Akela Construction, part of the Akela Group, has announced a significant strategic shift aimed at strengthening its contribution to Scotland's infrastructure priorities and confronting the deepening workforce and economic challenges within the construction and civil engineering sectors. The new direction was unveiled by Managing Director Robert Ogg, marking his first year in post, at a recent company-wide briefing held at Hampden Park.

With bases in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Akela Construction will now operate as a three-sector business, targeting delivery across:

• Residential infrastructure: supporting partners in the central belt to accelerate the creation of new homes and help alleviate the housing crisis.

• Civil engineering and general infrastructure: encompassing vital projects such as roads, earthworks, drainage, and utilities.

• Energy infrastructure: including substations, cabling, and Battery Energy Storage Systems, directly aligned with national Net Zero commitments.

This strategic pivot comes amidst growing delivery pressures across the sectors. Despite a widely acknowledged housing emergency, recent figures indicate a decline in completions and new starts, with private and social housing output at their lowest since 2012 and 2016 respectively. Concurrently, strained transport and drainage networks, alongside a forecasted £45 billion energy spend by 2035, highlight an urgent need for sector-wide readiness and capacity.

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Under Robert Ogg's leadership, Akela Construction has secured positions on various new procurement routes, including key frameworks and the Scottish Government's Pan-Scotland Civil Engineering Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS). These will position the company for sustained pipeline growth across Scotland over the next six years, with projects also being secured across the wider UK.

"Scotland's infrastructure is facing acute stress – across housing, transport, utilities and energy," said Robert Ogg. "But with the right strategic focus and skillset, we can rise to meet that demand. This strategy isn't cosmetic, it's operational. We've repositioned Akela Construction to be more agile, transparent and aligned with where Scotland needs delivery most."

Internally, Akela has embedded new performance protocols and a more robust focus on data utilisation to support business priorities, with expanded metrics in localism, sustainability, and supply chain resilience shaping future delivery.

Mr Ogg also addressed the critical issue of Scotland's ageing construction workforce. "With 30% of Akela's workforce now under 30, and a goal to reach 50% within five years, we are actively tackling Scotland's ageing construction workforce through apprenticeships, employability programmes and direct career pathways," he explained. The launch of the Akela Training Academy in November last year, alongside their work with the CECA Academy, has made significant strides in this direction.

"Scotland needs infrastructure delivered at pace but we can only do this if we have the right opportunities for upskilling and training the workforce," Mr Ogg concluded. "That means valuing skills, creating opportunity and building responsibly, with people at the heart of every project. This new strategy provides the blueprint for Akela Construction's next phase of growth."