s Chief Officers completed a cycle challenge on 4 September 2021 riding 110 km in the Welsh hills and raising over £1,000 in aid of The Mission To Seafarers.

SNF also supported a sponsored 11,000 mile walk around the coastline of UK and Ireland to raise money for Alzheimer's Research UK, by providing ferry travel.

SNF attended the Royal Northern Agricultural Society Spring Show at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie in March 2022. The exhibition cattle section was proudly sponsored by NorthLink Ferries and attracted 50 entries from well-known commercial cattle producers.

SNF featured staff on Social Media channels on 8 March 2022 for International Women’s Day.

SNF sponsored the much-awaited finals day of the primary netball league in March 2022. A special congratulations to the Stromness Smashers for winning the Hjaltland league and the Stromness Shooters for winning the Hrossey league. SNF attended the finals and presented the winning teams with their certificates and trophies.

Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services– Caledonian MacBrayne

Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) operate ferry services to the Islands and Peninsulas on the West Coast of Scotland . The CalMac Community Fund exists to benefit the lives of people living in local communities in which they operate by supporting non-profit groups in the local network to achieve their goals. In 2021, CalMac announced 59 new awards to community services restarting or continuing since the pandemic. In particular, the fund aimed to support services and activities addressing or reducing social isolation, including encouraging re-engagement with community activity following the pandemic. These services and activities support better mental health and improved well-being.

Since its launch in 2019, the CalMac Community Fund has now supported 195 groups to deliver: 

• health and wellbeing outcomes including changes to people's physical health, psychological and emotional well-being
• social and community outcomes including improved social engagement and cohesion, reduction of isolation and increased cultural awareness. Greater access to local community and social activities, development of new friendships
• education and skills outcomes including improved teamwork and communication and new technical, recreational and life skills
• employment and volunteering outcomes including changes to employment opportunities and the generation of 1,734 volunteering hours
• environmental outcomes including raising awareness of local environmental issues and challenges and promoting sustainable living.

Projects supported by the Fund have benefitted over 11,000 people living in the Clyde and Hebridean network.

Working in partnership with Alzheimer’s Scotland, Harris Voluntary Service will deliver safe, professional support to individuals suffering from dementia and their carers through their Musical Memories Project. A Musical Memories representative stated that, "Musical Memories are delighted to have secured an award from the CalMac Community Fund. It will enable us to continue our musical group which supports people living with dementia or any other long-term condition as well as those living alone. It reduces isolation and enables people to feel part of their community. Music is proven to have many benefits and we also enjoy a chat, often reminiscing on the past."

Groups using the River Tay to support people's health and wellbeing have been presented with awards from the Perth Harbour Community Fund. The Fund was created by parent company David MacBrayne Limited (DML) to make a difference and benefit the lives of people living in Perth and Kinross. It launched in 2021 and initially made eight awards to groups tackling poverty, stigma and shame, promoting social inclusion and health and wellbeing, and organisations that help people become self-dependent and resilient.

In 2022, the Perth Harbour Community Fund is making nine awards to non-profit organisations who use the River Tay to deliver positive outcomes and benefit the lives of the people they engage with. The fund will enable Plus Perth to engage with vulnerable people and arrange walking groups, as well as ensuring the environmental upkeep of the river. The Head of Ports and Harbours for DML said, "The Perth Harbour Community Fund allows us to connect with our community in a unique and impactful manner. We are pleased to present nine awards to deserving groups, and we are excited to see the benefits from the projects we have supported this year."

A898 Erskine Bridge– C Spencer Ltd

The Spencer Group, C Spencer Ltd, have been completing essential maintenance works on the A898 Erskine Bridge. The contractor responded to a request for help from The Erskine Community Garden Project in making the Labyrinth path and have supplied labour and materials to construct the path, The Labyrinth path is now complete and open to the public.

C Spencer Ltd provided donations for raffle prizes at the Erskine Christmas Cracker Shopping Fayre and these were used to support the war veterans home.

C Spencer Ltd staff were sponsored for a ‘kilt walk’ for the Children’s Hospices Across Scotland charity and raised over £2,000.

