The Scaffolding Association is delighted to announce its partnership with TradePoint. From this week, members of the association are eligible for free TradePoint membership with the highest level of discount and with no minimum spend. Members of the scheme will benefit from all TradePoint services and savings inside B&Q’s 300+
New research by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has found that over a third (35%) of British employers have not spoken to their staff about their mental health and wellbeing over the past year. A survey conducted on ACAS’s behalf by YouGov, asked businesses in Britain about whether
In November 2020, the Government published its 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. It set out a path to Net Zero by 2050. CO2nstructZero is the construction sector’s response. It sets out how the industry can collectively meet Net Zero and uses the Climate Change Committee’s 6th Carbon budget to establish the priorities
National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is the 15th annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships. This week brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. This year’s National Apprenticeship Week theme will be ‘build the
SIMIAN International has partnered with Prostaff LLC Following a successful accreditation audit last week, CISRS has approved the first Overseas Scaffolding Training Scheme (OSTS) centre in Russia. SIMIAN International working in collaboration with Prostaff LLC, part of the Polati Group, a Russian scaffolding supplier and contracting company, have opened a
Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd (LMB) has appointed Billy Dolan as Operations Manager of their new Scottish scaffolding division in Glasgow, the next step in the company’s national expansion plan. Billy brings over 30 years of experience in the construction industry in a management position, he has worked for a spectrum of multi-national, national and local
Leading national scaffolding and access firm Lyndon SGB is proud to be supplying complex access solutions on one of the most prestigious and largest scaffolding projects in the country – the £330 million ‘Our Town Hall’ renovation of the iconic Manchester Town Hall. The vast refurbishment of the Grade 1-listed
A new look has been unveiled for a Newcastle former office block as scaffolding is removed by Kapex Construction. Eldon House at Gosforth’s Regent Centre is undergoing a £5.37million transformation to redevelop the former vacant office building into 66 luxury apartments. Construction work is three months ahead of schedule and
One the UK’s largest scaffolding suppliers has invested in two Hiab 188B-2 Hi Duo Cranes on a Scania chassis to boost its 70-strong fleet. Generation UK, part of global Altrad Group, has 17 locations across the UK and supplies commercial scaffolding and access solutions to major construction developments. The brand-new
If you are an avid “do-it-yourselfer,” you enjoy working on different home projects and repairs without needing to hire professionals. However, some projects may require you to rent or purchase equipment, such as a Scaffold, to complete your project safely. Here are the steps in making sure that you use the
The Scaffolding Association is delighted to announce its partnership with TradePoint. From this week, members of the association are eligible for free TradePoint membership with the highest level of discount and with no minimum spend. Members of the scheme will benefit from all TradePoint services and savings inside B&Q’s 300+ stores or online. The partnership will allow Scaffolding Association members to benefit from 10% off almost all products and with a choice of collect from store or delivery to site. Commenting on the new partnership, Helena Blundell, National Customer Account Partner, TradePoint said: “We are delighted to partner with the Scaffolding Association and look forward to the members fully benefiting from the discount in-store and online”. Stacey Underhill, Head of External Affairs at the Scaffolding Association, added: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with such an established and familiar brand. The discount offered to our members will be of significant value in the current economic climate”. The partnership with TradePoint is the latest benefit to be offered by the association to its almost 600 members. Members can register for TradePoint membership here: Register for your TradePoint Card (zohopublic.com)
New research by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has found that over a third (35%) of British employers have not spoken to their staff about their mental health and wellbeing over the past year. A survey conducted on ACAS’s behalf by YouGov, asked businesses in Britain about whether they had personally talked to their staff about their mental health in the last 12 months. The poll found that: Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association said; “Businesses must do more to support employees with their mental health and wellbeing. It is inevitable that the pandemic will have exacerbated pre existing concerns. It will have also created new mental health and wellbeing issues among individuals and employees. The easiest thing a business can do is to talk with their staff, so it is concerning that over a third have not taken this basic step”. Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that more than 2,000 construction workers took their own lives in the UK in the decade to 2017 which is more than four times the number of construction workers killed during the course of their duties for the same period. The Scaffolding Association recently established a Health and Wellbeing Committee which aims to help employers in the sector improve the support they provide in relation to mental health and to encourage employees to talk with employers and colleagues. For more information on the latest ACAS research visit: 1 in 3 employers have not talked to staff about their mental health over the past year | Acas
