Industry faces ongoing need to match growth with workforce
Recruitment and retention are key opportunities for sector resilience
The annual industry forecast from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) highlights the continuing persistent gap between what Scotland needs to keep up with demand and the workforce available to meet the challenge.
· Construction output is set to rise by 2.1% annually between now and 2028
· 26,100 extra workers (5,220 a year) will be needed in order to meet the continued construction growth expected over the next five years
· The major opportunities are in:
o Repair and maintenance
o Public non-housing
o Commercial.
Despite the industry managing to recruit around 200,000 people every year UK-wide, in 2023, an average of 38,000 vacancies were advertised per month. For almost a third (31%) of construction employers, finding suitably skilled staff remains their key challenge, particularly with more older workers retiring and not being replaced.
Although the UK construction industry welcomed 200,000 new workers, it saw the loss of more (210,000 workers). With the ongoing difference between the predicted need for construction work and the available workforce, CITB’s forecast shows how important it is for the industry to tackle the issues with effective recruitment and training to replace those leaving and better prepare for the future, as well as to take advantage of key opportunities such as productivity improvements and meeting net zero retrofit targets.
In response to the challenges, CITB has invested £267m to help the industry improve diversity, quality and productivity as well as making construction a more attractive career choice for future generations.
Among the areas this investment will directly support are three expanded initiatives:
· New Entrant Support Team (NEST) – helping employers to better navigate the recruitment process, access grants and suitable training, when and where needed
· Industry Impact Fund – making direct funding available for employers to design and test new solutions for talent recruitment and retention challenges
· Employer Network – rolling this out across Great Britain, to enable local employers to set their own funding priorities and meet area-specific skills needs.
CITB Scotland Engagement Director, Ian Hughes, said:“Construction is an essential sector for our regional and national economic prosperity. We anticipate continued industry growth in Scotland, but we need to meet demand with more people in the workforce with the right skills.
“CITB’s CSN report highlights how Scotland employers can address the challenge by recruiting and developing a skilled, competent and diverse workforce that is able to meet current and future needs.
“Scotland has a number of construction investments supported by City Region Deals, Regional Growth Deals and Green Freeports.
“These wide-ranging projects include the proposed debris flow shelter for the A83 at Rest & Be Thankful, the £25m hydrogen demonstration network in Fife, and £200m towards the mains replacement for Scottish Gas Networks.
“Works are underway for the £91m Clyde Waterfront & Renfrew Riverside development, with a new River Clyde Bridge as part of the Glasgow City Region Deal. Dunfermline’s £250m Learning Campus is due for completion on a purpose-built low carbon site in the eastern expansion area.
“Meanwhile, proposals for the £250m revamp of Charing Cross would bring student accommodation and healthcare facilities followed by mixed-tenure residential, office and leisure space as well as the creation of a new gateway into the city.
“We are committed to ensuring that the skills system is fit for purpose to deliver on the great opportunities across Scotland, now and in the future.
“The industry has shown particular resilience throughout what has been an undeniably tough few years. Here at CITB, we have a crucial role to play in supporting its growth through recruitment, training, development and upskilling.”
Defence Secretary has met with apprentices, engineers and key industry leaders during a visit to key shipyards. Scotland plays a ‘crucial role’ in the Navy’s shipbuilding pipeline and the UK’s security
Defence Secretary meets with apprentices, engineers and key industry leaders.
New warship production well underway in Scotland
More than 12,000 Scottish jobs are supported through defence spend with UK industry.
Paul Sheerin announced as Chair of the shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group.
Scotland is playing a crucial role in the Navy’s shipbuilding pipeline and the UK’s security, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has said today on a visit to key shipyards.
Visiting Govan, where BAE Systems are building Type 26 frigates, and HMNB Clyde, home of the Royal Navy’s submarine fleet, the Defence Secretary met with key industry leaders, staff and apprentices, observing the significant progress on the major warship production programme.
Scotland is the beating heart of military shipbuilding, with eight Type 26 ships being built in Glasgow and five Type 31 frigates being built by Babcock International in Rosyth. This supports and is supported by the local maritime infrastructure, supply chains, and extensive skills and training resources. On a tour at BAE Systems in Govan, the Defence Secretary saw the Type 26 frigates in build, and toured HMS Cardiff.
More than 12,000 jobs in Scotland are directly supported by Defence, with more than £2 billion spent annually with UK industry in Scotland. Over 5,000 jobs will be created or sustained across the build of Type 26 and Type 31 programmes alone, and just under 1,000 apprentices will be trained to provide the skill required to build and maintain our Royal Navy fleet.
Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “As the home of the nuclear deterrent – which keeps us all safe around the clock – nobody can question that Scotland is absolutely central to the UK’s security.
“As Shipbuilding Tsar, it is fantastic to see the positive impact that the Scottish shipbuilding industry plays. A sector once restricted by periods of ‘boom and bust’ is now witnessing a resurgence, with Scottish shipyards buzzing with activity and its workforce expanding.
“Brand new warships will operate around the world, looking after our nation’s interests, for decades to come, and they will have been built by highly skilled shipbuilders right here in Glasgow.
“We continue to back the UK defence industry in Scotland with billions of pounds every year, supporting thousands of jobs and apprenticeships.”
At HMNB Clyde, the home of the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines, the Defence Secretary visited an attack submarine. HMNB Clyde is currently one of the largest employers in Scotland and is in the process of increasing its on-site staff from 6,800 to over 8,000, whilst the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) has committed to spending more than £3 billion on sites in Scotland, including £1.6 billion on the Clyde Infrastructure Programme, to establish it as the home of UK’s submarine fleet.
The Defence Secretary, in his role as Shipbuilding Tsar, is responsible for overseeing all of the government’s interests in UK shipbuilding. The Government’s commitment to UK Shipbuilding through the Refreshed National Shipbuilding Strategy has allowed industry to invest for the future, with BAE Systems’ £12 million Applied Shipbuilding Skills Academy and the construction of a modern shipbuilding hall in Govan currently underway.
The Government has today issued its response to the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce report. In response to recommendations within, the report the National Shipbuilding Office has launched the shipbuilding Skills Delivery Group.
This group will drive the delivery of the Taskforce recommendations and will be a champion for skills within the UK Shipbuilding Enterprise.
Grant Shapps also announced the Chair of the Group will be Paul Sheerin, and the two met at Govan shipyard.
Paul Sheerin, Chair of Skills Delivery Group said: “It is critical for the UK shipbuilding enterprise that the skills gap is addressed, and to ensure that this can happen there needs to be a unified approach across different skills systems, across different parts of the enterprise and across government and the devolved administrations.
“I am extremely excited to chair the SDG, working alongside a highly knowledgeable and experienced membership comprised of representatives from across the whole enterprise. With the continued support of the Shipbuilding Tsar and the NSO, I look forward to working with the Group to deliver a positive impact on skills within this vital sector to the UK.”
Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack said: “Scottish-based critical defence assets play a crucial role in the security of the UK.
“As well as helping to keep us all safe, defence also delivers thousands of high-skilled jobs and billions of pounds investment in Scotland, driving prosperity and boosting the Scottish economy.
“I’m proud that Scottish skills, expertise and innovation make such an enormous contribution to the UK’s defence industry.”
Scott Woodburn from Falkirk is celebrating a decade of career success with Aldi Scotland
A Falkirk man has shared his career success story for National Careers Week, as he marks 10 years of dedicated service with Aldi Scotland.
Scott Woodburn (32) joined Aldi as a part-time Store Assistant during university. After opening the 100th Scottish store in Hermiston Gate as Store Manager, he has quickly risen through the ranks and was recently promoted to Area Manager.
National Careers Week, running from 4 to 9 March 2024, raises awareness about the significance of career guidance, which closely aligns with Aldi’s commitment to employee success and career development.
Scott’s journey with Aldi commenced more than a decade ago when he joined the company as a part-time store assistant while pursuing his degree in Computer Systems and Networks. What started as a job to support his studies quickly transformed into a remarkable career with Aldi.
Scott said: “Aldi is fantastic place to learn, it’s not like anywhere else. The responsibility is far higher, and the team is so tight knit that you create lasting bonds. You rely on each other so much and there’s a real sense that everyone has each other’s backs.”
Scott’s commitment and hard work were evident early on, leading to his promotion to Deputy Store Manager within six months, while he was still studying. He transitioned into a full-time role as an Assistant Store Manager after completing his university degree.
Scott continued: “I enjoyed the idea of working my way up the Aldi career ladder. The structure and the bond within the teams were unique, and I felt supported in my journey.”
During National Careers Week, resources and guidance are highlighted as key attributes to career growth and success. Aldi Scotland provides resources to enhance employee development and offers opportunities for employees to explore various roles and responsibilities. For instance, Scott worked in the regional head office in Bathgate during the Christmas period, enhancing his communication skills and preparing him for his current role as an Area Manager.
