Industry leaders attending the Scottish Construction Summit will hear calls for urgent reform and legislation to prevent further large-scale company failures as the industry faces “a perfect storm” of rising costs, labour and skills shortages and boom and bust economics.

The event, at the Technology & Innovation Centre at the University of Strathclyde, will be addressed by top speakers, including Mark Farmer, the construction guru commissioned by the UK Government to produce the influential Farmer Report on the UK construction industry.

With more than 30 years of experience in construction and real estate, and recognised as an international commentator on a variety of industry and policy-related issues, Mr Farmer’s mantra that the construction industry must  “modernise or die” is still relevant today.

The construction industry employs around 250,000 people and adds an estimated £15 billion to Scottish GDP.

From recruitment, retention and commercial pressures, the Summit programme promises a day of thought-provoking talks, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities.

More than 200 delegates are also expected to hear about the challenges of sustainability legislation and rapid advances in technology.

The Scottish Construction Summit is the flagship event from industry publication Scottish Construction Now.

The one-day event is supported by headline sponsor SPI Piling alongside McLaughlin & Harvey, ValoremFirst, t.i. dynamic facades and CITB.

Scottish Construction Now editor Kieran Findlay said: “While we will be showcasing the best in Scotland’s dynamic construction industry, there is no denying that it is facing a perfect storm of numerous headwinds. We have to tackle these issues head-on as a matter of urgency.”

Summit organiser Paul McDevitt added: “I firmly believe that the current construction model is unsustainable, with razor-thin margins, fragmented risk allocation, and late payments threatening the stability of the entire supply chain. The Summit will directly confront these issues, exploring how to transition to a fairer, more resilient commercial model that supports equitable treatment for all, from SMEs to major contractors.”