Representation of the building services engineering sector north of the border has received a shot in the arm with the granting of a seat on the Scottish Construction Forum (SCF) to the Scottish Confederation of Associations of Specialist Engineering Contractors (CASEC).
The key aims of the SCF, which was established in 2004, are to improve the performance of - and to promote collaboration and innovation across - construction, and to highlight the contribution the industry makes to the overall Scottish Economy.

Following his first attendance at an SCF meeting, CASEC chairman Stuart Lyon confirmed that he had been impressed with the progress the forum was making on a number of issues, particularly those relating to payment and procurement.

Lyon has also been recruited on to a forum sub-committee that has taken responsibility for parliamentary lobbying activities.

In addition to HVCA Scotland, CASEC membership comprises the Lift and Escalator Industry Association, the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers Federation and SELECT, which represents electrical contractors in Scotland.

Meanwhile, in his separate capacity as training champion for HVCA Scotland - and vice chairman of SummitSkills, the sector skills council for building services engineering - Stuart Lyon has accepted an invitation to join a steering group established by Labour MSP John Park in connection with his Apprenticeship (Scotland) Bill, which seeks to provide all suitably qualified 16- to 18-year-olds with the right to a modern apprenticeship.

In his letter of acceptance to John Park, Lyon stressed that this was an issue which was taken very seriously by the building services engineering sector, and one to the development of which he was extremely keen to contribute.

- News from the Heating and Ventilating Contractors' Association