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Working to build a sustainable Scotland
The Supply Chain Sustainability School in Scotland provides support to the construction industry to help build skills and knowledge in sustainability.
Learning ResourcesRobertson, Balfour Beatty,Kier, Skanska, BAM, Morgan Sindall, SGN, SP Energy Networks, Elliott UK and Reconomy are collaborating with other leading contractors, suppliers and industry stakeholders, such as Construction Scotland Innovation Centre and Zero Waste Scotland, to tackle the environmental and social sustainability issues within the Scottish construction industry.
80% of major contractors’ turnover goes to their supply chain, mostly SMEs. The School is funded by major contractors to help develop sustainability skills across Scotland. Our key areas of focus reflect national priorities on sites across Scotland:
- Drive zero waste and carbon
- Tackle modern slavery
- Ensure responsible sourcing
- Create a culture of fairness, inclusion and respect
COVID-19: Support for Scottish Businesses
The below links and video content may be useful in regards to specific industry guidance, business advice and financial support available to the sector:
- Scottish Building Federation
- Scottish Government
- Scottish Government Essential Projects List – Scottish Government Non-Essential Services List
View the full list of UK wide guidance on our COVID-19 Response page.
How the School helps businesses in Scotland
Our Scottish Partners talk about why they joined the Supply Chain Sustainability School and the impact that the School has had on their business in Scotland.
What is different about sustainability in Scotland?
The School has developed specific resources to understand and address the sustainability priorities of the construction market in Scotland. There are some major differences in policy and legislation.
- send no more than 5% of remaining waste to landfill
- reduce total waste arising in Scotland by 15% against 2011 levels
- recycle 70% of remaining waste
- match the EU ambition for all plastic packaging to be economically recyclable or reusable by 2030
The 32 Scottish Local Authorities act as verifiers administering the building standards system, granting permissions (building warrants) and completion certificates.
The Scottish Government Building Standards Division monitor the local authorities. The main purpose of the standards is to ensure that buildings are safe, efficient and sustainable. They do not control the building process, but outline the essential standards that are to be met during building works or conversions.
2020
26 November 2020 | 27 August 2020 | 28 May 2020 | 27 February 2020
2019
17 September 2019 | 27 June 2019 | 26 April 2019 | 14 February 2019
2018
6 December 2018 | 20 September 2018 | 14 June 2018 | 12 March 2018
- Registered: Has created an account but has not undertaken an assessment or viewed any resources or attended any School training
- Member: Used at least one resource in the past 12 months. This can be either: completing an assessment, coming to one of our events, or accessing an online resource
- Bronze: Has completed an assessment in the past 12 months and has viewed 5 resources in the past 6 months
- Silver: Has completed a re-assessment in the past 12 months and has viewed 5 resources in the past 6 months
- Gold: Has completed a re-assessment in the past 12 months (with an increased knowledge score), has viewed 10 resources in the past 6 months, and has either completed a case study or spoken at an event
What are the key sustainability topics in Scotland?
The School has worked with our Partners to select a range of training resources for each level of learning as a recommended starting point for learners who are new to the School or who wish to refresh their knowledge on these five major issues:
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Waste: The Waste Hierarchy
Video
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Waste Management – Sustainability Short
Video
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Construction Resources for a Circular Economy
Document / Presentation
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Introduction to Waste
E-learning Module
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Site Waste Management Plan Template
Tool
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Maximising re-use of materials
Document / Presentation
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Designing out Construction Waste
Document / Presentation
Waste and Resource Efficiency
Procuring Resource Efficient Construction Projects
Document / Presentation
Energy and Carbon
Energy management efficiency – Sustainability Short
Video
Energy and Carbon
Introduction to Climate Change and Carbon
E-learning Module
Energy and Carbon
Carbon Reporting
E-learning Module
Energy and Carbon
Reduce carbon, reduce costs
E-learning Module
Energy and Carbon
Delivering Energy and Carbon Efficient Buildings
E-learning Module
Energy and Carbon
A guide to understanding embodied impacts
Document / Presentation
Energy and Carbon
Circular Ecology Carbon Footprint Calculators
Tool
Energy and Carbon
Scope 3 greenhouse emissions from industry
Document / Presentation
Materials
Materials: A Client Perspective
Video
Materials
Introduction to Materials
E-learning Module
Materials
Sustainable Timber and Chain of Custody
E-learning Module
Materials
Construction Material Exchange
Web link
Materials
Material considerations – a library of sustainable building materials
Web link
Materials
Life Cycle Analysis
E-learning Module
Materials
Knowledge Resource For CE Thinking In Construction
Document / Presentation
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
The meaning of fairness and respect
Video
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
Tips for promoting fairness inclusion and respect
Video
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
FIR on site: Why it matters and how to achieve it
E-learning Module
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
Achieving business success through FIR
E-learning Module
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
Setting up an inclusive site & site office
E-learning Module
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
FIR: Recruiting people, fairly and inclusively
E-learning Module
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
Flexible working
E-learning Module
Fairness Inclusion and Respect
FIR: Leading people inclusively
E-learning Module
Modern Slavery
Modern Slavery – Sustainability Short
Video
Modern Slavery
The Modern Slavery Act
E-learning Module
Modern Slavery
Best Practice in Combating Modern Slavery
Document / Presentation
Modern Slavery
Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act
Document / Presentation
Modern Slavery
Ethical Labour Standard
Web link
Modern Slavery
CIOB – Construction and the Modern Slavery Act
Document / Presentation
Modern Slavery
GLAA – Construction Protocol
Web link
Modern Slavery
Modern Slavery
E-learning Module


“The School is an excellent source of knowledge that will enable construction suppliers form across Scotland to better understand the sustainability needs of main contractors and help us to deliver the social and environmental requirements of our clients.”Martin Dick, Group Procurement, Supply Chain & Sustainability Director, Robertson Group



