Scottish parliament member Michelle Campbell has toured a specialist training college that trained 1,335 apprentices and adult learners last year.
Campbell, who represents the constituency in which the college is based, visited the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) National Construction College (NCC) in Inchinnan earlier this month.
The Inchinnan site is described as a nationally significant Scottish skills asset, serving employers and apprentices across the country. Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, it trained 1,335 learners.
During the visit, Campbell observed apprentices at work and heard about their experiences in the industry. She also met Ian Hughes, engagement director for Scotland at CITB, and John Grubb, curriculum manager at NCC.
The college recruited 310 new apprentices last year and expects around 290 new starts this year, across three training categories: construction occupations, plant mechanics, and access, or scaffolding.
CITB is currently the only provider in Scotland for nine of the 11 apprenticeship qualifications delivered at the college. Without it, many Scottish employers would have no domestic route to train staff in several specialist occupations.
Campbell said: “I was delighted to visit CITB’s National Construction College in Inchinnan in Renfrew to see at first hand the tremendous work being carried out by young, highly-skilled individuals pursuing a career within Scottish construction.
“The training centre at Inchinnan offers excellent facilities for both young apprentices and adult upskilling and is the only one of its type in Scotland offering specialist training for Scotland’s construction workforce.
“Fully funded by private sector construction employers via the CITB levy, the NCC is a genuine example of how employers in Scotland, ably supported by CITB, can ensure much needed specialist occupations within the construction sector are maintained and remain an integral part of Scotland’s long-term economic and social priorities.”
Hughes said: “It’s an amazing opportunity for us to have MSP Michelle Campbell come and witness the great work at our National Construction College in Inchinnan and showcase first-hand the vital role it plays in developing the next generation of Scotland’s construction workforce.
“The college provides specialist training that supports employers across the country and helps learners gain the skills, confidence and experience needed for successful careers in construction.
“With CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook forecasting that the Scottish construction industry needs 2,590 extra workers each year from 2026 to 2030, it’s important that policymakers can see first-hand the value of investing in skills and apprenticeships to help meet Scotland’s future construction needs.”
CITB provided £68m in apprenticeship grants during the 2025–2026 financial year.
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