The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Scotland is marking Scottish Apprenticeship Week (2–8 March 2026) by calling on the Scottish Government to overhaul the skills and training system to better support small building firms.

With nearly a third of Scottish construction businesses reporting worker shortages, the FMB has launched its "Builders' Manifesto for Scotland 2026," urging policymakers to prioritise funding for an industry that needs to recruit approximately 3,600 extra workers every year.

While the latest figures show over 25,500 Modern Apprenticeships started in 2024–25—with more than a third in construction, energy, and engineering—the FMB warns that the financial burden on employers is becoming unsustainable. Currently, for every £1 of government investment in apprenticeships, employers contribute an additional £10. The federation argues that stagnant funding and rising costs are threatening the ability of small and medium-sized firms, which train the vast majority of the nation's apprentices, to maintain this pipeline.

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Gordon Nelson, Director of FMB Scotland, said: "Scottish construction apprentices are recognised as being world class and each and every one of them is critical to Scotland's economy and future prosperity. Local building companies are the backbone of the construction and built environment sector; however, they need better support from the Scottish Government if they are to employ and train more apprentices. This is so we have a future workforce to build more new homes and deliver fabric and insulation upgrades across our built environment."

The FMB is showcasing success stories such as Liam Adamson, winner of the Master Builder Apprentice of the Year, and Ben Jarvie, a bricklaying apprentice at Haldane Construction Services. Jarvie, whose grandfather was an architect and great-grandfather a joiner, highlighted the variety of the role: "What I love about my job is just the variety of the stuff that we do... it's completely different every day." Adamson added: "If you are a young person looking to get into the construction industry, I would recommend it as a trade for life."

The industry also continues to attract talent through non-traditional routes. Martin Dally of MD Builders, which was previously voted Best Building Contractor in Scotland, entered the trade at 19 following a football injury. He noted the urgent need for better school-level engagement: "With over a third of the construction workforce set to retire in the next four years, we need to act now. We need to get into schools earlier and set up proper work experience programs to showcase construction as an exciting career, but most importantly, there needs to be more funding made available for employers to take on apprentices."