Serco Caledonian Sleeper Ltd (SCSL) The Caledonian Sleeper is operated by Serco Caledonian Sleeper Ltd (SCSL) and is the overnight sleeper train service between London and Scotland. SCSL supported the Mallaig Play Park Project by donating a raffle prize for a fundraising event for the Mallaig Play Park Project. The winner of the raffle prize got to experience the spirit of the Caledonian Sleeper in one of the Club rooms with en-suite facilities, and priority access to the Club Car. This prize was for a return journey on any of the Caledonian Sleeper routes and was valid for one year. For the second year running, SCSL supported the Give a Dog a Bone charity. The Give a Dog a Bone charity is a small Scottish charity that works with elderly people and dogs to tackle loneliness. SCSL made donations throughout the year of Caledonian Sleeper Club room return tickets and as raffle prizes to raise funds for the charity, with some tickets raising more than ten times their value. SCSL plan to continue to work with this charity now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, to help support the charity by increasing their brand’s visibility and awareness within Scotland. SCSL supported the Railway Benefit Fund (RBF) charity by taking part in their annual Golf Day. The RBF Gold Day is one of the charities headline events of the year and is vital in them continuing to support the UK Railway Family. At this event, SCSL provided Caledonian Sleeper Club room return tickets for their raffle. SCSL supported the Intercity Charity, a charity that arranges train charters (approx. 350 passengers) to destinations for the day. When they reached out to SCSL the charity had a weekend charter, leaving London (to Inverness) on Saturday 26 February, where money was raised for the Stroke Association. In late 2021, SCSL supported the Rail Aid Charity, (Rail Aid is a UK Rail fundraising initiative on behalf of the international children’s charity, Railway Children), by providing several donations to their annual Gala which included Caledonian Sleeper Club Room return tickets to all five of their key destinations. By working with some of their key partners and suppliers SCSL were able to provide some special one-off packages, including overnight accommodation and dinner for an extended weekend offering.

Environmental activities

Environmental considerations are an important aspect of community benefits within contracts that Transport Scotland procure. Some of the ways our suppliers have contributed to the environmental wellbeing of the communities around their projects are shown below.

Provision of Air Services Between Glasgow Airport and Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra– Loganair Limited

Loganair provide airline services between Glasgow Airport and Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra which provide important connectivity to local communities. Loganair has given out £30,000 to organisations across Scotland in support of local renewable energy projects as part of its GreenSkies Community Fund. The grants allows six organisations to establish projects such as small-scale wind systems, solar panels, small-scale hydro power, and charging point stations for electric vehicles. The airline announced the initiative in 2021 in line with its GreenSkies environmental programme, which is Loganair’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2040.

The airline previously stated that its Community Fund would be released in three instalments of £10,000, with applicants able to access a maximum grant of £5,000 per project; however, after being inundated with interest, it decided to change the framework and award the full £30,000 after the first call for applications.

Now, organisations across Scotland have benefitted from the funding with six receiving £5,000 from Loganair in line with application requirements.

Based on the Isle of Lewis, Macaulay College, a not-for-profit community interest company which supports adults and young people with additional social and educational requirements, is set to use the £5,000 grant from Loganair to invest in solar panels.

The airline’s charity partner, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland, is also among successful applications and will use the £5,000 of funds for charging points for electric vehicles at its Robin House site in Balloch, where it will charge its electric vehicles for transporting families to and from the house.

The other organisations who benefitted from the scheme are based across the Highlands and Islands and include the Islay Development Initiative, a socio-environmental charity operating across Islay and Jura, Haroldswick Methodist Church on the Isle of Uist, Auld Skule, a recycling unit in Shetland, and Eday Community Enterprises, a community-run shop in Orkney. Each of the successful applicants will use the funding for renewable energy schemes.

Due to the success of the GreenSkies Community Fund, Loganair is planning to launch a further round of funding in 2022/2023.

A90/A96 Haudagain Improvements scheme– Farrans Construction

The A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement project includes an improvement at Haudagain roundabout, the junction between the A90 and A96 trunk roads. The contractor held an Active Travel Day in the local community centre with the contractor on hand to speak to residents about the benefits of active travel and improved access for pedestrians and cyclists as a result of the project.

A9/A82 Longman Junction Improvement– Jacobs UK Ltd

Jacobs were appointed to provide engineering and design work on the strategic A9/A82 Longman Junction Improvement scheme. Their staff participated in a litter pick on National Cycle Network Route 1 in June 2021 between Longman Drive and the A9. Seven bags of litter were collected from the route and disposed of at the local recycling centre.

