Clark Contracts leads industry call to safeguard construction education at GCU

The proposed suspension comes amid falling application numbers, despite strong employer demand for graduates in these disciplines.

Industry bodies and employers have repeatedly highlighted the shortage of skilled professionals entering the sector, a challenge that could be exacerbated if these programmes are withdrawn.

Gordon Cunningham, managing director of Clark Contracts, said: “These courses are vital to the sustainability and growth of our industry. They provide the foundation for careers in construction and surveying professions, and their loss would significantly impact the talent pipeline. We believe the issue is not demand for jobs, but awareness among school leavers and employers.

“Modern construction is innovative, sustainable and offers excellent career prospects, yet outdated perceptions persist. Over the past 20 years, we have supported more than 200 trainees through these courses, many of whom now hold senior management positions within our business. This demonstrates the critical role these programmes play in developing future leaders and sustaining the industry’s growth.

“The suspension of these courses is truly detrimental to our industry.”

Clark Contracts is calling on industry partners, professional bodies, and employers to join the campaign by submitting letters of support. These statements will demonstrate the importance of these programmes to the sector and help influence the University’s review process.

How to Support:

• Provide a short statement outlining why these programmes matter to your business and the wider industry. Email your statements to info@clarkcontracts.com by 12pm on Friday 19th December 2025.
• Share the Clark Contracts campaign on social media and encourage others to participate.
• Help challenge misconceptions about careers in construction and surveying by promoting real success stories with schools and employers.

Clark Contracts has a long-standing commitment to developing talent and continues to invest in skills development across Scotland with 45 trainees currently in its academy.