PPP schools project in South Ayrshire will be joint venture with HBoS Treasury Sevices and Cyril Sweett.

Carillion, the contractor which has made a £313m bid for rival Mowlem, has been appointed preferred bidder on a £73m PPP schools project in South Ayrshire.

The company has been awarded the contract to design, build and operate six new schools in joint venture with HBoS Treasury Services and Cyril Sweett.

The contract spans 32.5 years and involves the design, build and maintenance of two new senior schools at Prestwick and Belmont, three new primary schools at Alloway, Barasssie and Monkton and an extension to Kyle academy.

Carillion will carry out construction work worth £73m over a period of two and a half years, as well as investing £4.5m of equity in the project.

The contract is expected to generate around £56m of turnover for Carillion.

Chief executive John McDonough today described education as “a key growth area” for Carillion.