Scots plan centre of excellence

Plans are in hand for the establishment of a Scotland’s own Construction Innovation and Excellence Centre. They are being drawn up by the Scottish Construction Forum, a broad-based umbrella body which was set up 18 months ago to drive forward improvements in Scotland’s construction industry.

“I see this centre acting as a fulcrum for the Scottish construction industry,” said forum chairman Graeme Millar. “It will also be a knowledge resource for large and small companies and an important source of information, advice, education, and training. Through time it will also play an important role in research.”

Millar said the forum had already made its mark by influencing Government Ministers to produce a 10-year infrastructure investment plan. Immediate priorities included securing the funding and staffing of the projected centre of excellence.

Millar added that the forum was aiming to crack down on cowboys and firms failing to deliver on quality and safe working. He said firms breaking industry guidelines could be named and shamed and ultimately excluded from public sector tender lists.

Crucial supporting actions included pressing for all bona fide firms to be registered with the Construction Licensing Executive plus an urgent review of the SCORE skill card scheme to curb any abuses.