Scott attributes his success to the mentorship he received at Aldi: “I felt mentored and supported at each and every stage of my career. When I was approached for the Deputy Store Manager position, I realised that my hard work and ambition had been noticed and as a result, I was being guided into leadership roles.
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned at Aldi is owning your mistakes. The higher the role, the higher the responsibility. Being honest and learning from mistakes is crucial for personal and professional growth.”
Richard Holloway, Regional Managing Director for Scotland, said: “I’m delighted to celebrate Scott Woodburn’s remarkable journey in line with National Careers Week and congratulate him on 10 years at Aldi.
“Scott’s decade of commitment echoes Aldi’s values of hard work, ambition and teamwork and his progression reflects not only his personal growth but also the opportunities for advancement that Aldi provides to its employees.
“This success story is a shining example of Aldi’s dedication to nurturing talent and fostering a culture that values each team member’s contribution. Aldi won Employer of the Year at the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards 2023 and as we continue to expand, stories like Scott’s underline our commitment to employee success and career development.”
Aldi is currently looking to recruit over 200 new store colleagues across Scotland.
In a welcome boost to the local economy, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket is looking for people of all levels of experience to fill roles at its stores, including Store Cleaner and Store Assistant, all the way up to Deputy Manager and Assistant Store Manager.
Amazon offers one of the top private sector apprenticeship programmes in the UK, with opportunities across more than 30 different schemes
New apprenticeship opportunities on offer in 2024, including digital product manager, are in addition to schemes in buying and merchandising, cyber security, marketing and creative design
Over 50% of the apprenticeships will be offered to existing Amazon employeesto retrain and gain new skills
Amazon, ADCS, Tiphaine Brydniak
Two apprentices at Amazon’s Development Centre in Edinburgh are encouraging others to start an apprenticeship and boost their careers after Amazon announced the expansion of its apprenticeship programme with the addition of 1,000 new positions across the UK in 2024.
Amazon offers one of the UK’s top private sector apprenticeship schemes according to the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers[1], including entry-level placements and more than 230 degree-level apprenticeships in programmes including accounting and data analysts.
Recruitment has now started for more than 30 different schemes, from sustainability to engineering, project management to product buying, and warehouse team leaders to health and safety technicians.
This year, Amazon is also launching new programmes including the digital product manager apprenticeship and the commercial procurement and supply apprenticeship. The range of different apprenticeship schemes reflect both Amazon’s diverse workforce and the communities it serves every day across the UK.
As well as offering hundreds of new roles to external candidates, more than half of the new apprenticeships will be offered to existing employees who will have the opportunity to retrain and gain new skills for an exciting new career path. In 2023, two thirds (67%) of new apprentices at Amazon were aged 25 and over, an increase of 10% year on year, which demonstrates the support apprenticeships provide in helping people pursue new careers.
An apprentice who is currently taking part in the programme is Tiphaine Brydniak, from the Amazon Development Centre in Edinburgh.
Tiphaine is a software development engineer (SDE) apprentice at the Amazon Development Centre in Edinburgh. She’s been in the role since 2021 and is due to complete the apprenticeship in 2025 in conjunction with Edinburgh Napier University.
Tiphaine had been working as an accountant in London for seven years before switching her career path to tech. She’d been interested in the industry since school, initially in web development and video game design, but her lack of experience made her nervous to explore new job opportunities.
When she was on a career break from accountancy, Tiphaine’s partner bought her access to an online course in programming. At the same time, she started building a mobile app for herself to track the birds she spotted. She found she enjoyed the broad scope of tech, and became determined to make a career switch.
In 2021, Tiphaine was accepted onto the Amazon Software Development Engineering apprenticeship, and she hasn’t looked back since.
“At the beginning of my apprenticeship I felt like I knew nothing, and I definitely had a bit of imposter syndrome,” Tiphaine said. “Over the years, I’ve realised that even senior development engineers feel that way sometimes, and it’s part of our growth. I’ve never once felt like I can’t ask my managers questions, and have been supported every step of the way – it’s been brilliant.”
Tiphaine shared what her favourite thing about working at Amazon is, saying: “I’ve rotated through a number of roles during my apprenticeship, which has allowed me to experience different parts of the business. On every team, I’ve played a part in high-impact projects that have complex and interesting problems to solve. You’re not restricted by being an apprentice at Amazon; you get to be fully part of the team.”
Tiphaine has some advice for people thinking of applying for an apprenticeship with Amazon, particularly if it involves changing career later in life: “If you’re worried about going back to uni, you don’t need to be. The split of ‘mature’ students and first timers on this apprenticeship course is about 50/50, which made the experience less daunting for me. It’s important to reflect on how far you’ve come and how much you’ve achieved, and you can do that again in something new.”
