SCAPE Scotland roundtable: Meaningful collaboration essential for delivering project success

Chaired by Lillian McDowall, Head of Business Development at SCAPE Scotland, we gathered leading figures from the sector from Dundee City Council, Perth & Kinross Council, University of Dundee, Abertay University, Dundee and Angus College and Eden Project along with our partners McLaughlin & Harvey, Balfour Beatty, AtkinsRéalis and Arup, for a lively discussion centred around Scotland’s public built environment challenges and requirements, focusing on budgets, funding availability, skills and how we might address key issues around them.

From the beginning of the discussion, it was clear that delivering major projects, especially in the public sector, in difficult market conditions over recent years has been one of the most pressing industry-wide challenges. High inflation, rising material costs, labour costs, a skills shortage and cost-related supply chain issues have all impacted projects in the built environment.

There was agreement around the table that better and meaningful collaboration, being clear on what the expectations and requirements are of each project and having strong network connections, are needed in the face of such challenges. Amongst the participants, there was a sense that taking an increasingly regional approach to the public built environment is the obvious way to go. There is an opportunity to convene as a community within a region to look at potential pipelines in the area rather than single projects and navigate those challenges together, collaboratively, in a way which hasn’t always been essential but is now more than ever. ‘Good collaboration can deliver’ was the message and that has been borne out in the huge projects successfully delivered in the Tay cities in recent years.

Procurement was described as the first hurdle to any project which can potentially be time consuming and costly. Also, a lag from the procurement and early design stage to delivery was identified as potentially leading to rising costs, especially when inflation is high. It was highlighted by one of our roundtable participants that using an accelerated delivery model like SCAPE Scotland offers can provide a ready-made solution, not only giving clients a free feasibility study but an efficient procurement route with early contractor engagement, leading to time and cost savings, all vital for successful project delivery. Efficiency and productivity, acting fast and spending money in the right place at the right time are all needed to build trust.

The role of the public authority as an enabler was described as hugely positive and empowering. The partners in the room agreed. They are always ready to support their public sector clients and help aspirational local authorities and institutions that have a mandate for change, deliver for their communities.

It was noted that that there is an opportunity to enhance the relationship between the public and private sectors in Scotland. The consensus was that improving communication and fostering a deeper understanding of each sector’s strengths would be key to building stronger partnerships. By working together more collaboratively, both sectors can unlock new possibilities and achieve significant progress within the built environment.

The construction industry in Scotland is facing a skills shortage due to an aging workforce and a lack of new entrants. Bringing in and nurturing young talent remains difficult, despite market demand, not least because contractors need long term visibility and confidence in their pipeline, before going through the recruitment process.

We asked our roundtable participants to discuss the issue and asked what resources are needed to alleviate the skills shortage.

It is a major challenge industry-wide and there was agreement around the table that we all have an obligation to try and attract the next generation of skilled workers to avert a potential crisis. It’s about opening the eyes of young people to the fact that construction is a legitimate and attractive career path and that there are many different roles within the industry.

Continuing the theme of collaboration, it was suggested that the public and private sectors need to work together to ensure there are viable and visible pathways for young people choosing construction as a career. There needs to be opportunities in place and there has to be the right qualifications available.

Interestingly, a lack of skills for emergent technologies was highlighted with the education sector in Tayside actively taking steps to try and anticipate what projects are coming down the line.

What was clear however is that as an industry we must act now to prevent the gap growing wider.

We’re thankful to our guests for their time and enthusiasm and for facilitating a hugely insightful conversation in Dundee and we look forward to continuing our series of roundtables around the country.