In November 2020, the Government published its 10-point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution. It set out a path to Net Zero by 2050. CO2nstructZero is the construction sector’s response. It sets out how the industry can collectively meet Net Zero and uses the Climate Change Committee’s 6th Carbon budget to establish the priorities that frame an action plan of how they will measure their progress and hold themselves to account. Launched in March 2021 by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), CO2nstruct Zero brings together organisations that are demonstrating leadership in relation to carbon reduction, sharing their good practice with others from across the UK construction sector, and providing a set of metrics that enables the sector, quarterly, to collectively measure its progress to Net Zero. Since its launch more than 70 Business Champions have committed to targeted carbon reduction, and to provide details of how they are achieving this to help those from across the wider sector. Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association said “The Scaffolding Association has always been a strong advocate for moving to a sustainable future. This initiative is a step in the right direction to provide individuals and businesses with scalable practical help, support and the tools they will need to understand and play their part. Climate change is happening. Every industry has a part to play in reducing carbon emissions and meeting net zero by 2050. The construction industry is no exception”. For more information on CO2nstructZero visit CO2nstructZero » Construction Leadership Council
National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is the 15th annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships. This week brings together businesses and apprentices across the country to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy. This year’s National Apprenticeship Week theme will be ‘build the future’; reflecting on how apprenticeships can help individuals to develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career, and businesses to develop a talented workforce that is equipped with future-ready skills. There are over 1,200 virtual and in-person events planned targeted at a range of audiences including stakeholders, businesses, training providers and schools. A full events listing can be found here. Last year, industry leaders from the construction industry called on the government to boost apprenticeships following a 40% drop in people joining industry-relevant schemes, (16,000) compared with the five-year average of (22,500). Statistics for the latest academic year are due for publication later this month. During the course of 2021 the government announced £7m funding to support flexible apprenticeship opportunities so that sectors including construction industries could bid for a share of the fund to support the creation of new flexible apprenticeships, intended to unlock opportunities for people to develop the skills they need to get good jobs. The government also reminded businesses to ensure that apprentices are paid at least the National Minimum Wage. This followed the publication of a report from the Low Pay Commission which found that around 1 in 5 apprentices earn less than their legal entitlement sighting several common errors by businesses including: failure to pay the higher age-related minimum wage rate to those apprentices who are aged 19 and over and have completed the first year of their apprenticeship paying the £4.30 per hour minimum wage apprentice rate before or after an apprenticeship actually starts or finishes not paying for all the time worked by an apprentice – training time is working time Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association said “The construction industry is suffering from significant skills shortages and apprenticeships can provide an excellent start for many seeking a career in the industry”. A report published by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) last year found that 37% of the construction workforce are over the age of 50 and estimated that 217,000 workers will need to be recruited into the industry over the next 5 years. Robert Candy added “Attracting a new generation of workers is critical but this is only part of the problem – keeping them is just as important. Paying them correctly, providing training that is relevant and embraces modern innovation and technology and ensuring qualifications gained provide access to work are all vital to the growth and success of apprenticeships across all sectors”. For more information on apprenticeships and to get involved in National Apprenticeship Week click here.
