CIRIA, the UK's leading provider of construction industry improvement guidance, is heading a consortium including BRE Scotland (Building Research Establishment), University of Dundee, Glasgow Caledonian University and Building Software Limited to deliver the new Scottish Construction Innovation and Excellence Centre (SCIEC).

The SCIEC will shortly be establishing a strategic Industry Advisory Group to ensure that its work is driven by the real needs of the Scottish construction sector. Work will initially focus on the main centres of construction activity, by establishing SCIEC nodes in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow and using them as conduits to the industry within those regions. These centres coincide with the city

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regions identified in Scottish Enterprise's strategic plan. The SCIEC consortium views this approach as the most effective means of achieving its principal aim of improving the performance and productivity of the Scottish construction industry.

CIRIA Chief Executive, Bill Healy said: "We have been working with our consortium partners towards establishing this centre for some time and I am delighted that we are now in position to take the SCIEC forward. The new centre has significant potential to improve productivity and innovation within the industry in Scotland.

"We will be setting up our operations in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen over the coming months and working closely with the industry through regional Construction Improvement Clubs which are to be developed under the initiative."

(CD)