The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has said it is ready to work closely with the SNP Government following the Scottish Parliament election, highlighting the sector's £6.4bn contribution to the UK economy and offering input on skills, infrastructure and housing.

The Association said members across Scotland are well placed to advise ministers on policy that improves delivery on the ground. Its immediate focus includes strengthening apprenticeships and training pathways, accelerating nationally significant projects and supporting the drive to build more affordable homes.

On skills, the SPOA welcomed the Government's pledge to increase apprenticeship numbers and to deliver 150,000 over the course of the Parliament. It also backed the new Apprenticeship Accelerator Grant designed to attract more young people into the industry. However, the Association argued that further action is needed, renewing calls to expand apprenticeship opportunities and to review the current funding model so it reflects the true costs of high-quality training for employers and learners alike.

Turning to infrastructure, the SPOA said it looks forward to more detail on the planned Scotland's Major Projects Office, which is intended to coordinate, package and speed up investment in projects of national importance. The Association said it would welcome the chance to advise on how to build and deliver schemes faster, in line with the new office's stated aims. While backing the initiative, the SPOA also maintained that appointing a cabinet-level minister with a single, senior voice for construction and infrastructure within the Scottish Government would make a meaningful difference to delivery and accountability.

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On housing, the Association noted that its members are involved in every kind of housebuilding across the country. It welcomed the commitment to invest £4.9 billion in affordable homes over the next four years, supporting the delivery of 110,000 affordable homes by 2032. The SPOA added that it wants to hear more about the proposal for a new Scottish housing agency, More Homes Scotland, which is intended to bring greater simplicity, scale and speed to homebuilding. The Association said it is well placed to advise on practical delivery in this area.

Reiterating the joint calls it made ahead of the election with the Scottish Decorators' Federation, Scottish Building Federation, Contract Flooring Association and the Federation of Master Builders, the SPOA urged: the appointment of a cabinet-level construction and infrastructure minister; a Scottish construction workforce action plan with a system-wide review to align skills supply with future demand; protection and expansion of apprenticeships, ensuring the 'world-class' Scottish apprenticeship model is ring-fenced and grown; funding reform via a review of the current apprenticeship funding model to reflect real training costs; and a national construction skills passport, supported by a digital record of qualifications and health and safety certification for a modern, mobile workforce.

The SPOA also highlighted its Policy, Sustainability and Decarbonisation sub-committee, which represents members and the wider Scottish plant sector to the Scottish and UK Governments on proposed legislative changes affecting the industry.

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