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The Scottish Construction sector is a large part of our economy; at around 10 billion it represents almost 10% of the countrys GDP and employs close to a quarter of a million people, more than the National Health Service in Scotland (based on NHS Quarterly Bulletin, March 1999). Increasing demands are being placed on the sector due to a significant increase in public sector construction investment and major commercial projects. For Glasgow alone, the projected construction demand for the period 2003 2008 is 5.57bn.
Scottish Enterprise (SE), the Scottish Executives economic development agency, has approved a Construction Skills Action Plan worth 35m for the period 2003 2008 to develop the existing and potential future workforce. But people skills are only one part of a much larger picture. The Modernising Construction Strategic Group was set up by the Scottish Executive in 2002 to produce a strategy for the development of the construction industry in Scotland. Their report Achieving Construction Innovation and Excellence in Scotland was endorsed by Scottish Ministers in autumn 2003. The key recommendations were:
The Scottish Construction Forum (SCF) was established Feb 2004 with an independent chairperson, Graeme Millar. His other roles include chairperson of the Scottish Consumer Council and a director of the National Consumer Council. Graeme can be contacted at scf@scotent.co.uk SE Glasgow provides Forum secretariat services and are leading for the SE Network on support for the construction industry as a whole. This includes funding for the continued management of the Scottish Demonstration Projects and leading the Construction Skills Action Plan. View notes of Forum meetings and other information at www.scottishconstructionforum.com.
An Options Study was conducted in 2004 on how best to create a Construction Innovation & Excellence Centre in Scotland. The Forum discussed the outcomes, agreed a preferred option and considered funding support. Intention is for SE to approve funding to help establish the Centre over an initial 5-year period, with invitations to tender being sought. Thereafter, the Centre is expected to be self-financing. It is anticipated to be operational early 2006 and will take responsibility for various projects currently being funded by SE Glasgow, eg, Demonstration Projects, Pulling Together website.
The Scottish Executive has recently published an Infrastructure Investment Plan representing a major increase in the level of capital spending to further improve Scotlands physical infrastructure. This is the first such plan for Scotland and affords the construction industry a forward look at large-scale public sector projects, which in turn should help the industry to plan and recruit for increased capacity. The SCF welcomed this strategic move and will work with Ministers to help implement the Plan.