Gordon Hunter

The six-week online-only affair is set to get under way from August 19 to September 23.

The bespoke business development initiative, aimed at ambitious businesses in construction and related sectors based in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, has seen over 100 local companies benefit from its highly successful programmes.

As ever, the latest programme is open to any company looking to grow in a sustainable manner by building the skills and internal capacity to take on increasing volumes of business and, as a result, look to winning new work from participating Tier One building contractors.

The Building for Growth programme is run by hub South West, a public-private partnership of local authorities, NHS, blue light services and nine leading construction industry Tier One building contractors including Morrison Construction, BAM, Robertson, Graham, Morgan Sindall, Ashleigh and Kier.

Gordon Hunter, hub South West’s supply chain manager, who manages the Building for Growth programme, said: “The aim of the programme is to ensure that local companies are ready, willing and capable of securing work from the Tier One contractors, and, I am delighted to say that we have achieved our aim over recent years, with around 60% of sub-contracting work on major projects now going to local businesses.

“Our latest programme which we have adapted to the continuing circumstances of the COVID-19 epidemic will be conducted via Zoom over a shortened timescale of six half-day (9.15– 12.45) over six weeks but, as ever, will be packed with practical guidance on such topics as business strategy, people management and leadership, marketing planning, tendering, corporate social responsibility and cybersecurity.

“An added attraction of this programme will be the presence at all sessions of decision-makers from our nine active Tier One contractor partners, culminating in a presentation then a speed networking session where all participants will have the opportunity of interacting with each of them.

“We are expecting the participation of around a dozen companies drawn from locations across south west Scotland though we are still, at this stage, open to late applicants who want to see their business prosper by joining the Building for Growth programme.”

Michael McBrearty, chief executive of hub South West, said: “Our Building for Growth programme has already delivered success to the leaders of its participating companies by both broadening and deepening their grasp of the factors needed to win more new, bigger contracts from Tier One contractors and we hope and trust that all of the participants in our eleventh Building for Growth programme will follow in their footsteps.”