The FMB urged all political parties to provide greater support for small and medium-sized (SME) housebuilders, or risk exacerbating the housing crisis. FMB Scotland Director Gordon Nelson said, 鈥淔ew would dispute that we have a housing crisis in Scotland, with estimates suggesting a shortfall of around 100,000 homes. This risks having a generation without their own homes. The plan to launch a new national housing agency to facilitate the accelerated delivery of new homes of all tenures in Scotland is welcome.
鈥淗owever, the next Scottish Government must do more to support SME housebuilders who play a particularly strong role in developing new homes needed in rural locations and on the redevelopment of brownfield sites. Our increasingly complex planning system continues to thwart the ability of SME housebuilders to build small-scale developments of high quality energy efficient homes: their bread and butter. Planning and related regulations in Scotland need to be revamped to reduce the costs and complexity for small housebuilders."
FMB Scotland is calling on the next Scottish Government to set an all tenure housing target of 25,000 homes per year, and to deliver SME focused development management which is simple and takes a 鈥榖uild now pay later approach鈥� to planning and related fees. It asks parties contending the election to invest in local authority planning services to help reduce lengthy planning delays which are a bane for housebuilders, and to work with the Scottish National Investment Bank to develop more equitable funding and finance for small housebuilders.
Powering up electrical apprenticeships
The SECTT launched its own manifesto ahead of the election, outlining key measures to strengthen the electrical workforce. The manifesto calls on politicians to work with SECTT, employers, government agencies, and other stakeholders in the Scottish electrotechnical sector to take decisive actions that secure the future of this vital workforce and ensure Scotland meets its growing demand for skilled electricians.
It sets four key priorities. It asks the incoming government to make National Progression Awards the preferred entry route into the electrical installation modern apprenticeship. It asks the government to provide financial support for both learners and employers and to increase support for career changers entering the sector. Finally, it asks the next Holyrood government to strengthening the capacity of SECTT and employers to deliver a skilled, sustainable workforce.
Fiona Harper CEO of SECTT said, "Electrical apprenticeships are critical to Scotland鈥檚 economic future, particularly as we transition to a low-carbon economy. Our manifesto sets out practical steps to support learners, employers, and training providers, ensuring we can meet future demand with a skilled and diverse workforce."
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