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FMB Scotland calls for clearer pathways into construction careers

The research found 62% of Scots would be more likely to encourage a young person into construction if there was a guaranteed job at the end of training.

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FMB Scotland calls for clearer pathways into construction careers
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The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Scotland has called for clearer pathways into construction careers after new research showed a gap between interest and understanding among Scots. 

The research found 62% of Scots would be more likely to encourage a young person into construction if there was a guaranteed job at the end of training.

Yet only 34% had heard of degree apprenticeships, 18% could not say what a construction worker earns, and 26% believed the figure was under £30,000. 

Just 9% said nothing would change their mind about a young person joining the industry.

Gordon Nelson, director of FMB Scotland, said: “Scots are not against this industry. They are lost in it. What they tell us they want is a guaranteed job at the end of training – and that is exactly what an apprenticeship with a Scottish building firm gives them. 

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“Yet only a third have heard of a degree apprenticeship, and nearly one in five could not tell you what a builder earns. 

“That is a signposting failure, and it is costing us a generation.”

Nelson added: “Scotland’s construction workforce has been eroding since the 2008 financial crisis, with an ageing workforce and insufficient replacement rates, while the industry is projected to grow to around 214,000 workers by 2029 to meet demand. 

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“Around 96% of Scotland’s 53,500 construction businesses employ fewer than ten people, so the responsibility for training new entrants falls heavily on small and micro firms already facing stagnant apprenticeship funding and rising costs. 

“We are asking the people with the least capacity to carry the most weight.”

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Pam Wilson, managing director of Kevin Wilson Master Builders and president of FMB Scotland, said: “Construction has given our family and our business so much over the years, but the thing I feel most strongly about now is making sure the next generation gets to experience what this industry can offer.

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“That is exactly why we took on our latest apprentice, Ryan Harley, who is doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery at Forth Valley College. 

“When you run a small construction business, taking on an apprentice is a big decision – you are investing precious funds and taking responsibility for shaping someone’s career.” 

Wilson added: “You have to look beyond what Ryan can contribute today and think about the tradesperson he could become in three, five or ten years.”

Caroline Hogg, head of apprenticeships at Forth Valley College, said: “Modern Apprenticeships provide an excellent route into the construction industry, combining high-quality training with the opportunity to develop skills and experience directly in the workplace. 

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“At Forth Valley College, we work closely with construction employers to ensure apprentices develop the practical skills, knowledge and behaviours that industry needs. 

“These partnerships are vital in creating opportunities for young people and developing the skilled workforce that the sector will need for the future.”

Hogg added: “A construction apprenticeship can lead to a highly skilled, rewarding career, with qualifications and experience that can provide opportunities throughout an individual’s working life. 

“We are proud to work alongside employers who invest their time, expertise and commitment in developing the next generation of skilled tradespeople.”

Nelson said: “Pam and Forth Valley College show exactly what the fix looks like – a small firm and a college between them turning a young person into a skilled tradesperson. 

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“We need many more of those partnerships, and that means the skills and training funding we call for in our Builders’ Manifesto for Scotland, with targeted grants to help small and micro firms recruit and train.

“Industry, colleges and the Scottish Government need to sit down together and build one clear route into construction that a sixteen-year-old and their parents can actually follow. The appetite is there. It is the pathway that needs to be fixed.”

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