Talking-up Scotland

© scottishconstructionnow.com

That’s the Scottish Building Federation headline from 15^th March. It’s good enough as it is, I think. It comes only a few weeks after the Scottish Government budget announced for 2017/18:

• Over £470m of direct capital investment to begin delivery of 50,000 affordable homes,
• Over £140m for Energy Efficiency programmes to help deliver climate change targets
• Over £100m investment in digital and mobile infrastructure, to improve digital connectivity, grow Scotland’s digital economy and increase digital participation, including support for our commitment to deliver 100 per cent broadband access by 2021

Also, the Scottish Government announced a further £15 million for new roads and land development in Fife and North Ayrshire which is expected to provide leverage for private sector investment of £75 million to £100 million.

Overall output in Scotland in 2016 was £14.5 billion and employment in construction rose 7%, up 12 000 to reach 181 000. Much of the growth has been in infrastructure projects funded by the Scottish Government.

Commenting on the new employment figures, Scottish Building Federation Managing Director Vaughan Hart said:

‘Following on from last week’s Scottish construction output figures, these new figures on Scottish building employment during 2016 show a year-on-year rise of 12,000 in the number of people working within the sector.’

https://www.sbnn.co.uk/2017/03/15/scottish-construction-employment-closes-2016-3-year-high/

http://news.gov.scot/news/boost-for-infrastructure