The details of annual and public holidays during 2025 are as follows:

The BATJIC Working Rule Agreement includes holiday entitlement which is 23 days holiday plus eight public holidays.

Annual and public / bank holidays 2025 - Scotland

The following days are to be recognised as public / bank holidays for the purposes of the Working Rule Agreement, provided that such days are generally recognised as holidays in the locality in which the work is being done.

  • Wednesday 1 January
  • Thursday 2 January
  • Easter Monday - Monday 21 April
  • Early May Bank Holiday - Monday 5 May
  • Autumn Holiday - see below
  • Christmas Day - Thursday 25 December
  • Boxing Day Friday 26 December

As there is variation across Scotland regarding the dates of public holidays in spring and early autumn, we suggest members check with their local authority to determine the most appropriate date for the 8th public holiday.

Summer

The Friday immediately preceding the annual local trades holiday - fixed by your Local Authority.

A total of 10 annual leave days: two calendar weeks following the Friday.

Autumn

This consists of one annual leave day and one public holiday: the Friday and Monday at the Autumn Holiday – which is fixed by your Local Authority.

Christmas & New Year 2025 / 2026

Under working rule 4 it is stated that seven days shall be attached to the Christmas holiday period. Traditionally in Scotland though, the Christmas and New Year holiday period consists of four public holidays and six annual leave days giving a holiday of two calendar weeks.

The suggested close for the Christmas & New Year holiday will be Friday 19 December 2025 with a return to work on Monday 5 January 2026.

Members who require further information about the dates of the holidays to be fixed by local authorities should consult the relevant local authorities.

Holidays may be taken at times other than these by mutual agreement between the employer and employees.

Full details on Scottish holidays in 2025/26 can be found on mygov.scot.

To find out more or if you have any questions please contact FMB Scotland Director, Gordon Nelson at gordonnelson@fmb.org.uk.

Members can also contact the FMB’s business advisory helpline on 0116 243 7623.

Related topics

Managing your business

Authors

Gordon Nelson

Gordon Nelson

FMB Scotland Hub Director, Federation of Master Builders

Director, Federation of Master Builders Scotland

Gordon has nearly twenty years’ experience of working in membership organisations in Scotland and joined the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in 2014. Prior to this, he worked at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) and for Unilever in business development, membership management and business-to-business marketing roles. Amongst his responsibilities in his role as the Director for FMB Scotland are public affairs, media relations, governance and representing member’s interests to Scottish policy makers and stakeholders within the Scottish construction industry. Gordon is the Secretary of the Cross-Party Group on Construction in the Scottish Parliament, and he is a member of the Scottish Building Standards Futures Board. Gordon represents the FMB on Scotland’s Construction Industry Collective Voice: which is comprised of the leading construction trade and professional bodies. In spring 2023 Gordon was appointed as an industry co-chair of the Construction Leaderships Forum’s (CLF) Transformation Board.

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