This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Investment in construction industry
17/11/2006
A five-year financial support package to set up a Scottish Construction Centre of Excellence has been agreed between Scottish Enterprise and its preferred bidder consortium.
The centre is intended to play a key role in helping modernisation and act as a platform for sharing information and best practice in an industry that generates almost £10 billion per annum in sales and turnover, employs around 200,000 people in Scotland, and represents about 10 per cent of the country's gross domestic product.
The precise figures associated with the financial package are under negotiation and will be announced shortly.
At the Scottish Construction Forum's annual conference in Perth, Deputy Minister for Enterprise Allan Wilson said:
"I am delighted to see that Scottish Enterprise has agreed to back this significant project and help it get off the ground.
"The preferred bidder consortium, led by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), has a wide range of expertise and is well placed to take the Centre forward.
"It should be up and running early next year and be in a self-sustaining position by 2011.
"In order for it to be successful it will need the involvement and commitment of the industry. I hope with industry support, the Centre will become a major driver of construction quality and excellence in the country."
"I want to see it working in partnership with the Scottish Construction Forum to ensure that construction employment and training opportunities continue to increase across the country."
Chair of the Scottish Construction Forum Graeme Millar added:
"We have been working towards securing this centre for some time now. I'm delighted that we are now in position to take forward this project which has the potential to significantly improve productivity and innovation within the industry in Scotland."