Scott Greig

Compass Building and Construction Services Ltd

Give us a brief description of your background

I was born and raised in Inverness. Having decided in my fifth year of secondary school that full time study was not the right direction for me, I started applying for apprenticeships.

At the age of 16 I undertook a Modern Apprenticeship with Compass Building and Construction Services as a Trainee Building Technician. This involved working in each department of the company, including Accounts, Estimating, Procurement, Quantity Surveying, Site Management and Setting Out Engineering. This allowed me to gain an understanding of the different functions within the company (and the wider construction industry), whilst also attending Inverness College to achieve an HNC in Construction Management.

After successfully completing my apprenticeship, I was asked which department I most enjoyed and if I wanted to further my education. I found great interest in Quantity Surveying and started studying at Edinburgh Napier University. In 2022, I graduated with a BSc Hons in Quantity Surveying. During this time, I have helped steer a variety of projects from inception to set up through build and to completion, including new build accommodation and the refurbishment of a live school.

Living in the Highlands, I like to make the most of having such beautiful scenery on my doorstep. In the summer months, I spend a lot of time visiting new places, wild swimming or appearing at classic car shows with my Grandad. In the colder months, I spend my time cooking nice meals and playing guitar.

Who/what inspires you?

I find that I am truly inspired by people that I come across in life whose actions have a lasting impression and can impact my outlook on things.

I am deeply inspired by my family in particular, who have equipped me with a determined and hard-working mindset. This mindset has without doubt aided me in achieving major milestones in my life so far and will continue to drive me to achieve more.

I am also inspired by many of my colleagues, who have not only inspired me to be a more confident and authentic individual but have embraced the opportunity to mentor me and expose me to opportunities that have furthered my knowledge and experience in my role.

What does the word leadership make you think of?

To me, leadership is a tool that is implemented by strong leaders. It involves facilitating an environment where open communication is encouraged, others in the team are empowered to make decisions, and alternative solutions can be considered where possible.

I would say that ‘good’ leadership can be defined by the successful delivery of a group of people toward achieving a common goal.

How do you feel about taking part in the Future Leaders programme?

I am enthusiastic to be involved in the Future Leaders programme, and eager to put into practice the new skills and knowledge I will walk away with.

It is a brilliant opportunity to network with professionals that I otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity to, whilst also learning more about the Net Zero target and what role I can play in achieving this.

I am also looking forward to learning more about myself, the leadership qualities I already possess and how I can develop these to become a stronger leader within my team.

What do you think are the keys to a sustainable future?

There are countless factors that need to be addressed in order to achieve a sustainable future. It is my view that one of the most significant barriers currently facing the drive to realising some of these factors is the reluctance of people to change.

In my opinion, education is a necessity to instil a culture of sustainability both at personal and commercial levels. I feel it is particularly important that people understand the impact that everyday choices can make to progressing toward a sustainable future, but also begin to understand some of the more complex issues that need to be addressed by governments, organisations and wider society.

At a consumer level I feel that accountability can have a significant influence on the habits that need to be addressed. I also think that greater accountability of organisations will have a significant impact to realising a more sustainable future, by encouraging the exploration of more sustainable practices. It would be appropriate for this to be presented by means of the introduction of legislation and regulations.