THE Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has marked Scottish Apprenticeship Week by welcoming Ben Macpherson MSP, minister for higher and further education, to its National Construction College (NCC) in Inchinnan, Renfrew.
The minister toured the facility and met some of the 1,500 apprentices that CITB helps recruit annually in Scotland, seeing the training they undertake to learn skills for life.
CITB provided over £22 million in apprenticeship grants in the 2024-25 financial year. The organisation’s latest Construction Workforce Outlook report found that the Scottish construction industry needs nearly 18,000 extra workers between now and 2029. Stats from Skills Development Scotland also show that over 6,500 people started a construction apprenticeship in Scotland in the 2024-25 financial year.
Ben Macpherson MSP said, “It was great to visit the National Construction College to see first-hand the high-quality training CITB provides to apprentices from across Scotland. It is undoubtedly clear that construction apprenticeships are so important, both now and for the future – to Scotland’s housing provision, building quality, national infrastructure, and transition to net zero.
“The Scottish Government is investing £198 million in apprenticeships this year, which is helping to support organisations like the CITB and NCC. This investment will help to ensure that young people are equipped with skills for life and that we build the workforce that Scotland needs for a sustainable and prosperous future.”
Kirsty Evans, executive director, education and training at CITB, added, “With nearly 13,000 construction businesses in Scotland employing over 200,000 people, the construction industry plays a vital role in the Scottish economy. It was wonderful that the Minister was able to visit the NCC in Scotland to meet many of the apprentices we support and see first-hand the high-quality training they receive to learn skills for life.”
Ian Hughes, engagement director (Scotland), at CITB, commented, “With so many courses on offer at NCC Inchinnan, there’s no better place in Scotland for apprentices to get trained, and the minister got to see many of them in action. It was a great way to celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week.
“We offer plenty of support to help employers navigate the skills system, including our New Entrant Support Team, which makes finding, recruiting and retaining an apprentice or new entrant easier. So, we encourage Scottish construction employers to get in touch with us about how we can support them and their training and skills needs.”
To find out more about CITB’s New Entrant Support Team, visit: https://www.citb.co.uk/courses-and-qualifications/citb-apprenticeships/take-on-an-apprentice/new-entrant-support-team/.