Jacobs staff participated in the Great British Beach Clean on North Kessock beach in October 2021, which is in close proximity to the scheme exits. Five bags of litter were collected from the beach and disposed of at the local recycling centre.

A9 Dualling: Luncarty to Pass of Birnam– Balfour Beatty

Balfour Beatty were appointed as the main contractor on the A9 Dualling: Luncarty to Pass of Birnam scheme. Balfour Beatty created a bespoke presentation video to promote biodiversity to local primary school children and was provided to their teachers, along with the delivery of materials for planters for the school. This allowed the children to build a planter to see for themselves how their actions can help to create an environment which promotes biodiversity.

Balfour Beatty delivered a virtual resource to local secondary schools to let the teachers present the topic of sustainability and the reuse and recycling of materials to highlight the importance of the circular economy.

ScotRail Franchise – Abellio

The ScotRail franchise awarded to Abellio Scotrail in October 2014 encompasses all National Rail services operating wholly within Scotland. ScotRail’s electric Class 385 trains have resulted in carbon savings equivalent to planting 5,138,151 trees across the fleet’s 30-year lifetime.

ScotRail was recognised by the panel of Green Apple, recognising the work carried out under the Biodiversity Fund to enhance biodiversity, support the work of charities and offer educational opportunities for communities.

Nicole Tyson, ScotRail Sustainability Manager, said:

We are delighted to receive this recognition of the important work we are doing to support biodiversity improvement throughout Scotland.

The project has grown from a few stations to many of our depots and projects outside of our own portfolio.

We will continue to develop current projects and the example of partnership working at Perth Station Garden will be followed to encourage staff and community engagement at other locations.”

ScotRail can now monitor weather in real time at 281 stations across Scotland, which provides essential data for the community.

Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network – BEAR Scotland

BEAR Scotland manage and maintain the Trunk Road Network in the areas in the South East, North East and North West areas. Across the North West unit trees have been planted at the Corpach and Perth depots and across the North East, new trees have been planted at the Keith, Tom’s Forest and Stirlinghill depots.

Electric car charging ports continue to be installed by BEAR across depots. BEAR also launched a Green Week Campaign leading up to COP26. The campaign focused on BEAR’s Electric Fleet, biodiversity and sustainability.

BEAR supported Keep Scotland’s Beautiful Spring Clean Campaign and shared content across BEAR’s social channels.

Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network – Amey

Amey manage and maintain the Trunk Road Network in the South West area. The Amey South West Unit, in conjunction with John McGeady Ltd, arranged for 100 tonnes of road planings from the surfacing project on the M74 Junction 3 to be delivered to Viewpark Conservation Group, which is located between the M74/M73 and A8. The registered charity has an environmental project running for five years from August 2020 and have already used the planings to cover forest paths to allow visitors to walk through the projects area. The value of the donated planings was £1,000.

Northern Isles Ferry Service – SERCO Ltd

Serco Northlink Ferries (SNF) serves Aberdeen, Scrabster and the Northern Isles. SNF are committed to providing environmentally sustainable solutions across their fleet and in their terminals. Examples include:

• a recycling point installed for Konica toners in Aberdeen
• a refillable water bottle station introduced in Aberdeen has helped to save plastic bottles from entering circulation. Electric hand dryers have been installed, reducing paper towel usage, in Stromness
• water re-fill stations installed in the Hrossey & Hjaltland ferry galley and engine rooms to reduce disposable plastic bottle usage

Educational engagement activities

Engagement with students from local schools, colleges and universities was challenging due to remote learning during periods of lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and physical distancing requirements when pupils returned to the learning environment. The examples below provide an insight into how our contractors, suppliers and operators were able to continue to engage with local students.

Provision of Air Services Between Glasgow Airport and Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra – Loganair Limited

Loganair provide airline services between Glasgow Airport and Campbeltown, Tiree and Barra which provide important connectivity to local communities. Loganair is committed to offering educational opportunities to the community and has eight Modern Apprentices (MAs) based within the Engineering department in Glasgow. All MAs have had continued employment since their start date, and all are still active in the four-year programme. Valuable experience is gained working in the hangar with the Twin Otter fleet used to deliver the PSO contract; particularly during the annual overhauls of the three aircraft. MAs time is rotated across fleet types for experience, so it is estimated that three FTE are dedicated to the Twin Otter aircraft.

