The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has launched Breaking Ground, a long-term research initiative designed to understand how the plant sector can better attract, develop and retain the people it needs.

Instead of starting with assumptions about skills shortages or fixed solutions, the programme will take an exploratory, data-driven approach, gathering insight from people within and outside the sector to identify where meaningful change can be made.

The first phase will focus on women's participation in plant, looking at perceptions of the industry, routes into careers, recruitment, workplace experiences, retention and progression.

SPOA will seek input not only from women working in plant, but also from women outside the sector, men employed in the industry, employers, young people and organisations involved in education and career development.

Developed using academic research principles, the work prioritises understanding people’s experiences and perceptions before drawing conclusions about barriers or opportunities.

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Breaking Ground is being led by SPOA Vice President Gail McEwen, with the initial Women in Plant research developed alongside Carly Finley and the Association’s Women in Plant group.

The initiative was formally introduced at SPOA’s Aberdeen Area Meeting in September, which drew more than 140 representatives from across Scotland’s plant industry.

Gail McEwen said: "The SPOA is really excited about this research. We know there are workforce and skills challenges within our industry, and we know that women remain significantly underrepresented, but simply producing yet another report concluding that we need more women in the industry doesn't tell us what we should actually do about it. We need to understand why.

"If the evidence tells us that women outside the sector just aren't aware of the range of careers available within plant, that points us towards careers education, schools engagement and organisations such as DYW, where we can give young people practical experience of the industry.

"If women already working within plant tell us there are particular issues around retention or progression, that requires a completely different response.

"And if employers tell us they are actively looking to recruit more women but simply aren’t receiving applications, then we need to look at recruitment pathways, careers information, work experience and how we better connect potential entrants with SPOA member companies.

"The important thing is that we don’t decide what the intervention should be before we understand the problem.

"Women in plant is where Breaking Ground begins, but it isn’t where it ends. Not everything we learn through this first phase will be unique to women. The findings will help us identify wider questions around how our industry attracts, develops and retains people and where further research is needed.

"Ultimately, we want Breaking Ground to give the SPOA and the wider industry an evidence base from which we can develop practical actions that support a sustainable, skilled workforce capable of capitalising on the opportunities ahead."