Scottish Power plans to create 2,500 jobs

Scottish Power's parent company Iberdrola intends to invest £4bn in the UK

Scottish Power has set out plans to create 2,500 new jobs over the next decade.

The firm, owned by Spanish energy giant Iberdrola, will take on hundreds more engineers to improve its grid network.

This comes on top of 1,500 new jobs announced last year and is part of a £2.6bn investment.

However, it said the move depends on energy regulator Ofgem putting in place the approval and funding regime for the extra spending.

Chairman of Iberdrola and Scottish Power Ignacio Galan said: "We are investing £4bn between now and 2014 in the UK, representing 40% of our global investments, with two-thirds of this investment planned for Scotland.

"On the back of our long-term investment plans, we are creating 4,000 jobs in our networks business alone, which will see our company continue to grow and help to boost the Scottish economy."

More detail of the investment is expected to be announced when Mr Galan, accompanied by Finance Secretary John Swinney, officially open Scottish Power's Ochil House office complex in Blantyre, Lanarkshire.

Ahead of the ceremony, Mr Swinney said: "Scottish Power is a global leader in the energy sector, operating in countries all over the world.

"The company's decision to increase its Scottish presence is testament to quality and skills of the local workforce."