The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Scotland is calling for clearer pathways into taking up a career in construction, warning that young Scots and their parents cannot follow a pathway they do not know exists.
New FMB research shows what Scots are looking for. Some 62% say a guaranteed job at the end of training would make them more likely to encourage a young person into construction — the single biggest factor, ahead of every other consideration. That is precisely what a Modern Apprenticeship with a local building firm delivers.
But the routes are not landing. Only 34% of Scots have heard of graduate apprenticeships. Nearly one in five (18%) cannot say what a construction worker earns and a quarter (26%) believe the figure is under £30,000. Just 9% say nothing would change their mind about a young person joining the industry — Scots are open to a career in construction; they just can't see the way in.
Gordon Nelson, FMB Scotland Director, said:
"Scots are not against this industry. They are lost in it. What they tell us they want is a guaranteed job at the end of training — and that is exactly what an apprenticeship with a Scottish building firm gives them. Yet only a third have heard of graduate apprenticeships, and nearly one in five could not tell you what a builder earns. That is a signposting failure, and it is costing us a generation.
"Scotland's construction workforce has been eroding since the 2008 financial crisis, with an ageing workforce and insufficient replacement rates, while the industry is projected to grow to around 214,000 workers by 2029 to meet demand. Around 96% of Scotland's 53,500 construction businesses employ fewer than ten people, so the responsibility for training new entrants falls heavily on small and micro firms already facing stagnant apprenticeship funding and rising costs. We are asking the people with the least capacity to carry the most weight."
Pam Wilson, Managing Director of Kevin Wilson Master Builders and President of the Federation of Master Builders in Scotland, added:
"Construction has given our family and our business so much over the years, but the thing I feel most strongly about now is making sure the next generation gets to experience what this industry can offer.
"That is exactly why we took on our latest apprentice, Ryan Harley, who is doing a Modern Apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery at Forth Valley College. When you run a small construction business, taking on an apprentice is a big decision — you are investing precious funds and taking responsibility for shaping someone's career. You have to look beyond what Ryan can contribute today and think about the tradesperson he could become in three, five or ten years."
Caroline Hogg, Head of Apprenticeships, Forth Valley College said:
"Modern Apprenticeships provide an excellent route into the construction industry, combining high-quality training with the opportunity to develop skills and experience directly in the workplace. At Forth Valley College, we work closely with construction employers to ensure apprentices develop the practical skills, knowledge and behaviours that industry needs. These partnerships are vital in creating opportunities for young people and developing the skilled workforce that the sector will need for the future.
"A construction apprenticeship can lead to a highly skilled, rewarding career, with qualifications and experience that can provide opportunities throughout an individual's working life. We are proud to work alongside employers who invest their time, expertise and commitment in developing the next generation of skilled tradespeople."
Gordon Nelson concluded:
"Pam and Forth Valley College show exactly what the fix looks like — a small firm and a college between them turning a young person into a skilled tradesperson. As we call for in our Builders' Manifesto for Scotland, if we are to have more local building firms recruit and train apprentices, targeted skills funding and training grants are needed.
“Industry, colleges and the Scottish Government need to sit down together and build clearer routes into construction — ones a sixteen-year-old and their parents can actually follow. The appetite is there. It's the pathway that needs fixing."
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Research. Savanta interviewed 2,107 UK adults aged 16+ online on behalf of the FMB; tables dated 29 July 2026. Weighted to be nationally representative. Scotland base 144 — Scottish figures are indicative. Q1 is multi-select, so figures total more than 100%.
- Scotland figures. Guaranteed job at the end of training 62%. Better safety standards 53%. Knowing more about the salaries on offer 33%. Meeting successful tradespeople 29%. Nothing would change my mind 9%. Heard of: apprenticeships 85%, traineeships 43%, degree apprenticeships 34%. Believe the average construction worker earns under £30,000 26%; don't know 18%.
