Plug-in Local
Our Commitment
Greenwheel Electric is built on a simple but powerful belief: the benefits of the renewables revolution should be felt locally. Our PLUG-IN LOCAL policy extends that belief into everything we build, buy, and commission. We ask every contractor, retail tenant, and consultant working with us to share this ambition – and to act on it.
This is not a tick-box exercise. PLUG-IN LOCAL is a genuine commitment to maximising the social, economic, and environmental value that our projects deliver to the communities in which we operate. From Hunterston to Lomondgate and every site beyond, we want local people to feel the difference Greenwheel Electric makes – not just when visiting our charging hub, but notice the local impact in jobs, commercial opportunities, skills, and community investment.
The Five Pillars of PLUG-IN LOCAL
| # | Pillar | What this means for you | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Local Employment | Prioritise hiring from within the project’s local labour market. Advertise vacancies locally before recruiting from outside the area. Aim for at least 40% locally-sourced workforce hours. | Contractors |
| 2 | Local Supply Chain | Source materials, goods, and services from businesses within the local authority area or region wherever quality, price, and availability allow. Demonstrate active effort to identify local suppliers. | Contractors Retail & Tenants |
| 3 | Local Produce & Retail | Our lifestyle hubs are defined by local provenance. Our aim is for our retail partners to stock a minimum of 50% locally or regionally sourced products and prioritise partnerships with independent Scottish producers and makers. Partners will be required to demonstrate that they have taken all reasonable steps to adopt a local-first approach. | Retail Tenants |
| 4 | Skills & Apprenticeships | Communicate with local colleges, schools, and training providers, with an offer of apprenticeships, work placements, or site visits where practicable. Contribute to building lasting skills capacity in our communities. | Contractors & Consultants |
| 5 | Community Benefit | Actively identify opportunities to generate community benefit beyond contractual obligations - whether through charitable giving, sponsorship, volunteering, or social enterprise partnerships in the project locality. | All Parties |
Expectations & Accountability
At contract award
Submit a PLUG-IN LOCAL Plan setting out how you will meet these commitments for the specific project
During delivery
Complete and submit the PLUG-IN LOCAL Progress Report at intervals agreed with Greenwheel Electric.
On completion
Submit a Final PLUG-IN LOCAL report evidencing outcomes achieved. This will form part of our project impact reporting to stakeholders and communities.
Continuous improvement
Where targets are not met, provide a written explanation and revised action plan. Greenwheel Electric will work collaboratively to find solutions.
The transition to clean energy should charge up local communities - not just local vehicles. PLUG-IN LOCAL is how we make that happen.