How Enigma Industrial Services is building the scaffolding workforce of tomorrow in Edinburgh
Three students from Liberton High School in Edinburgh are in discussions to begin scaffolding apprenticeships with Enigma Industrial Services, following a six-month construction careers programme that demonstrates exactly what meaningful industry and education collaboration looks like in practice.
The Liberton High School Construction Career Pathway ran from September 2024 to March 2025, bringing together ten students and experienced construction professionals for a structured programme designed to bridge the gap between education and employment. Rather than focusing solely on practical skills, the programme gave students a broad introduction to the construction sector, covering career opportunities, health and safety, industry legislation and the role of different stakeholders across a project.
Sessions were delivered by industry professionals, giving participants direct access to people working in the sector and helping them build both knowledge and confidence. Each student completed the programme with a professionally developed CV and a recognised completion award.
The results speak for themselves. Of the ten students who took part, three are now in active discussions about scaffolding apprenticeships with Enigma, a conversion rate that reflects both the quality of the programme and the genuine appeal of scaffolding as a career when it is presented properly to young people.
With an estimated 40,000 vacancies expected across the scaffolding sector over the next five years, initiatives like this are not just good news stories. They are a vital part of the long-term solution. NASC is proud to support members like Enigma Industrial Services who are taking the skills challenge seriously and doing something tangible about it.
