SCOTTISHPOWER owner Iberdrola has unveiled a 7.8 per cent rise in net profits for the first nine months of its financial year, with earnings boosted by a strong showing from its UK renewables business.

Iberdrola’s net profits for the first nine months of 2015 came in at €1.92 billion.

ScottishPower also announced the award of 13 contracts with a total value of £196m over four years, to deliver maintenance and upgrade works on its overhead power line networks in central and southern Scotland, Merseyside and north Wales.

It said these contracts would support 400 jobs, creating 150 new trainee posts through ScottishPower Energy Networks’ partnerships with Dumfries College, Forth Valley College and Coleg Menai.