Black & Veatch and Scotland Strengthen Partnership to Accelerate Energy Transition Investment
Black & Veatch welcomed Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney MSP, to Boston on Friday, 12 June, as part of his investment tour of the United States, highlighting opportunities to expand collaboration and accelerate Scotland’s clean energy ambitions. The meeting brought together senior representatives from Black & Veatch and the Scottish Government to discuss ways to support energy infrastructure development, economic growth and the transition toward a net zero future.
Steve Sienkiewicz, associate vice president of strategic client programs and leader of Black & Veatch’s Boston office, met with the First Minister to explore opportunities for further cooperation between the engineering and infrastructure company and Scotland’s energy sector. The discussions reflected the company’s ongoing relationship with the Scottish Government and its long-term commitment to supporting the country’s evolving energy landscape.
Black & Veatch has established a strong presence in Scotland, with its EMEA headquarters located in Glasgow. The company employs more than 50 skilled engineers and project managers in the city, delivering technical expertise and supporting major energy and infrastructure initiatives across Scotland and the wider Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.
During the meeting, both parties focused on the importance of accelerating investment in critical energy infrastructure, including power generation, electricity grid improvements and battery energy storage systems (BESS). These areas are becoming increasingly important as Scotland works to integrate more renewable energy resources while ensuring a reliable and resilient energy system capable of meeting future demand.
Black & Veatch highlighted its extensive global experience in renewable energy integration and its ongoing role in helping address grid challenges through advanced energy storage solutions. The company is currently supporting more than 3GWh of BESS projects across the EMEA region, including its role as Owner’s Engineer for the Eccles Battery Energy Storage System project in Scotland.
The Eccles project, owned by Matrix Renewables, is expected to provide 500MW/1GWh of energy storage capacity. Once operational, the facility will help strengthen grid stability, improve energy security and provide sufficient stored electricity to support approximately 100,000 homes. The project represents the growing importance of large-scale battery storage in enabling renewable energy expansion and managing fluctuations in electricity supply.
The discussions also examined the policy and regulatory frameworks needed to support infrastructure delivery at scale. Black & Veatch emphasised the importance of efficient planning and consenting processes, recognising energy storage as essential national infrastructure and encouraging stronger collaboration between government, industry and educational institutions to develop the skills needed for the future energy workforce.
As part of its continued investment in Scotland, Black & Veatch is planning to expand its recruitment efforts and increase skills development opportunities from its Glasgow base. The company aims to create additional opportunities for engineers, project managers and technical specialists who can contribute to Scotland’s energy transition and support major infrastructure projects throughout the region.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney MSP welcomed the continued partnership with Black & Veatch and recognised the company’s contribution to the country’s energy sector.
“Black & Veatch is already supporting high-quality jobs in Scotland’s energy sector and I was pleased to discuss how we can support their continued growth,” said Swinney. “We will work with them to ensure our business environment and skilled workforce support their ambitions in Scotland.”
He added that Scotland’s reputation as a leading destination for inward investment outside London continues to grow, with partnerships such as this helping strengthen the country’s position in global energy markets.
“Scotland consistently ranks as the top destination for inward investment in the UK outside London and meetings like this are exactly how we build on that reputation,” the First Minister said.
Steve Sienkiewicz highlighted Scotland’s strategic importance for Black & Veatch and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the country’s energy transformation.
“Scotland is at the forefront of the global energy transition and represents a key growth market for Black & Veatch,” Sienkiewicz said. “Our EMEA headquarters in Glasgow reflects our long-term commitment to the nation, and we look forward to working closely with the First Minister and his Cabinet to support investment, infrastructure delivery and skills development in Scotland.”
The Boston meeting represents another step toward strengthening cooperation between Black & Veatch and the Scottish Government. The company has continued to expand its leadership presence in the region, including the appointment of Rafael Frias III as managing director for the EMEA region in November 2025. Based in Glasgow, Frias brings nearly three decades of engineering experience and will lead the company’s growth strategy across Scotland and the wider EMEA market.
The First Minister’s visit to Boston also included his attendance to support Scotland’s opening World Cup match against Haiti in Massachusetts on 13 June. Black & Veatch, as an Official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, expressed its support for the First Minister and the Scotland team ahead of the international competition.
The engagement in Boston underscores the shared focus between Black & Veatch and Scotland on building a sustainable energy future. Through continued investment, infrastructure innovation and workforce development, both organisations aim to help deliver a cleaner, more resilient energy system while creating new economic opportunities for communities across Scotland.
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