This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
Plumbers and joiners 'vital to economy'
30/04/2004
Jack McConnell today said that a modern, dynamic
Scottish economy needs plumbers, joiners and electricians
every bit as much as it needs scientists and engineers.
The First Minister was speaking at the Chartered
Institute of Builders Annual Dinner in Glasgow. He told the
audience of leading figures from the construction
industries, that the Scottish government will continue to
invest in the skills of all of Scotland's workforce.
Speaking at the event, the First Minister said:
"If we are to achieve real, long term growth in the
Scottish economy we have to invest in our best resource.
Our people. We have to make sure that everyone has the
opportunity to develop the skills that they need to make a
contribution. This means training electricians as well as
engineers, it means investing in the next generation of
builders as well as those who will work in banking.
"And we are taking action. We are investing in modern
apprenticeships, we are increasing the vocational options
in the curriculum and we are investing record levels in our
further education sector. This is the action that will
deliver results. This is the action that will help deliver
growth and opportunity for all."
The Executive has made a commitment in its Partnership
Agreement to support the construction industry. For
example:
- Under Modernising Construction umbrella, the
creation of a Scottish Construction Forum and a
Construction Innovation & Excellence Centre. The
Forum will provide the link between the sector,
Scottish Executive and Ministers to advise on necessary
actions at a strategic level to achieve a step change
in the performance of the Scottish construction
industry. The Centre will co-ordinate and promulgate
best practice, research and innovation.
- The development, by Scottish construction trade
associations, of a self-regulation scheme run by the
Construction Licensing Executive (CLE).
- The development, by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, of
a Construction Skills Action Plan for Glasgow,
underpinned by £25m funding from SEn over five years,
to alleviate construction skills shortages in Glasgow.
A further £10 million has been granted by SEn to
support similar activity and roll out successful
projects across the network.
- ConstructionSkills Scotland was launched by the
Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning on
January 14 2004. ConstructionSkills Scotland will
operate throughout Scotland to promote and improve the
standard of training within the industry. It will also
work with the Scottish Construction Forum to help meet
the key recommendations of the Modernising Construction
strategy paper as they relate to skills and
training.