NFRC hosts Scottish Parliament reception to mark skills progress

MORE than 130 guests attended a Scottish Parliament reception hosted by the NFRC (National Federation of Roofing Contractors) to celebrate the progress being made to tackle construction skills shortages.

The evening was sponsored by Carol Mochan MSP, who welcomed guests and 15 fellow parliamentarians. Their presence underlined cross-party recognition of the role roofing and wider construction trades play in meeting Scotland’s housing, heritage-repair and net-zero ambitions.

Students and teachers from six schools — Stirling High, Castlebrae Community High, Portobello High, Larbert High, Wester Hailes High and Prestwick Academy — shared their experiences of NFRC Skills Demonstrations and new National 5 courses at tables throughout the venue. The NFRC said their enthusiasm provided a reminder of why early, hands-on exposure to the trades matters.

A series of addresses reinforced that message. Carol Mochan MSP praised the partnership approach that is opening doors to rewarding careers for young Scots, Lee Liddington, NFRC Scotland’s 2024 Ronnie Forsyth Apprentice of the Year, spoke about his journey into roofing, and Stephen Kelly, The City of Edinburgh Council’s head of education, highlighted the work that has been done so far and the challenge ahead.

Scott Miller, NFRC Scotland chair, and Colin McCorquodale, NFRC national president, used the occasion to call on employers to match government support by taking on more apprentices and engaging with local schools. They also made the case for providing sustainable funding for these programmes so that every young person throughout Scotland is given access. 

Since 2012, NFRC with partners such as Historic Environment Scotland and The City of Edinburgh Council, has run hundreds of practical demonstrations and piloted National 5 courses that are now gaining traction with policymakers. The reception celebrated how those initiatives are sparking interest in traditional and modern roofing techniques, building stronger school-to-industry links, and creating a clearer route into apprenticeships at a time when UK apprenticeship starts have fallen by a third since 2015 according to the CITB.