Scottish Government urged to invest in the future of its builders

​​​​​​​Apprenticeship funding in Scotland has stagnated, while employer costs continue to climb

Scotland’s small, local builders stand ready to help tackle the housing crisis, meet net zero targets, and boost local economies — but they need the Scottish Government to back them in this week’s Budget.

Gordon Nelson, director of FMB Scotland, said: “The FMB wants the Scottish Government to use this Budget to invest in the future of small building firms in Scotland.

“Apprenticeships, skills, and planning reform are all vital for a thriving construction sector and one that will deliver homes and infrastructure.

According to the FMB, apprenticeship funding in Scotland has stagnated, while employer costs continue to climb.

As a result, many small firms are struggling to recruit and train the next generation of workers at a time when the industry needs more than 3,500 people every year between now and 2029 just to meet demand.

Nelson added: “It’s vital that proceeds from the UK Apprenticeship Levy are fully ring-fenced for training and directed towards small and medium-sized employers to help them build a skilled future workforce.

“We also face a delivery deficit in housing, with a shortfall of around 100,000 homes. Small builders now deliver far fewer homes than they did 30 years ago. As set out in our Growth from the Ground Up manifesto, the Scottish Government must invest in under-resourced local authority planning departments to tackle delays.”