Carol Mochan MSP Raises Skills Gaps in Scottish Parliament

THE LACK of local trade apprenticeship courses, including those in roofing, was recently raised in the Scottish Parliament.

Welcomed by the National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC), Carol Mochan MSP highlighted the challenges. She raised issues faced by those joining the industry, as well as by their employers. She then asked the Scottish Government for its cooperation in solving these issues.

Carol Mochan, an MSP for South Scotland, is a long-term supporter of traditional skills. She 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. There she spoke to apprentices about their experiences, including the lack of local training courses. It included one apprentice who had to travel to London for a leadwork course as the same training was not available in Scotland.

Following this, Carol Mochan again brought attention to the issues of training, skills and recruitment. She put a question to Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, during a Portfolio Questions session.

Skills Gaps

Having outlined her recent conversations with those in the industry, Carol Mochan asked: “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 experts in the industry. She highlighted how important the skills Carol 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 Carol 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 are essential skills. I will continue to push this issue whenever I can within the Scottish Parliament.”

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