SIMIAN International has partnered with Prostaff LLC Following a successful accreditation audit last week, CISRS has approved the first Overseas Scaffolding Training Scheme (OSTS) centre in Russia. SIMIAN International working in collaboration with Prostaff LLC, part of the Polati Group, a Russian scaffolding supplier and contracting company, have opened a training facility in the Moscow suburb of Mytishchi. Polati Training Centre has been running their own scaffolding training programme for some time, and originally opened their centre in 2017. They also deliver other associated courses such as Rope Access, confined space and rescue training. They were, however, very keen to gain third party approval with CISRS as they see it as the leading international training standard for tube and fitting scaffolding. Initially the Centre will offer CISRS Level 1 and 2 Training for Scaffolders in Tube and fitting, Basic Scaffold Inspection and Supervisory programmes. They will look to build upon their CISRS portfolio going forward, possibly incorporating Soyuz a ring-type system which they use and supply, plus other scaffolding systems. Dave Mosley, CISRS Managing Director, said: “The centre is fitted out to the highest specifications, with brand new materials, tools and PPE. There are several classrooms but one is particularly impressive as it houses both an independent and a hanging scaffold actually within the classroom.” SIMIAN International Managing Director Ian Fyall added: “We are delighted to be partnering Prostaff in this venture and moving both SIMIAN and CISRS’ footprint into another part in the world. We are looking forward to training and assessing their instructors and giving advice and guidance going forward. “It’s been 12 months in the making due to Covid but we eventually got there” The centre also makes use of a miniature modelling system called BabyScaff, which is an exact replica of the ring-type scaffold system and is used to explain assembly, loadings and stability of scaffolds. Training Centre CEO Evgenii Guseinov said: “We are extremely pleased to be working with SIMIAN International and very proud to have opened the first CISRS centre in Russia. We have been delivering our own successful training programme for several years, however, gaining third party approval from CISRS which is recognised as the international standard for Tube and fitting scaffolding training, is another step forward and will set us apart from our competitors.” Polati are a very large Scaffolding Supplier and Contracting company with around 3,000+ scaffolders in Russia and surrounding countries. In 2017 they worked on the Lakhta Tower project in St Petersburg, at 448m it was the largest building in Europe which involved around 250 Scaffolders using over 700 tonnes of Layher Allround Scaffolding in extreme weather conditions. They have several depots across Russia and are looking to open additional CISRS OSTS approved facilities in the near future, including one in Kazakhstan.
Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd (LMB) has appointed Billy Dolan as Operations Manager of their new Scottish scaffolding division in Glasgow, the next step in the company’s national expansion plan. Billy brings over 30 years of experience in the construction industry in a management position, he has worked for a spectrum of multi-national, national and local businesses over his career. Billy comments: “I am delighted to join the Lee Marley team in Scotland and to work alongside Michael Carr. We are extremely excited that we can now offer our clients a full package service of scaffolding and brickwork, as well as being flexible to offer them as standalone services.” Michael Carr, Commercial Manager – Scotland comments: “Billy is a great addition to our team in Scotland. In the five years that we have been operational in Scotland it has been an ambition of mine to offer a masonry and scaffold solution that mirrors our set-up south of the border. Billy’s wealth of experience in this sector allows us to offer our customers the same high standard from a scaffold perspective that we have become known for through our masonry side of the Scottish business.” Billy is excited to be part of the company’s continued expansion plans and with the investment that LMB have put into the Scottish market, he has high hopes for the future. As of next month, LMB will be working on several projects in Scotland that cover new build housing and social housing. The team are delighted to announce they will be working on a scaffold and brick package for Morrisons on their Winchburgh schools project. In Scotland, Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd are working on many brickwork projects including: Edinburgh: Longstone, Edinburgh St James – Edinburgh, Springside, Dundee Street, Longniddry and Ropeworks 7 Glasgow: New City Road, Clydebank Health Centre, Ropeworks 7 and Daragvel Primary LMB Joint Managing Director Dan Clarkson comments: “Having worked closely with Bill over a number of years it is great to have him join our team in Glasgow. His technical and safety knowledge is second to none and his appointment allows us to replicate the combined brickwork and scaffolding offering that has proved so successful in London and the South East. It will also allow us to offer scaffold only services to a wider range of clients on new-build, refurb and maintenance projects across the Central Belt” Lee Marley Brickwork (LMB) is one of the UK’s leading integrated brickwork, scaffolding and stone sub-contractors. For more information, please visit: www.leemarley.com.
