This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Plumbers and joiners 'vital to economy'
30/04/2004
Jack McConnell today said that a modern, dynamic Scottish economy needs plumbers, joiners and electricians every bit as much as it needs scientists and engineers.
The First Minister was speaking at the Chartered Institute of Builders Annual Dinner in Glasgow. He told the audience of leading figures from the construction industries, that the Scottish government will continue to invest in the skills of all of Scotland's workforce.
Speaking at the event, the First Minister said:
"If we are to achieve real, long term growth in the Scottish economy we have to invest in our best resource. Our people. We have to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to develop the skills that they need to make a contribution. This means training electricians as well as engineers, it means investing in the next generation of builders as well as those who will work in banking.
"And we are taking action. We are investing in modern apprenticeships, we are increasing the vocational options in the curriculum and we are investing record levels in our further education sector. This is the action that will deliver results. This is the action that will help deliver growth and opportunity for all."
The Executive has made a commitment in its Partnership Agreement to support the construction industry. For example:
- Under Modernising Construction umbrella, the creation of a Scottish Construction Forum and a Construction Innovation & Excellence Centre. The Forum will provide the link between the sector, Scottish Executive and Ministers to advise on necessary actions at a strategic level to achieve a step change in the performance of the Scottish construction industry. The Centre will co-ordinate and promulgate best practice, research and innovation.
- The development, by Scottish construction trade associations, of a self-regulation scheme run by the Construction Licensing Executive (CLE).
- The development, by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, of a Construction Skills Action Plan for Glasgow, underpinned by £25m funding from SEn over five years, to alleviate construction skills shortages in Glasgow. A further £10 million has been granted by SEn to support similar activity and roll out successful projects across the network.
- ConstructionSkills Scotland was launched by the Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning on January 14 2004. ConstructionSkills Scotland will operate throughout Scotland to promote and improve the standard of training within the industry. It will also work with the Scottish Construction Forum to help meet the key recommendations of the Modernising Construction strategy paper as they relate to skills and training.