A heritage building project in Portobello has highlighted the vital role Scotland's small builders play in training the next generation of tradespeople, as the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) urges the next Scottish Government to prioritise apprenticeship funding.
HM Raitt & Sons Ltd, an FMB Scotland member, hosted SNP candidate Kate Campbell at their Bellfield community centre redevelopment site as part of the industry's engagement with politicians across all parties ahead of the 7 May Holyrood elections.
FMB Scotland published its 2026 manifesto Growth from the Ground Up setting out five priorities for the next Scottish Government: investment in skills and apprenticeships; introduction of mandatory builder licensing; a national retrofit strategy; planning reform and fairer public procurement for small firms.
Gordon Nelson, FMB Scotland Director, said:
"Scotland's local building companies and our brilliant FMB members are the backbone of our construction sector. They deliver quality work, invest in apprentices, and play a vital role in their local communities. However, with Scotland needing 3,590 additional construction workers every year until 2029, apprenticeship funding must keep pace with demand, which is why we are calling on the new Scottish Government to invest in the construction sector and back builders by introducing a construction minister to show their commitment to the sector."
HM Raitt & Sons is transforming the under-utilised Celebration Hall at Bellfield, which is a former Georgian church, into an accessible community space. The project demonstrates the specialist skills required to work on Scotland's traditional buildings while providing training opportunities for apprentices.
Gavin Richardson, Contracts Manager at HM Raitt & Sons Ltd, added:
"We take pride in bringing Scotland's heritage back to life while training the next generation of Master Builders. But we need targeted funding support if we're going to deliver the high-quality craft skills Scotland's traditional buildings demand."
Ian Cook from Bellfield concluded:
“Our close working relationship with locally based contractor HM Raitt is I hope just one of many examples of when client and builder relationships go well. We welcomed the visit from the FMB, and it was good to learn about their 2026 builders' manifesto: Growth from the Ground Up, which sets out proposals across five key areas to support local building firms. Whatever the outcome of the elections on 7 May, the next Scottish Government should take heed of these asks.”
