Building future skills through schools challenges in Scotland

Attracting and retaining competent people: both tradespeople and those in business support roles, is the number 1 challenge members consistently raise to me. This is why skills is the top priority in our Builders’ Manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections this year. On attracting talent, I look to how the FMB can help inspire the next generation of Master Builders

The Construction & Built Environment Challenge

We were delighted to sponsor and attend the final of the Construction & Built Environment Challenge (CABEC) at the Edinburgh Corn Exchange. This involves a series of construction, engineering and building services challenges for teams of S2 pupils (age 13-14). The venue being close to our FMB Scotland office.

All schools in Edinburgh & the Lothians are invited to put forward a team of ten pupils to compete. The aim being to highlight the varied and exciting careers across construction to pupils at this vital stage in their education.

Showcasing teamwork, problem-solving and construction skills

Around 100 finalists took part in a full day of demanding, yet fun challenges. From joisting to block paving and an electrical circuit challenge: the pupils had their work cut out. Careful scores were kept by the activity providers, taking into account teamwork, accuracy and the quality of the completed task. At the end of the day the winners were announced.

 

It was both inspiring and humbling to watch the pupils work together as they took on each challenge. I spoke with some of the teachers and talked them through what the FMB and our members do.

Getting involved in future skills initiatives

It was the pupils from Firhill High School in Edinburgh who emerged triumphant at the end of a fantastic day of problem solving and teamwork. If you would like to get involved in the 2027 challenge through providing a joinery or building activity for the challenge, please get in touch.
 

Authors

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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