A Highland home-grown business has been awarded a contract to help the Scottish Government roll out its latest scheme to tackle fuel poverty.

Inverness based McInnes Plumbing and Heating Ltd has secured the contract to install heating and low carbon or renewable measures in the homes of households who are identified as living in fuel poverty throughout the north of Scotland.

The £224 million national scheme launched in September, and is being implemented by Warmworks Scotland, which is comprised of the social enterprise Energy Saving Trust, Changeworks charity and Scottish SME Everwarm.

A total of 27 companies have been awarded a slice of the Warmworks contract, however McInnes Plumbing and Heating Ltd are the only company in the Highland region to be awarded part of it.

Lachlan McInnes, managing director of McInnes Plumbing and Heating Ltd & McInnes Renewables Ltd, said: “It is a superb achievement for us to be awarded part of the Warmworks contract following a complex tender process. The process was tough, and we really had to illustrate well our strengths in our knowledge and service.

“It’s always difficult being up against national and international well-established firms, but we believe our service and level of renewable and trading energy expertise will allow us to deliver the results in the Highlands and Islands, which will help roll out the latest fuel poverty scheme. We’re confident our work on this will bring additional contracts to the firm in the future.”

The new Warmworks Scotland scheme is a step-by-step process for those in Scotland vulnerable to heat poverty, in a bid to make their homes warmer and more comfortable.

It is expected to bring improved comfort and financial benefits to tens of thousands of Scottish people by reducing CO2 levels and improving Scotland’s housing stock.

McInnes Plumbing and Heating Ltd & sister company McInnes Renewables Ltd went through a complex tender process to be awarded the Warmworks Scotland contract via the Scottish Government, which is expected to last over a seven-year term.