Declan Fisher from Livingston is also software development engineer apprentice at Amazon in Edinburgh. He started at the company in August 2021 and is due to complete his apprenticeship later this year.
Declan left school in 2019 and started a degree at Heriot-Watt University studying Maths with Computer Science. He says:
“I had just left school and wanted some freedom, but I don’t think I was ready for university. After two months, I left and took a year out while working part-time at a supermarket. The pandemic also hit that year, so I spent a lot of time considering what it was I wanted to do going forward. I knew I wanted something to challenge me a bit while I was also earning money.
“My mum had told me to look at apprenticeships when I was at school, but it wasn’t until I was older that I went back and had a look at apprenticeships online. I liked the sound of getting paid while I work and study.
“I applied for a few apprenticeships, really anything technical I could find at the time. I knew I liked computers, but I didn’t know how to program at all. I got offered a data analytics role at a different company and did that for a year. During my time there, I realised I enjoyed the programming side but in that role we only did quite simple data analysis. It was a bit repetitive, and I wanted something more, so I started looking for something new and applied for an SDE role at Amazon.”
Declan explains what he is enjoying most about his apprenticeship at Amazon: “It’s such a different way to learn compared to university. I learn a lot more on the job than I would’ve at university, and other apprentices in my cohort have said the same. I like that it’s hands-on experience, and it’s good to be getting paid at the same time.
“I was drawn to Amazon specifically because I’ve always wanted to work in tech, and it’s a household-name tech company, so my heart was set from the beginning. Amazon is a really exciting company to be a part of and there’s lots to get involved in. Just recently we had a social night in the office, had a takeaway and doing some fun team activities.
“The field of technology is constantly developing, and I’ve realised there’s never going to be a time where you’re not learning something new. I always assumed if you were higher up in the company, you’d know everything, but that’s not the case. We’re always learning And developing our skills and knowledge further.
Declan has some advice for anyone considering an apprenticeship at Amazon:
“Make sure you’re passionate about the subject you’re applying for and know it well before you go for an interview. In the same vein, don’t be afraid to apply if you feel underqualified, because the apprenticeship is designed to take someone who doesn’t have any experience and train them to be a skilled engineer.”
After he completes his apprenticeship later this year, Declan hopes to stay at Amazon and progress within the company as a software development engineer.
Nicola Drury, Head of Skills and Apprenticeships at Amazon, said: “Every year we look forward to recruiting ambitious and enthusiastic apprentices to join our teams working to deliver for customers all over the UK. Whether they’re retraining to begin a new and exciting career, or gaining new skills to take their career in a new direction, we’re proud to provide opportunities for people to find their dream roles.”
The 1,000 new apprenticeships highlight Amazon’s ongoing commitment to creating jobs and training opportunities for people across the UK. Once qualified, apprentices will have the opportunity to work across Amazon’s UK sites including fulfilment centres, delivery stations, sortation centres as well as corporate offices in London and Manchester, and four development centres in Cambridge, Edinburgh, London, and Swansea.
Amazon apprentices work across a wide variety of different schemes in hundreds of teams, from software developers in Prime Video, buyers in fashion, and production in Amazon Studios. This year apprentices could be a solutions architect in Amazon Web Services, a marketer in Amazon Music, or work with cutting-edge technology in operations as an engineer.
Since 2021, Amazon has pledged £8m supporting over 400 SMEs with apprenticeships via the apprenticeship levy transfer service. To date, Amazon has supported over 750 apprentices across a wide range of schemes including adult care, data, dental nurses and broadcast production assistants.
In addition to the apprenticeship schemes, Amazon employees can also take advantage of Amazon’s pioneering Career Choice programme, which pre-pays up to 95% of tuition and fees for courses in high-demand fields, up to £8,000 over four years, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a career at Amazon.
Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits and a modern, safe and engaging work environment is provided for its employees. The roles pay a minimum of £11.80 or £12.50 per hour, rising from April to between £12.30 and £13 per hour, depending on location, and up to £33,500 a year for degree-level apprenticeships. All employees also receive a benefits package that includes private medical insurance, life assurance, income protection, and an employee discount – which combined are worth thousands annually – as well as a company pension plan.
