The first week of March is traditionally when Scottish Apprenticeship Week is held. It is an annual celebration of the benefits apprenticeships bring to individuals, businesses and the economy. So I decided to shine a light on building and construction apprentices.
We know that in Scotland it is small and medium sized firms that train the vast majority of construction craft apprentices: which includes bricklayers, joiners and stonemasons for example. I’ve met FMB members across the length and breadth of Scotland, who are passionate about employing and training apprentices: the Master Builders of tomorrow.
One former mature apprentice and a bricklaying apprentice shared their experiences in front of the camera. Here’s what Liam Adamson and Ben Jarvie told me.
Both Liam and Ben are dedicated and highly skilled bricklayers. Liam won the Apprentice of the Year Award at the finals of the Master Builder Awards in 2025 and he has been mentoring Ben. Scottish construction apprentices are recognised as being world class and each and every one of them is critical to Scotland’s economy and future prosperity.
Some key facts
- Over 200,000 people work directly in Scotland’s construction industry.
- Apprenticeship funding has stagnated while employer costs continue to rise.
- For every £1 of Government investment in apprenticeships, employers contribute an additional £10. This needs to change.
- According to the Construction Industry Training Board, Scotland will need an additional 3,590 workers every year between 2025 and 2029 to meet demand.
What can be done to boost apprenticeships?
FMB members need better support from the Scottish Government if they are to employ and train more apprentices. Otherwise we won’t have a future workforce to build new homes and deliver fabric and insulation upgrades across our built environment
So to prevent a worsening skills crisis, the next Scottish Government must prioritise investment in construction training and apprenticeships: recognising the sector’s critical role in delivering housing, infrastructure, and net zero goals.
It should also work closely with the FMB and Scotland’s colleges to develop a coordinated plan to boost recruitment and ensure a steady pipeline of skilled tradespeople for the future.
You can read our press release here and here’s our Builders Manifesto for Scotland: outlining the key asks of the Scottish Government to support our members.
My thanks to award winning apprentice Liam Adamson and bricklaying apprentice Ben Jarvie of Haldane Construction Services for their help with the videos this week.
Contact me if you have any views to share on Scottish Construction Apprentices: whether you employ apprentices or are an apprentice yourself.
Authors
Gordon Nelson
Director, Federation of Master Builders Scotland
