The Scottish Government has announced it will support the country's burgeoning green house-building sector by sponsoring two fellowships with the Saltire Foundation.

The Foundation seeks out and nurtures Scotland's next generation of business leaders, in a move to bring fresh insights into the global potential for domestically-based eco and energy efficient house builders.

Housing minister Keith Brown said the fellowships were "world class" and combined business teaching with practical experience.

The Fellows will get £70,000 sponsorship to study at Babson College in Boston and spend three months on a commercial project with a Scottish project.

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Mr Brown said: "This is an excellent opportunity to work with them towards the common purpose of helping Scottish companies to create a vibrant, low carbon house-building sector which will create jobs and stimulate wider economic growth."

National Records of Scotland forecast that 450,000 new homes will be needed in Scotland by 2033.

A spokesman said the announcement was a "huge opportunity" to build energy efficient housing, which could reduce energy bills by up to £1,000 a year.

The two Fellows have been named as Mike Brooke and Craig Findlay, both from Glasgow.

They will work with Cambuslang-based CCG, and Elgin and Larbert-based Springfield Properties on marketing and bringing products to market.

Sandy Kennedy, chief executive of the Saltire Foundation, said: "The involvement of Saltire Fellows in such an important sector demonstrates that government does not necessarily have to do everything itself."

(NE)