RICS joined 11 other business partners at the Enterprise Forum Scottish Business Reception at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, bringing together business leaders and policymakers to recognise the contribution of Scotland’s business community and discuss how best to support economic growth.

RICS President Nick Maclean OBE attended alongside Scotland Board Chair Norman McLennan and other RICS representatives, engaging with senior political figures including Stephen Flynn MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Paul Sweeney MSP and Alex Kerr MSP.

In his address, Stephen Flynn highlighted the breadth of businesses represented and the need to back growth across Scotland’s economy. With the UK Budget the following day, he reflected on the opportunities and challenges ahead, stressing that a prosperous business community is essential to generating the revenue required to fund Scotland’s vital public services.

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The reception enabled the 12 business partners to outline sector-specific challenges and opportunities to the Cabinet Secretary. Ahead of the event, each organisation submitted a briefing on current conditions, key issues and proposed solutions. The RICS submission focused on the skills crisis, housing delivery and energy efficiency, aligning with the RICS Scotland Manifesto 2026 - Surveying Scotland.

Recognising the importance of a strong built environment voice in shaping Scotland’s economic future, RICS also invited sector representatives including the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and SELECT.

With members from across the profession present, the event showcased the contribution of surveying and the wider built environment to Scotland’s economy — from enabling housing and infrastructure delivery to developing the skills needed for a sustainable future — and reinforced the value of collaboration between professional bodies, industry and government.

The evening underlined the importance of continued engagement between policymakers and the business community to create the conditions for investment, growth and a thriving built environment across Scotland. LFT technical reference group; ECITB Director of Strategy and Policy David Nash; ECITB Head of Research, Insights and Evaluation Franziska von Blumenthal; Mark Rouse, Director for the Nuclear Skills Plan and Co-chair of the Nuclear Skills Delivery Board; and Doug Forbes, Director at Whole Life Consultants Limited, which supported LFT development.