Leading national scaffolding and access firm Lyndon SGB is proud to be supplying complex access solutions on one of the most prestigious and largest scaffolding projects in the country – the £330 million ‘Our Town Hall’ renovation of the iconic Manchester Town Hall. The vast refurbishment of the Grade 1-listed Victorian gothic revival landmark built in 1877 aims to restore the building to its former glory and involves extensive repair work internally and externally, by main contractor Lend Lease. Lyndon SGB is the chosen scaffolding and access contractor, providing millions of pounds of in-house designed scaffolding and access solutions across the project, including large independent scaffolds, crash decks, a bespoke 90m clock tower scaffold, 34 chimney stacks/saddles and 8,000m2 of temporary roofing weather protection across the site. More than 50 Lyndon SGB scaffolding operatives will be working on the UK’s largest commercial scaffolding project – currently under strict COVID-19 secure protocols during lockdown. In addition, as part of the KPI (Key Performance Indicators) for the scaffolding program, a dozen apprenticeships will be launched on the project over the four-year contract. There are already seven apprentices in the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme and in-house training schemes, with three already operational on site and a further four working in the new Lyndon SGB single scaffolding depot in Manchester. All are employed full-time and working hard in their training, while preparing for college sessions run by learning provider The Growth Company. Lucas Findlay, 17, from Blackley, said: “Being an apprentice provides the skills and support in order to provide myself with a stable career in scaffolding. I have started at the bottom and the progression I can see ahead of me seems limitless. The opportunity to learn on the job on such a high-profile project shows the quality of training and trust we are given. I didn’t realise the extent of the challenges of building the scaffolding around such a building, until I saw it for myself and I am pleased to be a part of it.” Mark Davies, 24, from Collyhurst, said: “Working on the Our Town Hall project is an amazing learning experience, with the opportunity to get up close and personal to one of the oldest buildings in the city. I have walked past this building so many times over my lifetime without appreciating the details, including what it is like inside. From working in the Great Hall, checking out the views over the city and admiring all the statues, the whole project leaves you in awe.” Councillor Nigel Murphy, deputy leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Creating opportunities for local young people to build firm foundations for future professional careers across a range of trades is a key goal of the Our Town Hall project and will be an important part of its legacy for the city. “This is a building which has served Manchester for more than 140 years and through this once-in-a-lifetime scheme, it will continue to play an integral role at the heart of our civic life for generations to come.” Lyndon SGB Managing Director, Stuart Robinson said: “We are incredibly proud to have secured the scaffolding and access provision on this incredibly important national building renovation. Few firms in the UK could have been selected for such an enormous, complex and highly skilled project.” Kevin Fitzpatrick, Lyndon SGB Operations Director, said “The newly-operational single scaffolding depot at Manchester is perfectly placed to provide a slick, safe and efficient service on this enormous and iconic project.” Lyndon SGB North West Regional Manager, Jon Cooke, added: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to demonstrate our unique and unrivalled skills, we deliver projects like Our Town Hall because we have the ability to deliver on programme and on budget.” Lendlease Group’s David Cadiot said: “Our Town Hall is in the top 2% of important historical structures in the UK, we need and must have a supply chain that can deliver, that is why we chose Lyndon SGB.”
A new look has been unveiled for a Newcastle former office block as scaffolding is removed by Kapex Construction. Eldon House at Gosforth’s Regent Centre is undergoing a £5.37million transformation to redevelop the former vacant office building into 66 luxury apartments. Construction work is three months ahead of schedule and is due to complete in early 2021. Kapex Construction, part of Newcastle-based Morton Group, was appointed by Regent Centre owners Omnia Property Group to deliver its 2nd phase of its residential scheme, with Broadfield Project Management acting as client representative. Construction work started on the Eldon House development, which will create a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments over 8 floors, in March 2020. The extensive redevelopment project was originally due to complete in Spring 2021 but despite lockdown it is scheduled for completion in early 2021. Work on the scheme involves the complete removal of the existing façade, new cladding of the existing structure, along with thermal upgrades, a complete new MEP installation and internal fit out. It will be the second ‘office to residential’ conversion at the Regent Centre – the first being Northumbria House – and will be available to rent through Omnia Space. The area is known to be popular with students and employees based within the business park. Gary Morton, CEO of The Morton Group, said: “It’s fantastic to see the scaffolding come down on Eldon House and I hope people are pleased with the transformation so far. Work will continue on the development and we’re pleased to be able to deliver this office to residential development three months ahead of schedule. “Our track record in converting concrete frame office blocks into sleek, high quality living spaces is second to none, and we have drawn on our experience gained through the conversion of Eagle Star House into Regents Plaza apartments just 300 metres away.” Dave Lovatt, Commercial Director at Kapex Construction, said: “It’s exciting to see the progress starting to take shape at Eldon House, which will breathe new life into the 1970s office building and provide much needed housing in a highly sought after residential location. “In the past, Eldon House has been home to tenants such as Rolls Royce so it’s exciting to prepare the building for a fresh wave of tenants who will benefit from the close proximity to Gosforth High Street and bus and Metro transport links into Newcastle. It will be a thriving space tailored to modern, active lifestyles.”
