The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced the appointment of Ian Hughes as its new strategic partnerships director for Scotland.

Ian, who joins CITB from Glasgow Caledonian University, begins work on 1 February.

In the role he will be the senior representative for CITB in Scotland, working in partnership with employers, federations, local and national stakeholders and the Scottish Government, to ensure that the construction industry has the skills and talent that it needs.

Ian worked at Glasgow Caledonian for three years as deputy director of development, with key responsibility for developing new high level capital investment funding streams. A graduate from the University of Glasgow, he brings 25 years’ executive experience within both the private and public sectors, ranging from delivering infrastructure projects in West Africa, to property development across the UK within both the housing and commercial sectors.

He is also a past winner of the UK Social Enterprise Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts Manufacture and Commerce in 2010 for services to Enterprise.

Commenting on his new role, Ian said: “I am pleased to join CITB at a time when the organisation is pushing ahead with a vision to increase and enhance its support within the construction industry in Scotland.

“There are clear opportunities to support industry through enabling and investing in training, and by collaboratively positioning the construction sector as a key economic driver within Scotland.”

Andy Walder, education, training and skills development director at CITB, added: “I am delighted that Ian is joining us.

“He will engage at the highest levels in order to influence policy and funding decisions for the benefit of the industry, and will ensure that construction becomes a sector of choice for young people.”