Scotland's Economy
Supporting the manufacturing sector
July 7, 2021 by Ivan McKee MSP No Comments | Category Business, Construction, Economy
The construction industry touches every part of Scotland’s economy and, with its 143,000 jobs and turnover of around £19 billion per annum, is vital to our future prosperity.
As a result of a global manufacturing slowdown some businesses are being affected and unable to source the construction materials they need. That is why we have been working at pace with industry to identify how we can find solutions in Scotland to these global challenges and explore how we can establish Scottish manufacturing supply chains.
We want to strengthen that partnership approach even further and discuss how government can help businesses accelerate the establishment of supply chains to ensure projects aren’t impacted longer than necessary.
We have a strong track record of standing up local supply chains, including creating supply chains for personal protective equipment and other commodities during the height of the pandemic. Through the Construction Leadership Forum, which I chair, we are exploring how we can grow home supply chains which can improve resilience, support our net zero ambitions and help raise the economic benefits for Scotland.
I want us to consider every opportunity to manufacture as many of the construction materials we require and I would encourage businesses to come forward and work with us to ramp up our own manufacturing supply chains.
In the coming days I will be meeting individually with key industry stakeholders to find solutions to some of the long term challenges facing the sector. This includes a meeting on Thursday 8 July where Employment Minister Richard Lochhead and I will meet with industry leaders to discuss labour shortages, including how HGV shortages is impacting the construction sector.
Few sectors have such an impact on our communities across Scotland or have the same potential to provide large numbers of high-skilled, well-paid jobs. The construction sector will play a vital part of our economic recovery and we are committed to supporting and growing the sector.
Tags: business, construction, construction sector, economy, trade
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