Scottish Construction SMEs embrace digital in an effort to maximise the benefit of new technology and aid business growth
A new guide has been launched by the Scottish Construction Leadership Forum (CLF) to help Scottish Construction SMEs embrace digital. The guide, titled: Summary of Funding and Business Support Available to Scottish Construction Companies is just one of the actions that the Scottish Government (SG) funded CLF Recovery Plan is taking to address the issue of digitalisation. These actions are aligned with SG policies and the Construction Scotland Industry Strategy.
Research by the Forum’s Digital Strategy Steering Group has highlighted that businesses need guidance in adopting digital strategies
The guide, produced by the Forum’s Digital Strategy Steering Group, is helping Scottish Construction SMEs embrace digital. Research for the guide has come from one of the Forum’s members – Digital Construction Skills (DCS). It has highlighted that businesses do need support to go digital.
Saffron Grant, managing director of DCS, commented:
“We can help, free of charge, any construction business quickly work out what is most relevant to them regardless of whether they are CITB registered or whether it is for digital construction support or more general upskilling or business improvement.”
SMEs in Scotland are encouraged to use the guide and make it work for their businesses. After all, digitalisation brings with it a whole host of economic benefits.
How can digitalisation help SMEs?
If SMEs embrace digital, they are opening their businesses up to so many different different types of digital working. This includes basic digitalisation like booking systems to the more advanced robotics and building information modelling (BIM).
Digitisation could lead to improved business quality, safety, productivity and profits.
Partnership manager at CITB Michael Lennox said:
“There is Grant Eligible Training for all sorts of digital skills including drones, laser scanners, GNSS, robotic total station, 3D mapping and modelling software, 3D machine control and BIM. This means the full costs could be claimed through the CITB Skills and Training Fund.”
Lynsey Brydson, head of digital programmes at CSIC, added:
“The guide maps out different sources of funding including for training, free mentoring and the Digital Development Loan, an interest free loan of up to £100k from the Scottish Government.”
The Digital Strategy Steering Group has joined forces with hub South West, Skills Development Scotland, CITB and a number of trade bodies and professional associations to create and promote the guide.
Thousands of SMEs could benefit by embracing digital technology
Mark Houston, supply chain development manager at hub South West, said:
“There are over 50,000 enterprises in the construction sector in Scotland which stand to benefit if the digital capability of the supply chain is enhanced.
“We recognise the critical role that Tier 1 contractors can play in driving transformation, and we are pleased that companies such as Morgan Sindall, Kier Construction, Morrison Construction and McLaughlin and Harvey are going to help disseminate this document to their supply chain companies.”
The guide is available to download at Digital Construction Skills website and will be updated regularly.
