Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 17 June 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to developing a dedicated Skills Action Plan for the construction sector, similar to that proposed for the offshore wind sector in the 2025-26 Programme for Government, in recognition of the sector’s reported significant skills gap, and in light of the Chartered Institute of Building's survey, which reportedly found that 74% of young people in Scotland view construction careers positively, yet 43% reported not receiving relevant information about the industry through school careers advice.
The Scottish Government is supporting plans for a more sustainable, productive, innovative and diverse construction industry.
The Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF), chaired by the Minister for Business, is the main forum for Scottish Government/ Industry collaboration. The Construction Accord, launched by CLF on 13 October 2022, is a shared vision for the industry and the public sector, and includes key principles such as fair work, net zero, diversity and inclusion. A Transformation Action Plan to deliver on the commitments in the Accord was launched on 25 Jan 2024. Actions are being implemented by CLF working groups, including one focusing on Skills and Workforce. This group is co-chaired by Elaine Ellis of Skills Development Scotland, and Stephanie Lowe of SNIPEF. With a vision of 'Increasing the capacity, capability, and diversity of the workforce with a focus on future skills and industry attractiveness, ’the working groups are coordinated by the CLF Transformation Board.
[Alongside these actions], construction apprenticeships continue to be one of the highest taken up in terms of overall number of starts each year and statistics published by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) showed that in 2023-24, construction occupations accounted for 25.3% of Modern Apprenticeship starts
Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) facilitates the engagement between employers and schools to support young people transition into the world of work. Across Scotland DYW are embedding ‘Construction Work Tasters’ into the schools. This 3-year project, funded by CITB, has been co-developed with the DYW network, employers and young people and will continue its impact post CITB funding as part of the activities for pupils in the senior phase at High Schools across Scotland.