CQIC is a Scottish campaign between the public sector and construction industry working under the Scottish Construction Accord, committed to creating a thriving and high-performing construction sector in Scotland. Since its launch, 115 organisations made up of approximately 43,000 people working in construction, have committed to the Quality Charter, an element of the CQIC which is key to ensuring high standards building remains a priority.

CQIC is calling for more organisations to commit to its charter as wider members of the Transformation Action Plan (TAP) call for the construction sector to take a braver approach to fair work, support local supply chains, and drive net zero goals. 

Colin Campbell, co-chair of the CQIC and associate director at the Scottish Futures Trust, said: “Whilst the number of committed organisations is at healthy level, it’s still a relatively small proportion of the sector. CQIC would like to drive this number to at least 150 and to see evidence that quality is being put at the heart of all decision making, bringing benefits for all concerned.

“We will be publishing further guidance to support and transform the sector and would like to see that, and the guidance we published previously, used to best effect.”

Fellow co-chairs of the Transformation Action Plan Working Groups (part of the Construction Leadership Forum), have joined calls for improved standards in 2025.

Fiona Harper, co-chair of the Fair Work Working Group and chief executive of The Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust urged people working in the sector to be brave and embrace change.

She said: “Many employers in the Scottish construction industry implement fair work practices, provide safe and secure working environments, and promote positive workplace cultures where employees are engaged and have their voices heard – but not all. There will always be a moral imperative to deliver Fair Work, but there is also an economic imperative – Fair Work is a model for innovation and success.

“In 2025, the Fair Work Group will continue to promote the need for equality of opportunity across the industry at all levels. Our aim is to deliver a Fair Work Charter to help and encourage employers embed diversity and inclusion plus fair work practices in the workplace. But we can’t do it alone - we need the whole sector to be brave, embrace change and be willing to work together to help achieve a fair work outcome for the industry. Only through combined, collaborative effort can we make significant strides in the delivery of Fair Work for all.”

John Brown, co-chair of the Supply Chain Working Group and group managing director of Veitchi Ltd, said although the sector is strong with excellent leaders, there is much more we can achieve if sector leaders work together.

He added: “Our priority for 2025 will be to further engage with industry at all levels, reinforcing the many advantages of strengthening local supply chains to ensure the benefits of construction are spread more widely and fairly.”

Elaine Ellis, co-chair of the Skills Working Group and skills planning manager at Skills Development Scotland, said: “With major infrastructure projects at a scale not seen for decades, plus the housing emergency, the rise of renewables and the move to decarbonise our homes, a skilled construction and built environment workforce is more vital than ever.

“We will continue to promote the benefits of skills and training at all levels of the industry and work closely with sector partners and employers who will recruit, train and upskill the workforce needed in Scotland.”

The Federation of Master Builders’ Net Zero Working Group Scotland is focusing their efforts on three key areas in 2025: Continuing to map current ‘known’ net zero activity at a strategic, tactical, and operational level; developing an enhanced knowledge exchange platform to support better collaboration, sharing, and learning across the built environment and construction’s net zero ecosystem; and shaping a pragmatic Net Zero Delivery Route Map for the built environment with a focus on construction with clear links to regulatory and policy standards.

Gordon Nelson, co-chair of the Net Zero Working Group and director of the Federation of Master Builders, Scotland, said: “My hope is that our group can better engage with SMEs across our industry as work progresses in 2025.”

Lynsey Brydson, co-chair of the Digital Working Group and director - impact programmes at BE-ST, said: “In 2025 we’re going to be revisiting the digital working group’s aims to ensure that we’re maximising the value that we can create. We’re going to have a much greater focus on collaborating and supporting the aims of the other working groups and will be stressing the message that digital can be an enabler of positive change when implemented correctly.

“We’ll be continuing to promote examples of best practise and signposting to existing resources.”