Opinion

Construction legal expert Chris Horsley provides an insight into the measures suggested by the Scottish Government which contracting authorities may take in order to try to mitigate the current market pressures on resources. The ongoing squeeze on construction material supplies has been he

Regeneration companies like Clyde Gateway will be key to turning 'think globally, act locally' aspirations into action after COP26, writes Martin McKay. COP26 delegates will be welcomed upon arrival by People Make Glasgow Greener, and when they depart Scotland, it will mark the precise moment t

The Association for Project Safety president Jonathan Moulam has welcomed the establishment of a new building safety regulator but warned that the UK Government’s Building Safety Bill doesn’t go far enough to make the construction industry completely safe. No one can take excep

With students across Scotland receiving their exam results today, Martin O'Donnell from the Akela Group reveals how the construction sector can become more youth-friendly. Today, exam results are unveiled in Scotland after over a year of disruption to education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

John Rodger, partner and property specialist at accountants Chiene + Tait, discusses the potential consequences of the new Residential Property Developer Tax (RPDT). As the inquiry into the 2017 Grenfell fire continues, so too do financial repercussions from the tragedy which left 72 people dead.

Jamie Mulligan shares his journey into construction and discusses how the trainee development programme at AS Homes was crucial to helping him realise his career ambitions. He also sheds light on the major skills shortage facing the construction sector and the importance of encouraging young people

Alistair McAlinden and Stuart Dougal from Interpath Advisory in Scotland look at how the current spike in raw material prices and labour shortages is having an impact across the sector – and in particular, how it will shape the way in which contracts will need to be negotiated or ren

In an exclusive piece for Scottish Construction Now, construction and engineering dispute resolution specialist Sandra Cassels covers how businesses can minimise disputes that arise through supply chain disruption in this Covid-hit landscape. For over a year now, we have see

Brendan O'Hara, MP for Argyll and Bute, and Andy Sloan FICE FRSE, managing director for COWI in the UK, explore the idea of building better rural and island links in Scotland with tunnels for connected islands. Many of Scotland’s rural and island communities are economically fragile, according

Katy Wedderburn, head of MacRoberts LLP's employment team, discusses the UK Government's proposal to introduce a mandatory duty on employers to prevent sexual harassment. The UK has had legislation making sexual harassment unlawful towards employees, workers carrying out work personally and job appl

Fiona McLeod provides a brief overview of the changes introduced by the Scottish Government's revised code of conduct for property factors. On 14 July 2021, the Scottish Government published a revised Code of Conduct for Property Factors setting out the minimum standards to which factors should adhe

As society resumes some of its former rhythms, people are keener than ever to embrace the benefits of local amenities. In this article, Queensberry Properties’ sales and marketing director, Hazel Davies, takes a closer look at the enduring popularity of urban living. As the UK’s vaccinat

Andy Hadden, the co-founder of Tartan Leisure Ltd, the developer of Scotland's first artificial surfing facility, discusses how surfing's surge in popularity in Scotland is coinciding with the sport's inclusion in the Tokyo Olympic Games. As an ambassador for surfing in Scotland, and with

Lawyer Susannah Donaldson considers the impact of the pandemic on gender pay gap figures reported by large construction businesses. The Covid-19 pandemic has somewhat skewed gender pay gap (GPG) figures reported by large construction businesses for the year 2020-21, with reductions in allowance

Ivan McKee MSP, the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise and chair of the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum, considers the priorities for building recovery from Covid-19. The construction industry touches every part of Scotland’s economy and is vital to our future prosperi