Hundreds of young people helped into construction jobs with £700k funding boost for Barnardo's

Hundreds of young people across Scotland are being supported to move into construction industry jobs with £700,000 in funding.

The money has been rewarded to Barnardo’s Scotland, a leading charity supporting children, young people and their families, from Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).

The new initiative is open to young people aged 16 and over and covers Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, the Highlands, Perth and Kinross and Moray.

It is part of the CITB’s Scottish Academy for Construction Opportunities commission (SACO) and will run over the course of the next three years.

New entrants will be given the chance to start work in construction including joinery, bricklaying, roofing, scaffolding and general building operatives.

Martin Crewe, director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “We are calling on the construction industry to get behind this ambitious scheme which will allow Barnardo’s to support hundreds of young people in Scotland to make the transition into what is a buoyant and expanding industry.

“We will support new entrants to the scheme with ‘touch points’ throughout the various stages of the journey, from telephone and email interaction to in-depth reviews and face-to-face contact visits. Furthermore, Barnardo’s Scotland will be drawing on existing relationships with local partners and stakeholders to achieve sustained employment outcomes.”

Ian Hughes, CITB engagement director for Scotland, said: “I’m delighted to see the SACO Commission progress in the Highlands and Islands; like many, an area that requires increased access to construction skills in the coming years.

“This funding will be instrumental in not only helping to develop a successful recruitment pipeline across wider Scotland, but also in supporting the success of more rural communities with investment to assist people entering the construction sector.

“With demand in Scotland for more than 25,000 additional workers by 2026, we cannot underestimate the challenge industry faces. We must act now to ensure industry has the workforce it needs, and this commission presents a great opportunity to begin addressing some of the key issues. I’m excited to see the projects get underway and wish them all the best of luck as they move into the next phase.”