The Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association Scotland (CECA Scotland) have announced a partnership that will see both organisations work together for the benefit of Scotland’s construction industry.

Starting this month, the SPOA will become actively involved in the CECA Scotland Academy. The CECA Scotland Academy provides practical training to develop the next generation of skilled operatives and professionals, and has developed 180 graduates, with 71% of those progressing into positive destinations.

Delegates of the CECA Scotland Academy will have access to the SPOA and its members, gaining a greater understanding of the plant industry and the career opportunities available within it.  Crucially, there will also be SPOA-funded training opportunities for those graduates who wish to pursue a career in plant.

“This collaboration is a really positive step for SPOA, CECA Scotland and the wider industry. Our organisations represent different but closely connected parts of the construction sector, and many businesses already operate across both," said SPOA President David Jarvie (pictured).

“There are clear challenges that affect us all, particularly around skills, recruitment and developing the workforce we will need in the years ahead. By working more closely together, we can share knowledge, strengthen the links between our members and create practical opportunities that benefit both employers and people looking to build careers in the industry."

While SPOA VP Gail McEwen added: “As a civil engineer myself, I’ve been particularly looking forward to seeing SPOA and CECA Scotland work more closely together. Plant and civil engineering are intrinsically linked, and there is a huge amount of common ground between our two organisations and the businesses we represent.

“For me, one of the most exciting parts of this collaboration is the opportunity to look at the skills challenge from both sides. We talk a lot as an industry about skills shortages, but we also need to make sure we are creating visible and accessible routes into the careers where those shortages exist.

”The collaboration between CECA and SPOA through the CECA Academy is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when the industry and education work together with a shared ambition," concluded CECA Regional Director, David Macdonald.

“This is about more than recruitment; it’s about investing in people, developing skills and building the future workforce our industry needs. This collaboration is another step towards futureproofing our industry.”