Published today, the shortlisted construction schemes in the RICS Social Impact Awards, Scotland include:

• University of Glasgow Campus Development: construction of a new campus in the city’s West End, the scheme is delivering a new learning and research campus for future students. Developers found the scheme was generating £1.83 in social and economic impact for the for every £1 – which ranges from the provision of training, apprenticeships placements and prioritising local contractors in the tender process. 
• Dundee Regional Performance Centre for Sport: delivery of a new training and competition venue catering for a wide range of sports. During construction apprenticeships and work experience opportunities were provided, and five ex-offenders from HMP Castle Huntly were given placements to help rehabilitate them into normal life.
• Pittodrie Street Student Accommodation, Aberdeen: Providing 618 bedrooms for UK and international students, the construction of this £31.6m project used local social enterprises to supply materials, provided five apprenticeships and saw four unemployed people hired on a long term basis.

The projects will be judged and voted on by an expert panel of RICS members and other experts based on their role in transforming communities and the everyday lives of people.

The awards are divided into nine award categories to include the best examples of development in the commercial, education, healthcare, heritage, infrastructure, land & rural, leisure, residential and student accommodation sectors – with an overall winner also due to be announced.

The winners will be announced at the RICS Scotland ceremony on 23 April.

A UK grand final will be held later in September for those successfully nominated from each region - with property expert David Brooks Wilson leading a panel of guest judges to select those projects worthy of the top award.

Matthew Howell, RICS UK managing director, said: “The real estate industry plays a vital role in Scotland, and our refreshed awards celebrates the positive impact that our professionals can have on people’s lives and the best of what is built.

“This year’s shortlist features some of the best talent in our profession, and the new Social Impact Awards recognises the significant value these projects have brought to the communities around them.  The judges will have their work cut out deciding on who gets the top award with so many top projects involved.

“I’m also delighted to be supporting The Prince’s Trust in getting young people into construction. Our shortlists, showcase projects which have been turning people’s lives around, whether that’s through apprenticeships for young people, rehabilitating ex-offenders or regenerating towns and cities to make them more inclusive, and we hope that promoting these will encourage more talent into a profession that can really make a difference.” 

Chair of the award judging panel David Brooks Wilson said: “The real estate sector is an important part of the economy, and this year’s shortlist shows the power of built environment professionals to make a positive impact on society and our communities.

“It features the breadth of work and contributions that our professionals and wider industry make and the difference this profession can make.”

RICS Social Impact Awards – Scotland Shortlist 2020

• 4 North (Edinburgh) Commercial
• Aberdeen Art Gallery (Aberdeen) Heritage
• Baird’s Close Two (Edinburgh) Student Accommodation
• Bertha Park High School: A new school for a new community (Perth) Education
• Ciaran’s House - CLIC Sargent Home from Home (Edinburgh) Healthcare
• Collective, Caltonhill (Edinburgh) Leisure
• Cunningham House (Glasgow) Residential
• Cupar Burgh Chambers (Cupar) Heritage
• Dundee Regional Performance Centre for Sport (Dundee) Leisure
• Edinburgh Printmakers (Edinburgh) Heritage, Leisure
• Gairloch Museum (Gairloch) Heritage, Leisure
• Glenrothes Energy Network (Glenrothes) Infrastructure
• INTO Academic Centre (Stirling) Education
• Kelvinside Academy (Glasgow) Education
• Kirn Primary School (Dunoon) Education
• King’s Stables Road, Mixed-Use Development (Edinburgh) Commercial
• National Centre for Children’s Literature and Storytelling at Moat Brae (Dumfries) Heritage, Leisure
• North Sighthill Regeneration (Edinburgh) Residential
• NGHA Offices (Glasgow) Commercial
• Ochiltree Community Hub (Ochiltree) Leisure
• Panmure House - The Home of Adam Smith (Edinburgh) Heritage
• Pennywell Phase 2 (Edinburgh) Residential
• Perth Transport Futures Project: Phase 1 Crieff Road (Perth) Infrastructure
• Pittodrie Street Student Accommodation: Getting it right for student living (Aberdeen) Student Accommodation
• Powell Hall & Whitehorn Hall (St Andrews) Student Accommodation
• Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice (Glasgow) Healthcare
• Robroyston Railway Station (Glasgow) Infrastructure
• Shawbridge Street (Glasgow) Residential
• TECA-creating a world-class events and leisure complex (Aberdeen) Commercial, Leisure
• The Balfour (Orkney) Healthcare
• The Fraser Centre (Tranent) Leisure
• The GRID Building (Edinburgh) Education
• The Registers (Edinburgh) Commercial
• University of Glasgow Campus Development (Glasgow) Education
• Woodside Health and Care Centre (Glasgow) Healthcare