A break-through deal with provider Gigaclear will see Clancy hook-up around 7,000 properties across Surrey.

The civils specialist will manage the installation of fibre from Gigaclear’s telecoms exchange to customers’ premises, delivering new connections to households across the county.

To accelerate the roll-out programme Clancy aims to utilise existing duct networks where possible, carrying out targeted excavation where necessary to upgrade or extend them, before installing the new fibre cable.

In particular, the programme will draw on Clancy’s expertise in no-dig technology to boost productivity.

Technicians are being trained through Clancy’s in-house skills platform Clancy Academy as the business expands its work in telecoms.

Ronan Clancy, executive director at Clancy, said the new contract reflected the growing prioritisation of telecoms as an essential service and would complement the business’ longstanding partnerships in water and energy utilities.

He said: “Clancy’s more than 60 years of expertise in utilities and civils, together with our direct employment and training model, mean we’re well placed to support the large-scale expansion of fibre across the UK.”