Graham Simpson is urging school leavers to consider a career in the construction trade as the industry gears up to meet the demand for more affordable housing.
Graham reckons there is a wealth of hi-tech opportunities in the building trade after a recent visit to the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre at Hamilton International Technology Park.
The Scottish Conservatives Housing Spokesman heard from CEO Stephen Good about the massive leap in technology within the building trade, including 3D printing, virtual reality and the use of drones on sites.
Mr Simpson said: “I was delighted to visit the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre recently and see the technology being used to shape the next generation of construction techniques.
“There is a real misconception that the construction trade is just brickies and joiners working on muddy sites. Nothing could be further from the truth, it is a highly skilled profession.
“Off-site construction is on the increase and a step forward in how homes can be built at speed. That is where Construction Scotland Innovation Centre comes in, it offers help and advice to companies that are eager to experiment in its state of the art facilities rather than take on risk on a building site.
“Currently the construction trade works on 10 percent waste, so one in every ten houses ends up in a skip.
“To make the industry more efficient, Stephen explained they are working on using 3D glasses and augmented reality.
“Using this cutting-edge technology, you will be taken through the build process step by step making sure every component is used and not wasted.
“I also saw a machine that takes old clothes and turns them into insulation for the trade and a 3D printer that can print just about any component no matter how complex. Stephen also told me they are now using drones on building sites.
“All this and the pace at which the industry is changing has created a wealth of opportunities.
“We have to make sure that school-leavers are aware of all these cutting-edge jobs on offer and encourage them to look at a career in construction as a first choice rather than the last.”