The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) has welcomed the recent discussion in the Scottish Parliament on the lack of local training courses for trade apprentices, including those in the roofing industry.
In a recent parliamentary questions session, Carol Mochan MSP highlighted the challenges faced by those joining the industry, as well as by their employers, and asked the Scottish Government for its cooperation in solving these issues.
Ms Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, has been a long-term supporter of traditional skills and has consistently championed the drive for more opportunities for young people to pursue their chosen careers.
The Scottish Labour MP was recently invited to a site in Kilmarnock by NFRC Member DM Roofing & Roughcasting, where she spoke to apprentices about their experiences, including the lack of local training courses.
Following this and other meetings, Ms Mochan asked the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Kate Forbes: “Given how important house building and, indeed, home improvement are to the Scottish economy, will the Deputy First Minister agree to encourage better cross-portfolio working to ensure that the sector can bridge that gap in locally accessible training places? Also, will she consider meeting industry experts, who have some solutions to help with those skills gaps?”
In response, the Deputy First Minister said she was happy to work with those in the industry and highlighted how important the skills Ms Mochan mentioned are to the construction industry, as well as the role that they play in supporting the more deprived communities in Scotland.
Kellie-Ann Lees from DM Roofing & Roughcasting, who welcomed Ms Mochan to the site in August, said: “We are delighted that the challenges and issues our team discussed with Ms Mochan have been raised in Parliament. Skills development and training provision are very important to the industry to ensure we can meet future demand and deliver the new housing that Scotland requires.”
Carol Mochan MSP said: “Bringing the ability to learn these vital skills in my own region and across Scotland is a priority of mine. I meet young people every week desperate for skilled work but their ability to learn is hampered simply by where they live.
“It is truly ridiculous that an apprentice in Scotland needs to travel all the way to London simply to get the education they need. It does not benefit anyone to have such a lack of provision for what essential skills are. I will continue to push this issue whenever I can within the Scottish Parliament.”
