UBC's islands contracts could be taken on by new firm

A new company could be formed to take forward two contracts a local authority awarded to construction company UBC, which collapsed earlier this month.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has been holding talks with administrators Zolfo Cooper about the building projects on the Western Isles.

The UBC Group were to construct a £5m care home in Tarbert and £3.5m housing scheme in Stornoway.

The new move could provide work for some of the firm's redundant workers.

It would also prevent the need for the comhairle to put the projects back out to tender.

Almost 240 people were made redundant in the Highlands and Islands and the central belt after the UBC Group became insolvent earlier this month.

About 100 jobs were lost in Inverness, 90 in the Western Isles, 45 in Bathgate and five in Glasgow.

Earlier this week, it was announced that a subsidiary of the collapsed company had been sold to its former managers.

Zolfo Cooper said the move had saved 30 jobs at Inverness-based Wyvis Roofing.