Local Yorkshire businesses reap the benefits working alongside major energy infrastructure project
Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) is committed to supporting the local economy in Yorkshire. Alongside our contractor partner, BAM, more than £8.9m of contracts have been awarded to businesses local to the project’s Wren Hall Converter Station site in Drax, North Yorkshire.
Spanning services from accommodation to catering, these contracts highlight our focus on delivering tangible benefits for the region and building a long-term legacy of economic opportunities. Contracts awarded to businesses in the area cover a variety of industries including subcontractors, plant hire and small tools, accommodation, biofuels, aggregates and catering.
Among the local businesses who have benefited from contracts are Burn Fencing and Darrington Quarries. This investment demonstrates how one of the most significant strategic energy infrastructure developments the UK has seen in recent years can support jobs and create fresh opportunities for businesses across the Yorkshire region.
Neil Lyons, EGL2 Project Director, said:
EGL2 is a crucial energy infrastructure development and one of the largest national energy projects being constructed. Once operational the EGL2 project will generate enough electricity to power two million homes.
It’s important that our projects benefit the local communities which is why we’re pleased to be working with many local contractors both close to Drax and along our cable route.
We are aiming to provide a positive and lasting legacy of economic opportunity in local communities and to help create new jobs in the area, even after our project is completed.
Brendan O’Connor, BAM’s Project Director for EGL2 Wren Hall said:
At BAM, we believe that our projects should create real value for the communities where we work. At the Wren Hall Converter Station, we have supported local suppliers through the onboarding process and made adjustments to terms and conditions to help small businesses.
By prioritising local procurement, we are not only delivering on our commitments but also strengthening regional supply chains and supporting local jobs. Partnerships like these can leave a lasting legacy for Yorkshire’s economy.
Based just a few miles from the Wren Hall Converter Station site in Selby is catering company Busy V’s Sweets and Treats.
Since early June, Busy V’s has operated an on-site canteen and now feeds up to 100 workers each day. During this time Busy V’s has doubled its permanent staff from six to 12, providing employment for people in the local community, and as construction at Wren Hall ramps up Busy V’s is preparing to feed up to 300 staff a day.
Vicky MacLachlan, Director of Busy V’s, said:
Working with EGL2 has been a fantastic opportunity for Busy V’s. We’re loving being able to deliver fresh food and treats to the hardworking teams on site. It’s helped us reach new customers, build great relationships, and show what a business like ours can really do.
It’s given us the chance to play a part in a major infrastructure project while strengthening our place in the local supply chain. This partnership has helped us grow our business, meet new people, and make a real contribution to Yorkshire’s economy.
EGL2 is part of a wider programme to upgrade the UK’s electricity transmission network, enabling the integration of more renewable energy and supporting energy security and homegrown energy. Construction started in Yorkshire in 2024, and the project is anticipated to be fully energised in 2029.