Provision of Financial Consultancy Services to the Ferries Sector – Ernst & Young 

Ernst & Young (EY) are providing financial advisory services to the Ferries sector. In 2022 EY performed mock interviews for students, attending as a ‘Dragon’ on the panel for their Dragon’s Den assignment. They carried out a presentation to the students about EY, which included what it is like to work there and how to apply.

The Smart Futures programme provides disadvantaged young people (eligible for free school meals or education maintenance allowance) in S5 with five days employability skills training followed by three days of work experience with EY. Participants are paid for these days and are then paired up with a volunteer mentor to provide ongoing employability support over the following 10 months. As various restrictions were still in place due to Covid-19, the programme was delivered entirely virtually and young people were provided with EY laptops, headsets and, where necessary, 4G dongles in order to provide them with all of the technology they would need to participate and connect to the programme. As the programme was delivered online it allowed participants to apply from across Scotland.

The EY Foundation provides opportunities for young people across Scotland. EY delivered short (half-day) employability workshops to young people in S3-S6 in multiple secondary schools in the Perth & Kinross region. In the period, this included working with 487 young people in those school year groups. These workshops were delivered in some cases virtually and in others face-to-face, depending on what Covid-19 restrictions were in place at the time of each workshop.

EY engaged with a further six young people in the Perth and Kinross region via the Foundation’s ‘Our Future’ programme, working with young people who are at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment education or training), giving them five days paid employability skills training followed by six days paid work experience with local employers. Again, this was all done virtually given the various Covid-19 restrictions that remained in place at the time.

EY worked with 20 young people from the greater Glasgow area in the Beyond Your Limits programme, which is aimed at young people in care. This two-year programme provided bite size segments of various types of support to the cohort, including six days of employability skills training, two days of financial literacy training and six days of work experience.

A90/A96 Haudagain Improvements Project– Farrans Construction

The A90/A96 Haudagain Improvement project includes an improvement at Haudagain roundabout, the junction between the A90 and A96 trunk roads. Farrans were appointed as the main contractor and attended weekly volunteer mentoring sessions with MCR Pathways in the local community, a national, award-winning mentoring programme whose vision is that every care-experienced young person, or those who have experienced disadvantage, gets the same education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances as every other young person.

Farrans delivered a ‘Step into Construction’ workshop for students from Northfield Academy.

Farrans donated materials including topsoil and planters to assist Scotstown Primary School with improving their garden area.

For Maths Week Scotland, Farrans attended an event at Manor Park Primary School and presented to both teachers and pupils on the topic of civil engineering and the practical application of maths in work. The pupils were given tasks to complete including programming  ‘Botley the Robot’ which encouraged the pupils in counting, listening, teamwork and logic.

The Community Liaison Officer for Farrans delivered ‘Safety Sam’ sessions to a number of local primary schools including Dyce Primary School, giving the pupils an insight into what behind the construction site and to teach them about the dangers of playing on, or near construction sites.

A90/A937 Laurencekirk Junction Improvement Scheme– Amey Consulting

Amey Consulting were appointed to provide engineering and design work on the A90/A937 Laurencekirk Junction Improvement Scheme, which is the construction of a new grade-separated junction at Laurencekirk as part of a package of additional investment alongside the Aberdeen City Region Deal. Amey have provided several work experience placements to local school pupils and have introduced them to civil engineering, which provides pupils with a positive and inspiring work experience opportunity. This is demonstrated in the following testament.

As a pupil at Caldervale High School, Airdrie, I was provided with a week’s work experience opportunity with Amey not really knowing what career path I wanted to take. During this time I learned about Civil Engineering and found it really interesting. I joined Amey as a Modern Apprentice attending Kelvin college to gain an HNC. I am now at Strathclyde University undertaking a BSc in Civil Engineering with the aim of gaining a Graduate position on completion of my degree.”

A9 Dualling: Luncarty to Pass of Birnam– Balfour Beatty

Balfour Beatty were appointed as the main contractor on the A9 Dualling: Luncarty to the Pass of Birnam scheme. Balfour Beatty delivered a virtual careers presentation to 20 civil engineering students at Strathclyde University. This built on previous similar in-person site visits that took place prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and gave details of the various employment opportunities within the construction industry to the next generation.

