Celebrating Scottish Housing Day
13th Sept, 2023This year, for Scottish Housing Day, we are celebrating housing as a career.
The publication of Housing to 2040 makes it clear that there will be increasing expectations on landlords, letting agents, housing practitioners and developers to deliver even more value for tenants and customers in the services that they provide over the coming years. As such, there is a responsibility on employers to ensure they have a skilled, knowledgeable and ethical workforce that can improve housing outcomes for their communities.
So for this year, we want to celebrate the work of everyone who has made housing their career of choice, we want to establish even more ways that people can join this profession and we want the Scottish Government and other relevant agencies to play their role in communicating the value of a career in housing to ensure that housing is recognised as a career of choice.
We want everyone to get involved to raise awareness about different roles and routes into the sector, and what we are doing to build an even more impactful profession for the next generation of tenants and practitioners.
Different Roles and Routes into the Sector at Scotia
Via an Apprenticeship
Richard Begbie, Managing Director (left)
"I started as a Trainee Site Manager in 2003 and Scotia has supported my development throughout. I am passionate about my job and Scotia continue to provide opportunities to learn and develop.
"An already fulfilling and rewarding career is made even better by working with great people creating a great place to work."
2003 - Graduate
2003-2007 - Trainee Site Manager
2007-2014 H&S Advisor
2014-2017 - HSEQ Director
2017-2022 - Construction Director
2022-present - Managing Director
Via an Apprenticeship
Fraser Stephen, Site Manager
"I started my career as an Apprentice Joiner at Scotia Homes in 2006. I continued my career as a joiner for a further 5 years until I was given the opportunity to get into Site Management where I have progressed from a Trainee Site Manager all the way through to a Site Manager."
2006-2010 - Apprentice Joiner
2010-2015 - Joiner
2015-2016 - Trainee Assistant Site Manager
2018-present - Site Manager
Via an Apprenticeship
Ross Warrander, HSEQ Manager
"In 2002 I started my career at Scotia Homes as an apprentice Joiner, going on to successfully complete my Advance Certificate in Carpentry & Joinery and HNC in Construction Practice.
"After 10 years on the tools, I decided to look for a career change and since have progressed on to being Assistant HSEQ Manager.
"During this time I have gained internationally recognised training and qualifications. Scotia Homes provides a great foundation and career path to anyone looking to enter the industry."
2002-2006 - Apprentice
2006-2012 - Joiner
2012-2018 - HSE Advisor
2018-2022 - Assistant HSE Manager
2022-present HSEQ Manager
Via University
"Having studied BA (HONS) Management with Marketing at the Robert Gordon University and receiving a First Class Honours in 2021, I joined Scotia at Head Office. With marketing experience in the sporting industry at one of Scotland's largest football clubs, hospitality, and health, my diverse range of skills and knowledge lead me to try a new industry where Scotia Homes provided that opportunity. Since starting with Scotia I have developed my career from Marketing Co-ordinator to taking a focus on social media, along with advertising, showhome and marketing suites and liaising closely with the Sales Team to provide the best experience for every customer."
2021 - Graduate
2021-2023 - Marketing Co-ordinator
2023-present Marketing and Social Media Lead
Via Another Industry
Kieran Alexander, Customer Service Manager
"I started my career in the retail sector at John Lewis progressing from Selling Assistant to a Team Manager before moving to John Lewis Head Office in London where I become Regional Manager for Customer Service supporting stores across the North of England and Scotland to improve their customer experience. Following the closure of the store in Aberdeen I transitioned to the construction industry, utilising my extensive customer service experience, and building new skills in a new industry. During my time at Scotia, I have progressed to Customer Service Manager leading both the customer care and maintenance teams to deliver a 5-star customer experience across our completed properties and developments."
2021 – Senior Customer Care Coordinator
2022 - 2023 – Customer Care and Maintenance Team Leader
2023 – Present – Customer Service Manager
Via Another Industry
“After completing my Master’s Degree in Architecture, I was accepted into a graduate project management scheme, in the Oil and Gas sector, I quickly progressed to consultant project manager, leading international projects from London to Norway. Despite the interesting and varied role, I was keen to get back to my roots and return to the construction industry. I found the ideal role at Scotia Homes as a Development Lead, which allowed me to not only utilise my architectural experience but also my grounding in project management. Since then, I have taken on new and varied roles within Scotia and I am currently a Project Manager, overseeing developments from the Planning stage through to Preconstruction. I would encourage anyone thinking about entering the construction industry, to so, it offers so many opportunities for a fulfilling, varied and interesting career path.”
2011 – Graduate
2011-2016 – Project Manager (Oil and Gas Sector)
2016-2017 – Development Lead (Scotia)
2018-2020 – Project Design Manager (Scotia)
2020-2023 – Land and Planning Development lead (Scotia)
2023-present – Projects Manager (Scotia)
Via School
"I originally applied to be an apprentice plumber, however, upon reviewing my CV I was contacted about a job in the head office. I started as a technical assistant and showed an interest in progressing a career within the construction industry. I was supported straight away by getting enrolled into college to further my knowledge alongside on-the-job training. I worked in the technical team for a number of years after gaining qualifications before moving over to the buying team.
"My current role as Senior Buyer is all about building relationships and achieving best value for the company. Alongside negotiating prices for current developments, I oversee the wider purchasing team too."
Technical Assistant / Trainee Technician 2006 – 2008
Assistant Technical Co-ordinator 2008 – 2012
Material Co-ordinator 2012 – 2021
Senior Buyer 2021 – present
Our Vision
Our Vision is to create desirable neighbourhoods and be regarded as the developer of choice for all, by our customers, employees and other key stakeholders.
To achieve this Vision we will strive to continually improve our performance in relation to our Strategic Priorities:
HSEQ
At every level, individual and collective, we aim to make Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality responsibility central to everything we do – in our offices, on our sites, and in all our contacts with fellow workers, contractors or members of the public. Committing to HSEQ is not just an option; it’s the way we want to do business and we all need to make sure we keep on getting better and better in every way.
OUR PEOPLE
Our team of employees are the foundation to our business and our future success relies upon them. A safe and healthy environment in which our people can develop their skills is fundamental.
CUSTOMERS
Our customers are at the core of our business, and we look to continually improve the experience throughout the process. We strive for recognition at the NHBC Pride in the Job awards and to consistently achieve 5-star builder status through the NHBC Customer Survey.
SUSTAINABILITY
From inception to delivery, Scotia will look to create sustainable places so that our customers and stakeholders can enjoy the benefits for generations to come. Our aim is to reduce energy use and carbon emissions across 3 key areas being: Operations; House Build; and the Lifetime Performance of our Homes.
FINANCIAL
Our aim is to sell and build 350 new homes per year by investing wisely and adding value for our stakeholders. Being operationally efficient is essential to safeguarding the long-term sustainability of our business.
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