After the Scottish Government and industry established the Scottish Construction Accord, a collaborative commitment to a “thriving, high-performing construction sector” focused on quality, fair work, sustainability, and innovation, Harper Macleod and AtkinsRéalis hosted The Blueprint 2026 in March, intending to enhance quality in construction and implement the Accord.

BBC Scotland broadcaster Sally Magnusson hosted the event at Citation in Glasgow, which brought together a panel of experts in design, legal, and commercial, featuring:

• Euan Pirie, partner and head of major projects and infrastructure, Harper Macleod
• Helen Groves, technical director, architecture, AtkinsRéalis
• Barry Young, director, head of cost & commercial (Scotland), AtkinsRéalis
• Dr Dean Carrick, regional director (QS), AtkinsRéalis 

These thought leaders came together to address how early decisions and behaviours fundamentally shape construction quality outcomes. Discussing Scotland’s new Construction Accord, they acknowledged that achieving better quality, value, and trust in construction is less about new rules and more about changing mindsets and actions from the outset of the project.

Euan Pirie said: “Scotland’s construction sector is at a pivotal point. As activity continues to grow, there is a clear opportunity to raise standards. Quality is not something that can be added later, it is shaped from the beginning through clear project briefs, realistic budgeting and a collaborative approach.

“The Construction Accord provides strong foundations for this shift, but its success depends on how consistently it is applied in practice. Procurement choices, commercial models and behaviours across the supply chain all play an important role in determining outcomes. If we continue to prioritise lowest cost over long-term value, we risk undermining the quality that the industry is seeking to build.

“What came through clearly from the discussion is that the tools and frameworks are already in place. The focus now must be on leadership and accountability, with everyone taking responsibility for making better decisions earlier and having a shared commitment to quality throughout every project.”

The full Blueprint report is available here.