The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has called on the Scottish Government to give the construction industry priority access to the £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund.

Details of the initiative were unveiled in a report by Minister for Employability and Training, Jamie Hepburn, on Monday, 19 December.

The new £10 fund aims to help companies up-skill and re-skill existing their existing workforce and address skills gaps.

Welcoming the clarity on how the Levy will be invested in Scotland, Director of FMB Scotland Gordon Nelson said Minister need to recognise how the construction industry is a "priority sector for skills support".

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"The industry needs to be given the same status as other sectors named as being particularly important including digital, care and early years," he said.

"We're calling on the Scottish Government to ensure that construction is given priority access to the £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund detailed in today's report.

"Last week, the Scottish Government announced ambitious plans for infrastructure, house building and energy efficiency in its Budget, and today has made further bold pledges on boosting apprenticeship numbers.

"Yet by failing to prioritise construction as a key skills sector, the Scottish Government is in danger of putting the cart before horse. For every £1 invested in construction, £2.84 is generated in the wider economy and we therefore urge the Scottish Government to give construction the priority status it demands as Ministers continue to develop their skills strategy."

(LM)