For the third time in as many months, I am once again writing about the skills shortages in the construction sector. 

This repetition is not because I’m out of things to say, nor due to a lack of other pressing issues in the sector (like the appointment of a new Cabinet Secretary for housing or the two energy-efficiency related consultations recently published by Scottish Government). 

Despite these other key developments, as recent reporting from the Construction Industry Training Board and comments from industry leaders continue to highlight, the skills gap remains a considerable challenge. 

More to the point of this article, recent comments from Scottish Government indicate policy may not be moving in the right direction to close it. 

Last month, I called for a comprehensive Skills Action Plan for Scotland’s construction sector—a plan that would take a holistic approach to addressing the growing skills shortage that threatens to undermine our sector’s long-term viability.

Subsequently, Miles Briggs MSP submitted a related parliamentary question, asking the Scottish Government if it will commit to developing such a Skills Action Plan for the sector as it did for offshore wind in the 2025-26 Programme for Government.

Unfortunately, the response from the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Graeme Dey, falls a bit flat. 

As a member of the Construction Leadership Forum’s (CLF) Skills & Workforce subgroup, I welcomed the Minister’s recognition of the leadership role of the CLF and Accord, and, moreover, Mr Dey’s acknowledgement of the importance of the skills issue and the need for action.

However, I’m left sceptical about the Government’s willingness to adopt its own leadership role and take the bold steps needed to tackle the scale of the challenge ahead.

The Skills & Workforce subgroup has made valuable strides, notably through its recent industry survey. This survey is part of a larger effort to inform the group’s Construction Workforce Mission, a document that will set out the steps to create the conditions that will bring about the necessary changes to improve collaboration and support the sector to work collectively to address current and future shortages. 

The survey is a crucial step toward setting out a new approach to addressing the skills gap for the industry and ensuring that the voices of those on the ground are heard. The survey is open to all, and SCN readers are encouraged to participate.

But despite these positive efforts, there are clear limitations. The subgroup’s capacity to develop and implement a fully-fledged strategy that will address Scotland’s construction skills shortage is simply not there. 

The group does not have the ability to direct education policy reform, shape curriculum changes, or, crucially, allocate additional funding to support apprenticeships, courses, and training programmes for key roles within the sector. 

As the Construction Leadership Forum website says, “failing to take necessary steps now to secure tomorrow’s workforce will prevent Scotland from creating the infrastructure and built environment it needs to help the country thrive.” 

The subgroup’s Workforce Mission, and the wider initiatives under the Accord, are positive developments and evidence of the industry’s willingness to work together strategically. 

However, without direct involvement and a real willingness from Government to make significant changes to skills delivery and – imperatively – to funding for construction sector skills programmes – we will all miss the opportunity to map out an actionable, long-term strategy that integrates the needs of Scotland’s built environment with the construction sector and the wider educational landscape.

I’ve seen recognition from colleagues across the industry of the need to work collaboratively to address this problem, a sentiment often echoed by policymakers. Nonetheless, we continue to see fragmented and inconsistent efforts to tackle the problem. 

The Scottish Government’s response acknowledges the issue, but without a clear commitment to a comprehensive, funded skills strategy, the industry remains in a precarious position.

A successful strategy needs to go beyond piecemeal initiatives and address the full range of challenges, from early-stage education to upskilling the existing workforce. We need policies that ensure apprenticeships are accessible for both employers and learners, that sufficient funding is allocated to crucial training programmes, and that the education system is responsive to the needs of the sector.

In short, the Scottish Government needs to act decisively. While the work of the Skills & Workforce subgroup is valuable, it is not a substitute for a long-term, properly resourced strategy to chart a sustainable future for Scotland’s built environment.

Ultimately, what Scotland’s construction sector needs is a coordinated, fully funded Skills Action Plan, backed by Scottish Government. 

• Jocelyne Fleming is senior policy & public affairs officer – Scotland at CIOB