Set to take place on Wednesday, 17 September, at the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre, the Scottish Construction Summit 2025 will bring high-calibre speakers, essential breakout sessions, and a buzzing exhibition floor to explore challenges and opportunities across four critical themes.

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

Keynote speaker Mark Farmer, the renowned UK construction expert and author of the influential Farmer Review, leads the summit programme.

Mr Farmer will deliver insights drawn from his years of leadership at Cast Consultancy and his recent work reshaping the Construction & Engineering Training Boards.

Read the full announcement here and catch up with Mark Farmer’s Construction Leader interview here.

Core themes and expert voices to be featured on the day include:

The Commercial Model: The Summit will explore how to transition to a fairer, more sustainable commercial model that ensures equitable treatment across all levels of the supply chain.

• Professor Bill Minnis – Emeritus Professor and Interim Dean, School of Business, Stockton University, New Jersey. With sprawling experience across academia, consulting, banking, and agriculture, Prof Minnis offers deep insight into strategy and organisational transition. Read: Professor Bill Minnis on how construction can adopt a ‘barriers create opportunity’ philosophy
• Yosof Ewing, founder of Adjudicate, brings almost 35 years of expertise in resolving construction payment disputes. Read: Law must change as specialist contractors pay the price for Hadden collapse

Recruitment & Retention: The Summit will address strategies to make construction a desirable career path and overcome the persistent retention challenges.

• Steve Petrie, head of commercial transformation at Evelyn Partners. Prior to joining Evelyn Partners, Steve was regional director for Centrica Net Zero and previously held the position of business performance director working within Balfour Beatty Group across its UK businesses, leading its digital transformation.
• Alan Tait, director, Tait HR. As a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development, Alan has extensive and broad expertise as an HR professional. He previously spent 20 years in various corporate HR roles with national organisations such as Balfour Beatty and Havelock. Read: Rebuilding construction’s appeal for a new generation an urgent necessity

Sustainability: The Summit will provide actionable insights to refine or develop net zero strategies, ensuring alignment with national climate goals.

• Anne Johnstone, ESG director, Vital Energi. Anne is a leading expert in sustainability and decarbonisation within the built environment, with over 25 years’ experience driving ESG strategy and innovation. Read: Turning net zero ambition into action in construction
• Sarah Peterson, director, Horizon M&E Services Design. With a background of a mechanical engineer with over 20 years’ experience, Sarah began to specialise in sustainability and energy in the built environment over 15 years ago. Read: Charting a feasible course to net zero for Scottish construction

Digitalisation: The Summit will showcase how embracing these innovations can modernise the industry and pave the way for future advancements.

• Graham Stewart, CEO & founder, Digital Guerrilla Consultancy Ltd. Graham specialises in BIM strategy and implementation reaching 40 years’ experience in AEC including over 25 years’ experience using various BIM platforms. Read: Defusing Scottish construction’s ‘data time-bomb’
• Gordon Mitchell, co-founder, Wholus. As co-founder of software and service business Wholus, Gordon is passionate about optimising the built environment to drive value while playing a part in supporting the planet. Read: Gordon Mitchell on the foundations of AI in construction

SCN editor Kieran Findlay said: “With pressing issues like workforce sustainability, climate goals, and commercial viability at the forefront, the Summit offers a rare opportunity to network, discover actionable solutions, and influence the future of Scottish construction. One week out, attendees are reminded to act fast.”

Tickets cost £195 + VAT, with a small number still available, just days away from the big event.