A9 Dualling: Birnam to Glen Garry– Jacobs UK

Jacobs were appointed to provide engineering and design work on the A9 Dualling: Birnam to Glen Garry scheme. Jacobs supported the Sustainable Solutions Challenge, Roads of the Future, in a local school. 29 pupils entered this competition from P6/7 which involved a 12-hour project and then the winning team from the school represented their class at an online final event.

Jacobs supported Gateway sessions where 25 pupils from Pitlochry Primary school participated in a morning of team building activities linked to the A9 dualling construction project.

Jacobs attended an Apprenticeship Academy event, where 26 S2 pupils participated in 2.5 days of team, skills, careers and knowledge building activities before embarking on a team mega challenge to build a bridge.

A9 Dualling: Glen Garry to Dalraddy – Halcrow Fairhurst JV

Halcrow Fairhurst were appointed to provide engineering and design work on the A9 Dualling: Birnam to Glen Garry scheme. Academy9 is the educational arm of the A9 Dualling Programme. For the last five years this programme has successfully run with 30 primaries and four high schools along the A9 corridor, covering Primary 3 to PhD as well as members of the communities affected by the dualling of the A9. Halcrow Fairhurst supported the Academy9 Next Steps Conference, which is designed to prepare school leavers for life after school. It was attended by 105 S5 pupils in Kingussie High School.

Halcrow Fairhurst supported the Academy9 Digital Town planning event hosted online for 20 S3 pupils from Kingussie High School. They also supported at the Academy9 Risk Radar online session run for Alvie Primary, which was attended by 25 P5-P7 pupils.

Strategic Technical Advisors for Transport Scotland Rail Directorate – Atkins

Atkins are providing technical advisory services to the Rail sector. Atkins delivered STEM activities to Lorne Street Primary School in Glasgow in December 2021, with follow-up events in each term through 2022.

Atkins sponsored the Net Zero Superhero competition which identified 18 schools who wanted to take part. 13 schools have been assigned an Atkins mentor and all have made initial contact with their mentor. Atkins created a full resource pack of seven lessons and four practical activities which have been provided to schools and volunteers as part of the competition. One of the objectives is to generate positive environmental improvements. 

ScotRail Franchise – Abellio

The ScotRail franchise awarded to Abellio Scotrail in October 2014 encompasses all National Rail services operating wholly within Scotland. During 2021, ScotRail signed up to a partnership with Primary Engineer to deliver STEM-related educational initiatives to 30 primary schools across Scotland.

In July 2021, five of the six Customer Service Modern Apprentices that joined ScotRail in January 2020 moved to permanent roles within the business. In August 2021, they welcomed six new Customer Service Modern Apprentices based in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen.

During 2022, ScotRail provided a programme of foundation apprenticeships, working with Scottish secondary schools to give valuable work experience.

Management and Maintenance of the Scottish Trunk Road Network – BEAR Scotland

BEAR Scotland manage and maintain the Trunk Road Network in the South East, North East and North West areas. BEAR supported Pitlochry High School and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) to deliver the Rapid Response Engineering Challenge in September 2021. The team explained to pupils about the work of civil engineers and the challenges of the job as well as overseeing a problem-solving activity.

BEAR, alongside Transport Scotland, gave a presentation at the Road Expo in December 2021 on the road safety scheme carried out on the A92 Balfarg Junction in Glenrothes.

In February 2022, BEAR welcomed four student placements from Abertay University. The students joined the company on a 12-week placement as part of their BEng Civil Engineering degree.

BEAR Scotland continued the Bill Taylor Scholarship with Abertay University. The scholarship is awarded to a third-year undergraduate BSc (Hons) Civil and Environmental Engineering student. The scholarship enables the student to gain valuable experience within the engineering industry as well providing financial support. BEAR also continued to support STEM events which included conducting presentations at universities.

To help highlight the different career paths of BEAR staff, the company took part in the No Wrong Path Campaign in August 2021.

Forth Road Bridge Expansion Joint Replacement Projec t– American Bridge International

American Bridge International (ABI) were engaged on replacing expansion joints on the Forth Road Bridge and they have delivered a programme of presentations to local schools about work that had been done to the bridge.