Amazon has been named as a ‘Top Employer UK 2024’ by the Top Employer Institute, one of the world’s most prestigious certifications in the field of human resources management. This award recognises Amazon’s commitment to the development and well-being of its employees. In addition to the UK accolade, Amazon has also been certified as one of the Top Employers in Europe for the second consecutive year. https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/top-employer-2024
Applications are now open for Amazon’s apprenticeship programme. For more information, visit: www.amazonapprenticeships.co.uk
Aldi is looking to hire 251 colleagues in Edinburgh & Lothians this year as the company looks to open new stores and update others.
Britain’s fourth largest supermarket is on the lookout for people of all levels of experience to fill roles across the region, with salaries of up to £43,440.
The roles include full and part-time positions such as Store Assistant and Deputy Store Manager, all the way up to Assistant Store Manager.
The recruitment push is part of a nationwide expansion drive, with Aldi pledging to create a total of more than 5,500 new jobs up and down the country in 2024.
Store and Warehouse Assistants at Aldi receive a starting salary of £12.00 rising to £12.95 nationally, while those working within the M25 receive £13.55 rising to £13.85.
Aldi is also the only supermarket to offer paid breaks, which for the average store colleague is worth more than an additional £900 a year.
Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK, said: “Our colleagues work incredibly hard, and they are without a doubt a huge part of our success at Aldi. We continue to welcome more and more customers to Aldi stores every week, not just because of our unbeatable prices and local sourcing, but also our amazing colleagues.
“We are looking forward to welcoming even more colleagues up and down the country to Team Aldi during 2024 and this is another step in accelerating progress towards our goal of making affordable, quality food accessible to everyone.”
Aldi recently committed to opening 500 more stores across Britain and is investing more than £1.4 billion throughout 2023 and 2024 as it progresses towards hitting this long-term target. This investment includes work to expand its distribution and store network as well as further improving existing stores and technology infrastructure to support growth.
Those interested in applying for a career with Aldi can visit:
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse will soon be taking residence in Edinburgh’s iconic Assembly Rooms building, providing 60 employment opportunities in the capital. As the restaurant prepares to open its first Scottish venue, it is seeking enthusiastic candidates for all positions including roles for assistant manager, front of house, bartenders and a head chef.
An employment open house day will be held on 9th January, where hopeful applicants can visit the new location to speak with Rio Steakhouse co- founder Rodrigo Grassi and Fawira Lira, operations manager, in an informal interview setting. The team will be available for applicants to stop by throughout the day to answer questions about employment at Rio and share more information about the restaurant and opportunities available.
Location: Rio Brazilian Steakhouse: The Assembly Rooms, 54 George St, EH2 2LR Times: Tuesday 9th January, 9:30am – 6:30pm
More information on employment opportunities with Rio can be found at:
Aldi is currently looking to recruit over 20 new store colleagues across Edinburgh.
In a welcome boost to the local economy, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket is looking for people of all levels of experience to fill roles at its stores across the region including Hermiston Gate, Gilmerton Road, Oxgangs, Commercial Street, and Portobello.
This includes both full-time and part-time positions including Store Management Apprentice, Stock Assistant, and Store Assistant, all the way up to Deputy Managers.
The recruitment push forms part of Aldi’s nationwide expansion drive, with the supermarket set to open an average of one new store a week across the UK between now and Christmas.
Kelly Stokes, Recruitment Director at Aldi UK, said: “As we continue to invest in new stores, we’re looking for more colleagues to join our incredible teams across Edinburgh.
“Working at Aldi means a great working environment and real opportunities to progress within the business and we look forward to welcoming even more people to be a part of our success in the future.”
Starting pay for Store Assistants at Aldi is £11.40 per hour with the supermarket also paying for breaks.
A free skills training session to help people take their first step on the career ladder is being hosted at Fort Kinnaird in collaboration with Capital City Partnership (CCP) next week.
Delivered by the Focus on Recruitment and Training (FORTY) scheme, which is based at the centre, the one-week course on retail and customer service skills will give participants an SQA accredited Customer Service qualification, as well as support with CV building, job applications and interview tips, and an opportunity to be interviewed by a recruiting Fort Kinnaird retailer.
The course is open to anyone aged between 16 and 24, will run from 31st of July – 4th of August.
To help local people build their confidence in applying for retail job vacancies, participants will also have the opportunity to hear from Fort Kinnaird employees about their career journeys to date, alongside getting their advice on applying for retail or hospitality jobs.
Liam Smith, centre director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “We know how difficult applying for a job can be, so we want to help people in our community take the first step – whether it’s moving into employment for the first time or a jump between careers.
“FORTY provides a fantastic opportunity for individuals to seek advice, learn more about the retail industry and gain new qualifications.”
FORTY is funded by Fort Kinnaird’s co-owner, British Land, and in-kind support from the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
