The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Scotland is celebrating Scottish Apprenticeship Week (March 2-8) by recognising the vital role apprentices play in the construction sector across Scotland.
With 31.7% of Scottish construction businesses experiencing worker shortages and the sector needing to recruit approximately 3,600 extra workers per year, FMB Scotland revealed its manifesto ahead of the local elections this year, calling on the Scottish Government to deliver a skills and training system that genuinely works for small building companies.
Despite strong apprenticeship numbers – with over 25,500 Modern Apprenticeships started in 2024-25, including more than a third in Construction, Engineering, Energy and related occupations – employers face stagnant apprenticeship funding and rising costs. For every £1 of Government investment in apprenticeships, employers contribute an additional £10.
FMB Scotland is highlighting the success stories of award-winning apprentices like Liam Adamson, the winner of the Master Builder Apprentice of the Year and Ben Jarvie, a bricklaying apprentice with Haldane Construction Services, as examples of the talent being developed in Scotland's construction sector.
Gordon Nelson, Director of FMB Scotland, said: "Scottish construction apprentices are recognised as being world class and each and every one of them is critical to Scotland's economy and future prosperity. I know how dedicated and proud apprentices from across the building trades are. So we need more of the likes of Alexandra Madden from DITT Ltd, Liam Adamson and Ben Jarvie of Haldane Construction Services to join the industry."
"In Scotland it is small and medium sized firms that train the vast majority of construction apprentices. As we argue in the FMB's Builders' Manifesto for Scotland 2026, our local building companies are the backbone of the construction and built environment sector. However, they need better support from the Scottish Government if they are to employ and train more apprentices. This so we have a future workforce to build more new homes and deliver fabric and insulation upgrades across our built environment."
"Right now, though employers face stagnant apprenticeship funding and rising costs. For every £1 of government investment in apprenticeships, employers contribute an additional £10. Quite simply, we cannot afford to allow this ratio to widen. This is why the FMB is calling for the Scottish Government to prioritise skills and training funding for the construction industry."
Liam Adamson, Master Builder Apprentice of the Year Award Winner, said: "If you are a young person looking to get into the construction industry, I would recommend it as a trade for life that you will use for the rest of your life. So if you have got that opportunity, I would grab it with both hands. And for any young person, try not to take that opportunity for granted. If you have got a good company behind you and you are involved in a college apprenticeship, it is an exceptional opportunity that you should grab."
Ben Jarvie, Bricklaying Apprentice at Haldane Construction Services, added: "What I love about my job is just the variety of the stuff that we do within our company. You could be laying block one day or inside helping the joiners another day. It's completely different every day, and it's good for the change. I didn't know what I wanted to do after school, my brother went into science. I tried science, wasn't for it. And then I went towards construction, done the multi-trade courses, and that's where I found my keenness and love for bricklaying. My grandad was an architect and my great grandad was also a joiner, so it's a firm family tradition."
Not all builders take the apprenticeship route, like Martin Dally from MD Builders concluded: "I began my career in construction after I suffered a serious accident while playing football, which prevented me from returning to contact sports. When I was growing up and in education, I was only ever taught there were two paths to choose: playing football or going to university. Therefore, I didn't even consider a career in construction until I was 19."
"Luckily for me, I had a family member who was a joiner, and I decided to work as a labourer for him until I could figure out what I wanted to do. While I was working with him, I started to learn the trade and began to work with other trades such as tilers, bricklayers, and builders. I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed it, and that's when I decided to pursue a career in construction. At the age of 21, my tradesman decided to retire and move away, so that's when I decided to set up my own business (MD Builders). I bought my first van and grew from there. A few years later, MD Builders was voted the Best Building Contractor in Scotland and also the top tradesperson in the UK."
"Training the new generation of tradespeople is one of the most important necessities needed right now in the UK. The UK needs tradespeople to continue to grow, and with over a third of the construction workforce set to retire in the next four years, we need to act now. We need to get into schools earlier and set up proper work experience programs to showcase construction as an exciting career, but most importantly, there needs to be more funding made available for employers to take on apprentices."
