The first business to invest directly in the Construction Aware programme, RJ McLeod has committed £3,000 to help sustain and expand the industry-led initiative beyond its initial three-year cycle, supporting its long-term growth and impact across the Glasgow City Region.

Construction Aware was designed in response to a shortfall in young people choosing the sector at a time of rising employer demand. The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) forecasts that Scotland needs an extra 3,590 construction workers a year through to 2029 to meet demand, as data gathered by Glasgow City Council’s education team found that only 93 of 1,700 pupils surveyed expressed an interest in a construction career.

Building on the success of its first two phases, which supported more than 320 secondary pupils to gain qualifications and credits at SCQF level 3/5, the programme’s third phase introduces work placements, providing employers with a direct route to identify emerging talent early, helping to address skills gaps across the sector.

The programme was co-designed with industry and young people, including Robertson Construction, McTaggart Construction, CCG, A.C. Whyte, Sibbald, RJ McLeod, COWI and Glasgow Education Services. It has seen 45 employers deliver 253 sessions totalling over 1000 hours of employer-led activity, producing resources and lesson plans built around the recruitment and skills challenges facing the sector.

Young people across the programme take part in site visits, design challenges and employer-led sessions. The activity spans traditional trades alongside emerging approaches such as retrofitting, Passivhaus and modern methods of construction, reflecting the range of roles the industry now needs to fill.

Alison McRae, senior director at Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “Construction Aware is proving that when businesses engage early, they can change perceptions, open doors and build a stronger talent pipeline for the future. The programme has already helped hundreds of young people gain qualifications and experience the breadth of opportunities available in construction, while giving businesses a direct role in developing the workforce they need.

“RJ McLeod’s investment sets an important precedent for business backing this co-designed model. As we enter the third phase, we are bringing together more partners and investors to secure the long-term future of Construction Aware and extend its impact across the Glasgow City Region.”

Christina McKitrick, CSR manager at RJ McLeod, said: “Construction Aware has let us work directly with groups of pupils over a sustained period, challenging the myths about our sector and showing young people the range of careers open to them.

“Early engagement like this is essential if the industry is going to close its skills gap. We’ve chosen to invest because the model works, and we want to see it reach more young people, in Glasgow and in other regions, in the years ahead.”