Northern Isles Ferry Service – SERCO Ltd

Serco Northlink Ferries (SNF) serves Aberdeen, Scrabster and the Northern Isles. SNF are committed to promoting the education and development of young people. Examples include three students from Robert Gordon University (RGU) who have been interns with SNF since May 2021. The SNF Graduate Development Scheme develops young people in technical and behavioural competencies to focus on a maritime career. Senior members of staff are working through opportunities for supporting RGU students from across various subjects and schools within the university for the 2022 intake. SNF support the Developing the Young Workforce Orkney and Social Media Takeover on 24 September 2021 to promote careers in SNF.

SNF supported Deaf Awareness Week in May 2021 by sharing relevant content and highlighting their use of the Sign Language interpreter, through the Interpreters Live Service, provided by Sign Solutions UK.

Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services – Caledonian MacBrayne

Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) operate ferry services to the Islands and Peninsulas on the West Coast of Scotland. CalMac partners with young people and charities tackling social issues in coastal communities to provide a range of life skills benefits. For example, CalMac supports The Wood Foundation's Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), an active citizenship programme that empowers young people to make a difference in their local communities while developing new skills, by offering the services of their staff.

CalMac enabled 777 pupils from participating schools to research social issues in their area and the charities working to address them. Young people then make a case for their chosen charity as to why they should receive a £3,000 grant to help with their work. Through this initiative, young people develop research skills, written communication skills and teamworking skills. 

CalMac engaged in YPI by:

1. Attending online launch events to support the young people as they explored values and social issues in their communities
2. Forming part of a judging panel, listening to team presentations before selecting one group to award £3,000 for their nominated charity
3. Mentoring teams of young people to help develop their skills and confidence to use positively within their community

Based in Mallaig, CalMac’s Port Manager, Julie MacRae engaged with Mallaig High School as a judge in the schools YPI final. Julie said: “YPI is a great project. The project has had a really positive impact on pupils at Mallaig High and has encouraged young people to engage with charities long term which I think is fantastic”. CalMac are partners to Nicolson Institute (Stornoway), Sir E Scott (Tarbert), Liniclate High (Benbecula), Castlebay School (Barra), Ullapool High, Mallaig High, Oban High, Campbeltown Grammar, Inverclyde Academy, St Columba's High (Gourock).

As part of a training contract awarded to Clyde Training Solutions (CTS), CalMac offered free training places to aid those seeking employment within the Maritime sector. Following a Recruitment & Selection process, six candidates were shortlisted for interview and four were subsequently appointed as Senior Catering Ratings within the major fleet for the summer season in 2021.

A96 Dualling Inverness to Nairn (including Nairn Bypass) – Jacobs UK Ltd

This proposed project is to upgrade the A96 between Inverness and Nairn to dual carriageway, and a bypass at Nairn. Transport Scotland’s technical advisors, Jacobs, led a number of STEM sessions with two groups of five pupils within the Additional Support Needs hub at Millburn Academy. The groups worked on a STEM challenge project together building model cars, which each member of the group successfully completed.

Jacobs held two online 'challenge' STEM sessions with pupils from Fintry Primary School. Jacobs gave a talk to approximately 180 pupils about structural engineering and set pupils a challenge of building a tower as tall as possible from paper and masking tape.

Jacobs gave a 15 minute Structural Engineering Career talk at West Calder Secondary School in a virtual presentation to inspire pupils to consider structural engineering or similar as a career path. This was given to approximately 150 secondary 2 level students.

Jacobs judged 14 Primary 3 and 15 Primary 4 entries to the Scotland region of the Primary Engineer Leaders Award Competition. Entries came from 19 separate Primary Schools including three from Balloch Primary School and two from Avoch Primary School.

Integrated Travel in Scotland - Smart Ticketing Infrastructure – PDMS Ltd

PDMS Ltd were appointed to provide enabling work to the Smart and Integrated Ticketing Improving services for Scotland’s public transport. PDMS sponsored the first cohort of the Empowering Women to Lead Digital Transformation programme in Scotland. The programme was supported by ScotlandIS, the Scottish Digital Academy and the Scottish Government, and is designed for emerging and potential women leaders in digital transformation roles in organisations across the public, private and third sectors. PDMS also sponsored the Empowering Women in Digital Transformation and Cyber Security graduation event which took place in November 2021.

PDMS supported the Digital Critical Friends Programme in Lanarkshire providing a mentor to meet with a local secondary school on a regular basis. PDMS also provided a mentor for the MCR Pathways project to help provide guidance and positive role models for disadvantaged young people.