hub North Board Selects Preferred Bidder
11th November 2010
The North Territory hub Programme Board has announced that Alba Community Partnerships (comprising of Cyril Sweett Investments Ltd and Miller Corporate Holdings, part of The Miller Group) has been selected as the preferred bidder for the hub North Territory.
hub North was the second hub territory to move into procurement and expects to deliver projects with an estimated value of £435 million over the next 10 years. The announcement is a significant milestone for the hub programme with construction on the first project in the North Territory starting in 2011.
hub projects will be delivered through a joint venture company (hubco) formed between the public sector bodies and a private sector development partner, which in the North Territory will be Alba Community Partnerships. The hub initiative brings Scotland's public sector bodies together to deliver a wide range of joint services to achieve better value for money and continuous improvement.
hub North Territory partners are: Aberdeen City Council; Aberdeenshire Council; Argyll and Bute Council; Comhairle nan Eilean Siar; Grampian Fire and Rescue Service; Grampian Police; The Highland Council; Highland and Islands Fire and Rescue Services; The Moray Council; NHS Grampian; NHS Highland; NHS Orkney; NHS Shetland; NHS Western Isles; Northern Constabulary; Orkney Island Council; Scottish Ambulance Service; and Shetland Islands Council.
Alba Community Partnerships has been selected after rigorous procurement process carried out by the public sector bodies in the North hub Territory. North Territory hub Programme Board, chaired by Gerry Donald from NHS Grampian, approved the selection. The North Territory hub Programme Board consists of members of the 18 public sector bodies in the North Territory area.
The North Territory hub Programme Board will now work with Alba Community Partnerships to create the joint venture company and start delivering initial projects during 2011.
Across the North Territory area, Alba Community Partnerships have already identified in excess of 100 contractors, suppliers and consultants interested and capable of completing the work across all parts of the territory. These businesses range from those based: Shetland, Thurso, Elgin, Aberdeen Stornoway, Orkney, Inverness, Moray, Ullapool, Fort William and The Western Isles.
The supply chain will remain flexible and contractors/consultants can apply to join the hubco supply chain by contacting Alba.
Gerry Donald, from NHS Grampian who chairs the North Territory hub Programme Board, said: "The Territory Partners are looking forward to working with Alba Community Partnerships, with its far reaching and dynamic approach, to deliver better value for money buildings which will facilitate and enhance joint working across the public sector to the benefit of our communities."
Derek Sharkey, Bid Director of Alba Community Partnerships, said: "We are delighted with this appointment and look forward to working with the Public Sector Partners to finalise North hubco. Once this process is completed we will be looking to commence delivery of these important projects which will generate multiple benefits for the communities which we will serve, whilst providing value for money.
"We have already commenced dialogue with a number of local businesses within the Territory who are well placed to become part of the teams for each project, in turn enhancing employment opportunities and the local economy."
Barry White, Chief Executive of the Scottish Futures Trust, said: "This is a great achievement for the North Territory hub Programme Board. I look forward to the north hubco working with local suppliers and contractors to deliver quality buildings to supply better public services for people right across the North hub Territory."
In March 2010 £6.5m start-up funding was granted for the initial hub projects in the North Territory. The initial North projects are (estimated project values in brackets):
• Aberdeen Health Village (£29 million)
• Ardseileach Core and Cluster Resettlement (£3 million)
• Tain Replacement Health Centre (£6 million)
• Woodside Medical Group (£7 million)
The hub initiative plans to deliver more than £1 billion of new community infrastructure across Scotland though the five hub areas.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
Yesterday
Council welcomes Visitor Levy flexibility plan
The Highland Council welcomes moves by the Scottish Government to introduce greater flexibility on how it could design a Visitor Levy Scheme for consultation. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 currently provides local authorities with discretionary powers to implement percentage-based levies following statutory consultation.Yesterday
Highland Council is reaching out for views to shape its next 26/27 budget.
As it looks to set out its forthcoming priorities, the council is seeking involvement from members of the public, including businesses, community groups, parents, and young people. All their opinions are going to be crucial in deciding how Highland Council will take on its budget challenge for 2026-2027.Yesterday
Have your say in Thurso's future £100million investment by attending public consultation events
Thurso is to benefit from £100m investment in education and community facilities and are rolling out the first phase of public consultations on 9 and 10 December 2025. The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say; this is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.2/12/2025
Finding new owners for empty homes - Scheme launched to help return more empty homes to active use
A new online portal has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again. Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as "matchmaker schemes".1/12/2025
Consideration for short term let control area in Skye and Raasay
Steps towards introducing a short term let control area have been considered by Highland Council's Isle of Skye and Raasay area committee. On Monday (1 December 2025) the committee heard evidence to justify the grounds for the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of Skye and Raasay.28/11/2025
Workforce North event spotlights Highland economy
EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy. Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.
27/11/2025
Council calls for meaningful engagement from Home Office Over 300 Asylum Seekers Being Sent to Inverness
The Highland Council continues to call for meaningful engagement from the Home Office over its plans to temporarily accommodate up to 300 adult male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, Inverness. It follows an email on Monday from Alex Norris MP, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, to Council Leader, Raymond Bremner, which failed to answer questions raised by the Council or address community concerns.27/11/2025
SSEN Transmission becomes first signatory to Highland Social Value Charter
SSEN Transmission has become the first company to sign up to the Highland Social Value Charter (HSVC), marking a significant milestone in delivering long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the Highlands. Investment commitments from the company include funding for roads, new homes, jobs, and work for local contractors in addition to a local and regional fund for communities to apply to.25/11/2025
Wick - Aberdeen PSO - Update issued 24/11/2025
The Highland Council continues to work through the procurement process for the provision of the Wick Public Service Obligation for the Highland Council. We have now entered the preferred bidder stage and have entered a standstill period.25/11/2025
Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for 25 November 2025
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting (external link) The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Our Social Media
