Insight

Rearo managing director Graham Mercer explores the current skills gap in Scottish construction and the need for a co-ordinated approach to developing homegrown skills. As labour-intensive sectors, UK construction and manufacturing depend more than most on the constant and reliable replenishment

Peterhead-based surveyor Steven Dale reflects on the noted increase in battery storage at properties with solar panels. Sometimes there are straws in the wind which can make you reassess the way the future of a particular technology or trend is likely to shape up. I have come across some of them rec

Accredited employment law specialist Laura Salmond suggests that the Flexible Working Bill will likely see more employees become aware of the right to make flexible working requests, and that the volume of these requests will increase. On 29 July 2023, the Employment Relations (Flexible Working

In the run-up to the CICV’s Green Home Festival, event co-organiser and Scotland director of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Gordon Nelson takes on SCN's Just A Minute feature. How did you get started in the industry? I joined the FMB in 2014. Having worke

This month's SCN Construction Leader Grace Mair talks to Margaret Taylor about her journey to becoming a regional director at Thomas & Adamson, the cost impacts of the pandemic and Brexit, and what the future holds for the construction sector. Grace Mair never meant to become a surveyor. She sta

It is a common misconception that Home Reports are not required if you sell your home without the help of an estate agent or solicitor. Peterhead-based surveyor Steven Dale warns this is not the case. Whether Covid is to blame, or whether we are all just becoming resigned to doing everything online,

In May, CIOB launched a new membership offering for people in technical roles. Mandy Mills is the organisation’s head of quality and assurance and led the development and rollout. Here she explains how the new tech members are helping grow professionalism across the built environment sector. E

Conduit Finance managing director Jamie Davidson looks at how Scotland can learn from the German capital's rent cap alternative to instead accelerate social housing. Translated it means rent cover. It's relevant in the context of the Scottish rent freeze & cap. There was an interesting announcem

Clare Paterson writes about the initiatives and efforts undertaken by the Scottish Government and the construction industry to reform the process of construction procurement, discussing recent workshops focused on streamlining procurement, increasing collaboration, and improving outcomes. On average

Peel Ports Clydeport director James McSporran considers the opportunities the energy transition presents to both the construction and logistics sectors in Scotland, and how the two sectors can work more closely together to reap the benefits and to accelerate their own decarbonisation goals. The

The retrofit of Civic House, a former printworks, has created a hub of cultural and social enterprise that brings new life to a neglected corner of Glasgow.

After passenger services on Edinburgh’s newest section of public transport launched last month, SCN editor Kieran Findlay caught up with Turner & Townsend’s director and Scotland infrastructure regional lead Steve Jackson to discuss the final stages of the project, the night-tim

Knight Frank Scotland property management associate Lyndsay Clark believes that properties that create social spaces and encourage a sense of community can be a starting point to encourage people back to the office. It is no secret that some employers have struggled to get staff back into the office

SCN's Construction Leaders feature continues with managing director John Aitchison telling Margaret Taylor about Maxi Construction's success in diversifying its operations. When John Aitchison joined Livingston-based Maxi Construction in 2005 the business was, he says, known as a small she

Turner & Townsend's Laurice Peverett reveals why a digital-first approach to building performance in construction can help address societal outcomes within Scotland. Net-zero ambitions along with post-pandemic working patterns are prompting owners of commercial real estate across Scotland t