The Spanish firm now wants to recruit another 50 staff as it targets maintenance contracts and new offshore and nuclear work.

A new framework agreement will see the company carry out all contracted work on high voltage power lines and substations across ScottishPower’s electricity networks in southern Scotland, Merseyside and North Wales.

Iberdrola recently set-up its UK business to support major infrastructure investments being made by ScottishPower and ScottishPower Renewables, as well as future energy projects in the country including offshore and nuclear.

The new division is located in Bellshill, approximately 12 miles from Glasgow.

Today’s move more than triples the size of the business, which has been operating on a limited basis with around 30 employees since 2009. Plans are in place to increase the number to 150 by the end of this year, with further expansions in following years.

As well as contracted work on electricity networks, the business will also focus on renewable energy projects, traditional power generation and future nuclear developments.

Two of the key areas will include major offshore wind power projects that are planned in the UK, as well as a generation of planned new-build nuclear power stations.

The new unit will also be working on major environmental improvement projects at ScottishPower’s power stations, such as the Carbon Capture and Storage project at Longannet Power Station.

Peter Jones, regional director of Iberdrola Engineering and Construction UK, told the Enquirer: “This is a very ambitious and exciting project in which we are building an operation from scratch through a combination of ScottishPower resources, key employees from Iberdrola Engineering and Construction and new hires.

“There are major construction opportunities in the UK energy sector, and we hope that the business will continue to expand in the coming years.”