The ‘Go Construct’ initiative comes as research shows four people in five wish they had received more advice and guidance about working in construction when considering their career options.

Responding to feedback from employers, CITB is supporting the campaign with £5 million of levy funding over three years. CITB has brought all of the industry together to speak with one voice. More than 400 organisations including employers, careers advisors, teachers, lecturers and construction ambassadors have been involved in the design of the campaign that has been tested with 700 real users.

The campaign aims to challenge some of the outdated stereotypes about what working in construction is really like, and demonstrate the hundreds of career options and entry routes available. It is launching against growing skill needs and opportunities in Scottish construction.

Designer Wayne Hemingway MBE, whose design agency has a number of award winning social housing and construction projects under its belt, is a spokesperson for the campaign. He said: “There is real honour in being part of a team that delivers the nation’s schools, hospitals, public buildings and spaces and the homes that we need. We are in danger of becoming a nation where management consultants have no offices to consult in and beauticians have no beauty parlours to beautify in.

“We need bricklayers and plasterers but equally we need occupational health nurses, environmental sustainability experts and people who can programme the advanced design systems that make modern construction projects possible. Whatever your skills and interests there is likely to be a construction career you can excel in.”

One of the companies supporting the campaign is Robertson Group.

Gemma Nicol, Group community development manager at Robertson, said: “Go Construct is an excellent initiative which comes at a crucial time for the Scottish construction industry. The continuing growth of companies like ours is dependent on us being able to find talented people to help build the homes, shops, offices and public buildings which are needed across the country.

“We are incredibly passionate about teaching construction skills because the next generation’s knowledge is essential to the future of Robertson Group and Scotland’s growing economy. And as a major employer in the industry, being part of the development process has been extremely worthwhile.”

Go Construct features an online portal at www.GoConstruct.org including a careers explorer that matches users’ interests and skills to a wide range of roles, from diamond drilling to quantity surveying. A public advertising and social media campaign will support it.

Activities and materials for teachers and careers advisors such as a myth buster card game can be downloaded from the site for use in classrooms. Go Construct will help people from all backgrounds to understand why construction is a ‘career like no other’.