Held at the SEC in Glasgow yesterday, the event brought together contractors, developers, consultants, clients, suppliers and public sector leaders to look at the opportunities and challenges shaping construction in Scotland.

The Summit’s main stage hosted keynote addresses and high-profile panel debates on the issues facing the industry, from infrastructure investment and skills to productivity, net zero and the future of the supply chain. Speakers including keynote speaker Steven Boyd MBE and Mark Farmer, Peter Reekie, Professor Steve Petrie, Lisa Goldie and Professor Bill Minnis offered candid views on where the sector stands and what needs to happen next.

Over on the SCN Stage, a programme of focused sessions gave delegates practical insights and case studies.

Presenters from MFMac, Axiom Advocates, Supplier Development Programme, and Aspire Bidding shared lessons from live projects, new approaches to delivery and ideas that attendees could take straight back to their own businesses.

Another highlight of the day was a live recording of the Hard Hat Talks podcast, which featured Dr Jocelyne Fleming, Scotland lead and policy manager at CIOB, and David Raine, head of policy development at Homes for Scotland, and carried on their Scottish Housing Summit discussion on More Homes Scotland.

Catch up with events on the Scottish Housing Summit stage here.

Away from the stages, exhibitors reported steady footfall from the moment the doors opened. The exhibition gave delegates the chance to meet new suppliers, explore innovative products and services, and strengthen existing relationships, with networking continuing late into the afternoon.

Kieran Findlay, editor of Scottish Construction Now, said: “To welcome more than 2,000 delegates is a tremendous result and a sign of how much appetite there is for this kind of in-person gathering. The quality of the speakers on both the main stage and the SCN stage was outstanding, and the live Hard Hat Talks recording was a real highlight.

“My thanks go to our sponsors, whose support makes the Summit possible, to our speakers for sharing their expertise, to our exhibitors for bringing the event to life, and to everyone who came along. We’re already looking forward to next year.”

Paul McDevitt, programme co-ordinator, said: “What a fantastic day we had at the SCS. To see the industry come together in such numbers and in such a positive way was amazing. The Summit is well and truly established as the premier construction event in Scotland. Planning is already under way to make it bigger and better next year.”

The Scottish Construction Summit was made possible thanks to the support of its sponsors, including headline sponsor SPI Piling, event sponsors Advance Construction Group, Supplier Development Programme, ScotHoist, NASC and Quantify Advisors, alongside legal sponsors MFMac and Axiom Advocates.

Further coverage and highlights from the day will be published on Scottish Construction Now in the coming days and weeks. Next year’s Summit is planned for October 26th, 2027.

Photography courtesy of Jeff Holmes.