Having bore the brunt of the credit crunch fallout in 2008, the Scottish home building industry has endured a period of unprecedented economic turmoil and uncertainty, resulting in dramatic drops in activity and the loss of many thousands of jobs.

Whilst 2009 promises to be just as challenging, it is the efforts of those remaining at the industry’s core which will be key to the delivery of desperately needed new homes across the country as market conditions improve.

This is the view of industry body Homes for Scotland which today announced "People" as the focus for its annual awards scheme in 2009.

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Chief Executive Jonathan Fair said: "In spite of the dramatic and rapid loss of capacity so far wreaked upon the industry, it is nonetheless imperative we don’t lose sight of the fact that the requirement for many new homes in Scotland remains, as does the Scottish Government’s objective of increasing supply to at least 35,000 units each year by the middle of the next decade.

"Though this is a long-term goal, attaining it will depend entirely upon the talent and determination of all those who remain involved in home building, at whatever level and in whatever function. Recognising this talent and promoting the achievements of those who have already gone that extra mile is what the Homes for Scotland’s People Awards 2009 are all about."

Entries from Homes for Scotland members are now being invited and will be assessed by an independent judging panel. Winners will be announced at the organisation’s Annual Lunch on Friday 1 May.

(GK/JM)