The Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust are exploring a new approach to planning, funding, procuring and delivering schools, health facilities, museums, courts and other social infrastructure.
The aim is to make better use of public resources, data and expertise through a more joined-up approach. From late 2026, we will work with public and private sector partners to explore the opportunities and help shape and implement this approach.
Why social infrastructure matters
Social infrastructure – from schools, health centres and social housing to courts, museums and other public buildings – plays a vital role in the lives of communities and in the strength of Scotland’s economy and public services.
Scotland has a strong track record of using investment in social infrastructure to deliver wider benefits. Programmes such as the Hub Programme, NHS Scotland Assure and the Learning Estate Investment Programme show what can be achieved when the public sector and industry work together around shared ambitions.
But the challenges facing Scotland are changing. Public services need to adapt to demographic change, financial pressures, ageing assets and the need for faster reform. At the same time, social infrastructure is becoming more complex to design, deliver and operate, making it harder to align ambition, affordability and delivery.
We believe there is an opportunity to build on what has worked, bring greater collective insight and capacity to investment decisions, and fundamentally rethink how Scotland plans and delivers social infrastructure.
In 2025, the Scottish Government and Scottish Futures Trust began exploring how social infrastructure can better support Scotland’s wider ambitions – from economic growth and high-quality public services to tackling climate change and child poverty.
This work highlighted the need and opportunity for a fresh approach. We are now engaging with public, private and community stakeholders to understand the challenges across the social infrastructure journey – from initial concept and funding through procurement, delivery and into use.
Your insight will help shape a new approach designed to deliver:
- Greater confidence – helping funders, public bodies, communities and industry plan and invest for the long term
- Stronger capability – developing the skills, standards and partnerships needed to work together effectively
- Better performance – using data, technology, innovation and continuous improvement to deliver better assets and outcomes
- Greater sustainability – taking a whole-life approach that supports climate action, adaptation, nature and long-term public value
- Better places – putting people and communities at the heart of decisions and creating places that support thriving communities and effective public services
Craig Fraser
Associate Director
Craig has been a Chartered Quantity Surveyor since 2005, with extensive technical expertise across construction processes, a range of contract forms, and procurement methods. He brings over 25 years of industry experience, having worked in client, developer, and contractor roles as a Quantity Surveyor, Commercial Manager, and Project Manager across the UK, USA, and the Caribbean.
He has successfully delivered a diverse portfolio of projects spanning healthcare PFI, education, office, leisure, residential, retail, and industrial sectors, with project values of up to £500 million.
Craig combines deep construction knowledge with a collaborative, trust-based approach, applying strong commercial and project management skills to consistently deliver value for clients and successful project outcomes.
Contact Craig
