SCOTLAND’S housing secretary Màiri McAllan visited Barratt Homes’ Tower Street at Merchant Quay development in Leith to mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week and meet with current and former apprentices building careers in construction.
The visit highlighted the role apprenticeships play in supporting the housing sector, developing future talent and creating sustainable career opportunities. The cabinet secretary toured the development, spoke with the site team, and heard from apprentices about their experiences and career progression.
Tower Street at Merchant Quay features a range of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. Barratt has numerous apprentices across a range of disciplines on its sites, with several construction managers, site managers, and senior site managers beginning their careers as apprentices.
Màiri McAllan MSP said, “Apprentices are a central part of growing our economy and I’ve enjoyed hearing directly from the young people who are starting out their careers in the building industry. Through the Scottish Government’s Future Planners Programme we’re also increasing the number of planners and supporting future improvements in the planning system by supporting students to study and gain real work experience.
“We know how important these programmes are to the success of the whole housing sector which our new agency, More Homes Scotland, will help to grow. I wish every success to our apprentices and thank them for their contribution to our future workforce.”
Frank Mitchell, Skills Development Scotland chair, added, “Scottish Apprenticeships provide real returns for employers, individuals and the economy. People from all backgrounds are gaining meaningful career opportunities through apprenticeships, creating diverse workforces that benefits business and our society. At a time when employers are seeing skill shortages all over the country, apprenticeships have never been so important than they are now.”
Andrew Morrison, MD of Barratt Homes East Scotland, commented, “Scottish Apprenticeship Week is an important opportunity to recognise the incredible contribution apprentices make to our business and the wider construction industry. We were proud to welcome the cabinet secretary to our Tower Street at Merchant Quay development to meet some of our talented apprentices and hear about the vital work being done on site. Apprenticeships are fundamental to developing the next generation of skilled professionals and addressing the construction skills gap.”
