SNIPEF

Following the announcement by City of Edinburgh Council that 3,000 new homes will be built in the Capital, Fiona Hodgson, Chief Executive of the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF), has urged developers to help support the plumbing and heating profession by hiring local companies and contractors.  

“The Crosswind Developments project represents a crucial opportunity to demonstrate confidence in the housebuilding and construction industry, while also tackling Edinburgh’s ongoing housing crisis,” said Hodgson.  

“The plumbing and heating profession looks set to benefit greatly from these new homes and we welcome the City of Edinburgh Council’s determination to support the construction sector. 

“We are also greatly encouraged by the council’s commitment to sustainability with the guaranteed integration of renewable energy systems that our plumbing and heating professionals will install and maintain.  

Hodgson added, “In the spirit of benefiting the next generation, we hope that developers take this opportunity to utilise local, SME and micro businesses as part of the construction process with the aim of stimulating the local economy as a result. 

“This development comes at a time when additional employment costs, such as the forthcoming NI employer rises, impact the opportunities to recruit more people for many businesses. We welcome that this project will give our plumbing and heating companies the ability to provide more sustained job opportunities, allowing them to recruit more into the profession at a time where there is a critical workforce shortage. 

“It also remains a key aim of SNIPEF to see more apprentices thriving in our profession, and we hope that this development will help provide the security needed for our local companies to actively support the next generation of workers in Scotland.”