BBUS wins £30m contract

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions (BBUS), based in Chapeltown in Sheffield, agreed the three-year 28.5m deal Western Power

Distribution. There is also the option of a three-year extension.

The work, which begins in November, covers planned and emergency works across South Wales, including excavation, cable laying and reinstatement work for low and high voltage networks

Tony Scott, director of electricity at BBUS, said: "This contract award offers a great opportunity to build on our proven track record and experience in this sector. We have an extensive history in the electricity industry, having worked with all of the UK distribution network operators and transmission network owners on design and delivery of work."

BBUS works with many of the country's utility providers, across the water, waste water, gas and electricity industries and has worked with Western Power Distribution for 10 years.

Mr Scott added: "Technical capability and service excellence are key to the successful delivery of this contract and we have worked closely together to achieve a two-hour response time to emergency fault works, which make up 40 per cent of all work instructions."

Mark Shaw, distribution manager at Western, said: "BBUS' bid for this contract showed an impressive range of capabilities which fully met our requirements."

BBUS is part of Balfour Beatty, which last month reported that half-year pre-tax profit had risen by 32 per cent, to 141m, compared with 107m in 2009. It said it was well-placed to weather Government spending cuts as it announced more contracts and said a United States acquisition had boosted earnings.