Thousands of conference delegates will get the chance to test their driving skills thanks to City Building, one of Scotland’s largest construction firms.

But instead of trying to complete a course in the fastest time, like the mysterious character from BBC’s Top Gear and a host of celebrities do on the test track, the challenge is to put safety before speed – just as the drivers of City Building’s fleet of hundreds of vehicles do every day in Glasgow.

As the headline sponsor of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Scotland Conference and Exhibition, which takes place at the SECC in Glasgow from Tuesday 15 March until Thursday 17 March, City Building has a prime spot at the event and its own hazard perception driving simulator.


Delegates, exhibitors and speakers will be invited to test their skills behind the wheel, with points gained for driving safely and avoiding other road users and hazards. Top marks will be awarded to those who complete the safest journey in the shortest time.

A “Top Gear”-style leader board will record the best scores, with the top performer over the course of the three day event winning a pair of tickets to see Take That.

City Building is Glasgow City Council’s arm’s-length construction company. It operates a fleet of more than 650 vehicles, including Transit vans, Ford Connect vans, hi-top vans and Iveco Euro 7.5 tonne lorries. With distinctive silver and black livery, they are a familiar sight around the city.

Willie Docherty, managing director of City Building, said: “While the simulator is a bit of fun, we are using it to promote a serious message. Our vehicles are always on the move in and around the city but with so many of them, it is important that we promote safe driving among our employees as part of our strong Health and Safety culture.

“The CIH event is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate how important health and safety is to City Building, and we look forward to being able to get that message across. Our life-sized model of The Stig should certainly draw people’s attention to our stand.”

City Building is the headline sponsor of the CIH Scotland Conference and Exhibition for the second year running.

(GK)