Local builders must be at the heart of meeting the skills and training needs set out in today’s CITB Building Skills for Net Zero in Scotland report, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Scotland.
Gordon Nelson, Director of FMB Scotland, said: “Scotland’s building industry will need more than 20,000 new entrants by 2028, and strong leadership from Government if we are to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2045, as the CITB rightly sets out in its report Building Skills for Net Zero in Scotland. The report refers to ‘clearer signals’ from Government but builders will only have the confidence they need to invest in skills and training if Government commits to a long-term energy efficiency retrofit strategy, that is backed by public investment. Investment in retrofit is just one recommendation set out in the Construction Industry Coronavirus (CICV) Forum report on the economic and social potential of Scotland’s repair and maintenance sector to create jobs post-coronavirus.”
Nelson concluded: “Small to medium-sized (SME) builders need to be at the heart of transforming our built environment if the net zero target is to achieved. I therefore welcome the CITB’s commitment to utilising the Skills and Training Fund, aimed at SMEs, to support upskilling. The FMB is calling on the CITB to lift the cap on the Skills and Training Fund so that grant is provided according to need, so that builders are not held back from investing in their people.”
Notes to editors
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.
The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. The FMB is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free Find a Builder service to consumers.
