Last month, I was honoured to speak at the Business in the Parliament Conference at Holyrood. The room was full of changemakers, Scottish Government officials and business leaders, all focused on the theme of Fair Work and the Workforce for the Future.

I sat on a panel session, which was chaired by Anna Fowlie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, and hosted by Colin Smyth MSP.

I was joined on the panel by Duncan Thorp (Social Enterprise Scotland), Jennifer Robertson (GSEN), Liz Partington (Changeworks) and Caroline Colliston (DWF) – an inspiring line-up of professionals from different corners of Scotland’s economy.

Our sectors may differ, but our message was united and clear: Fair Work in Scotland isn’t a policy checkbox. It’s the blueprint for a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous country.

Fair Work isn’t the future – it’s already here

At McLaughlin & Harvey, we build things, but more than that, we’re rebuilding how our industry treats its people. Because let’s be honest, construction hasn’t always been a pioneer for progressive employment. We’ve inherited systems built for low cost, high churn and short-term wins with high gender pay gaps and labour market inequalities.

Skills gaps are widening. Young people do not see construction as an attractive career choice. And our supply chain is feeling the strain.

Fair Work offers a new way forward. It gives us a framework to create safe, fulfilling and equitable working environments. Crucially, it recognises that the future of our workforce depends on how we treat people today.

Fair Work in practice – how we’re bringing it to life

We know there are many dimensions to Fair Work. At Mclaughlin & Harvey, we started with a straightforward question and actions to tackle the issues we found.

How can we be better employers, including to our supply chain partners, to create a diverse and inclusive workplace?

Effective voice

We relaunched our YouMatter programme to give everyone – staff or supply chain partner – a voice that’s heard, not just collected. From employee surveys and supplier forums to site-level feedback loops, we’ve made listening a daily discipline.

Security

We know we’ve work to do in tackling the gender pay gap in our business and are committed to doing so. We pay the Real Living Wage and operate as an equal pay employer. We audit our supply chain partners to uphold these same standards.

We’ve overhauled our contractual terms and conditions and benefits to reflect real life, including flexible and family-friendly policies and improved equity in learning and development.

Respect

Respect is the glue that holds safety, inclusion and culture together. We’ve made this tangible through:

• FIR (Fairness, Inclusion & Respect) training.
• Toolbox talks tackling sectarianism, mental health stigma and workplace conflict.
• Cultural awareness lunches and events.
• Collaborating with Women in Property (WiP) to deliver targeted programmes that promote women in construction and build cultures of respect around them.
• We’re embedding respect in every induction, conversation and leadership decision.

Opportunities

Fair Work must be accessible to all. We’re not just opening doors but helping people walk through them by:

• Funding driving lessons for young people from areas of multiple deprivation.
• Delivering Level 3 employability qualifications to everyone from trainee baristas to inmates preparing for release.
• Partnering with social enterprises like Milk Café and Social Bite.
• Providing mentoring through our trained MCR Pathways and BITC Job Coaches.

Fulfilment

It’s not just about the job, it’s about doing meaningful work and building future-ready skills. Our development programmes focus on future-fit capabilities like digital literacy, green construction and analytical thinking.

Fair Work helps to lay this foundation. People stay, learn and become leaders when they feel safe and supported.

Strengthening the construction sector – The Construction Accord and Fair Work

Of course, culture change at one company is a start – but systems change is what we’re after. We’re proud to be involved in the Scottish Construction Accord Fair Work Working Group. To place fair work at the heart of decision-making, creating a fair work culture that underpins a high-quality, high-value and responsive construction sector in Scotland (and across the UK).

The Working Group aims to establish a mechanism that draws together commitment from across the industry to deliver the fair work transformation agenda. Employers can – and must – use their networks and supply chains to share, champion and drive good recruitment and retention practices, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion.

We’re developing a practical tool – one that brings together public, private and third-sector partners to commit to the same standards and hold each other accountable:

• Zero tolerance on bullying and harassment.
• Clear and consistent dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Full supply chain alignment, including adherence to collectively bargained rates and Trade Union access.
• A duty to educate, support, and reward suppliers who commit to these principles.

Public procurement accounts for over 50% of construction spend in Scotland. If used consistently and wisely, that’s a massive lever for transformation. The aim isn’t to call out faults or single out any business. It’s about lifting the bar for all and supporting the journey, especially for SMEs.

It’s working – but there’s more to do

At McLaughlin & Harvey, we’re already seeing results:

• A more diverse workforce.
• Better project delivery outcomes.
• Higher engagement from public and private sector clients.

But the mission is bigger than any one business. We need bold, aligned and collective action to truly become a leading Fair Work Nation.

Reflections about the future

Fair Work is a journey for every business in Scotland (and across the UK). How do we build stronger businesses, more empowered people and thriving communities? How do we attract the next generation of talent – those who want more than a job but purpose, voice and growth? The appetite for change is real.

A huge thank you to BITC Scotland and Louisa Macdonell for the kind invitation and the opportunity to share our experience in advancing Fair Work and helping shape the future workforce in Scotland.

Let’s keep pushing forward – fairly, together and now.