Sixty contracts are up for grabs in new nursery build programme

Fife businesses have been urged to seize the opportunities afforded by Holyrood plans to extend nursery provision across the region.

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the early learning and childcare entitlement to 1,140 hours per year by 2020. For Fife, that will mean an extensive nursery build programme which will see £30 million of works carried out over the next few years.

That programme has been split into 60 different construction contracts, and more than 80 businesses attended a meet the buyer event at Dunfermline’s Carnegie Conference Centre this week to see how they could benefit.

Representatives from Fife Council’s property services and building services provided an insight into the business opportunities being created as a result of the nursery build programme, and advice on how companies can get involved.

Labour councillor Altany Craik, Fife Council’s economy convener, said: “Meet the buyer is an excellent opportunity for local businesses to have access to a variety of agencies that they don’t normally have the chance to meet.

“This massive investment can provide openings to businesses to be involved in the many construction contracts.

“We are committed to working in partnership with the private sector, which will bring benefits to the local economy and support the supply chain delivery of our nursery build programme.”

The programme aims to maximise the use of the existing school estate, extend existing buildings, use council facilities to increase capacity and create extra room through new-builds.