TRAM: British and Australian (American usually streetcar also trolley) noun [C] An electric vehicle that transports people, usually in cities, and goes along metal tracks in the road. (Taken from the Cambridge English Dictionary)
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TIE VOW TO GIVE TRAM CONTRACTS TO SCOTTISH FIRMS
Trams for Edinburgh – Sunday 14th October 2007
Willie Gallagher, the chairman of tie, has revealed that at least 40 percent of the contracts to construct the tram system will be given to Scottish firms – the majority of these likely to be from Edinburgh and the surrounding area.
Mr Gallagher said: “We want to take the opportunity to get local people and businesses to benefit from the big investment that we are making in Edinburgh. This is why we want at least £200m of the £500m invested to go into the local and Scottish economy. We have spent time looking at how it has worked in other cities such as Nottingham and they have shown what can be achieved with the local skills base. If you look at the tram project, the bulk of the cost is for labour and services and that presents great opportunities, not just in the near 1000 permanent jobs created but also for businesses to get involved in the building of trams. I will be disappointed if we don't achieve more than the £200m target."
This move will be done under a campaign entitled “Partnering Trams in Enterprise” and will also see tie contacting local colleges like Telford to set up training courses to give people the skills needed to help with the construction.
Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are absolutely delighted, we have been pressing TIE for some time on this and I think they have really delivered. I think it also good for businesses to hear this is not just about trenches full of mud and traffic chaos, they will have access to some decent contracts. And it is not just those directly involved in the trams, you will see a ripple effect because all of these workers have got to eat somewhere and stay somewhere. There is no hiding from the fact there will be difficult times ahead but if we get the message across that the city is open for business and local firms are involved then it will be a very encouraging picture."