One the UK’s largest scaffolding suppliers has invested in two Hiab 188B-2 Hi Duo Cranes on a Scania chassis to boost its 70-strong fleet. Generation UK, part of global Altrad Group, has 17 locations across the UK and supplies commercial scaffolding and access solutions to major construction developments. The brand-new hi-tech cranes are operated by remote control and are connected with Hiab’s HiConnect technology which tracks real-time data on crane usage and operator performance. Jamie Whale, national fleet and transport manager for Generation UK said the investment would help the business retain its Silver Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) accreditation. “As the UK’s largest supplier of scaffolding we deliver materials to some of the biggest construction sites which have stringent requirements around site safety,” he explained. “Commercial sites require lifting plans from delivery suppliers like us and we often have site-specific guidelines to adhere to, which helps to manage risk and improve health and safety. “Space can be challenging and we often have a small window to deliver, so we need to make sure we can deliver safely and swiftly; investing in the right equipment helps us to do that. “Our business needs to evidence year on year reductions in our carbon footprint to maintain our Silver FORS accreditation. The HiConnect software which monitors crane usage will play a major role in that. “The Silver FORS accreditation is a requirement for several of our customers, so I’m really pleased we have a tool which makes it easier for us to evidence our sustainable credentials and continue operating on those sites. “The platform gives us real-time insights on operator performance and actual crane usage, we fully expect to reduce our fuel emissions over time.” David McDonald, northern key account manager and area sales manager said: “These two cranes are perfectly-suited to Generation UK’s needs. The remote-control operations combined with HiConnect software gives incredible visibility for the operator and the fleet manager. “Jamie explained to us that reducing downtime was a priority for Generation UK. Our ProCare essential service contract combined with HiConnect will make sure trucks and cranes are on the roads for as long as possible. “HiConnect’s real-time operational data pin points when maintenance is due and our engineers can connect to the crane to trouble shoot any issues ahead of a call out, giving us the opportunity to respond quicker to maintenance and repair needs. “We know it’s possible that HiConnect can calculate productivity cost savings of over £1,000 per crane for one year based on idling time alone, which I’m confident Generation UK will benefit from.”
If you are an avid “do-it-yourselfer,” you enjoy working on different home projects and repairs without needing to hire professionals. However, some projects may require you to rent or purchase equipment, such as a Scaffold, to complete your project safely. Here are the steps in making sure that you use the scaffold correctly. Step 1: Realize the Need to Use Scaffolding When planning to work on home projects that are too high for you to reach, consider using scaffolding instead of ladders. Scaffoldings will give you a stable and wide platform where you can work on. This platform will also allow you to place your tools safely without them falling to the ground. Scaffolding can also save you a lot of time and energy since you do not need to constantly move a ladder when the area you need to work on is already out of reach. Scaffoldings also have guardrails that prevent you from falling over. However, it is still important not to rely on the guardrail by leaning your full body weight against them. When using scaffoldings, it is better to give an allowance from the guardrail and your body. The most common Scaffold that you can purchase or hire for home projects consists of 5 ft by 5 ft standard end frames and cross braces, which will make a 7 ft long Scaffold with a working height of 4 to 6 feet. If you need to work at much higher heights, you can combine two scaffolding sets. However, when working on a DIY home project, limit your height to two combined scaffolding heights to ensure stability. Step 2: Assembling the Frame and Base The most important part of assembling the scaffolding is to set up a solid foundation. The best way to do this is to assemble the base on solid and flat ground. If you need to set up your scaffolding on grass, gravel, or soft material, assemble them on top of 2×10 lumber to prevent the base from sinking. Never use bricks or scrap woods to level your scaffolding base since they may slip and cause accidents. Most scaffolding sets have adjusting screws to level the foundation. Step 3: Adding the Planks and Guardrails Do not cut costs on your scaffolding purchase or rental by not including the special planks and guardrails that come with the set. Specialized planks have hooks that secure your working platform in place. Please do not attempt to use ordinary wood planks as a working surface since they may not be strong enough or may slip when stepped on. Guard rails may be installed only on the outward-facing side of the Scaffold as long as the side facing the building is within 14 inches away from the wall. Step 4: Create Your Workstation Become more efficient by setting up a workstation on your scaffolding platform. Please put all your materials and tools in a bucket and raise them using a rope once you are on top of your platform. Step 5: Scaffolding Accessories and Safety Tips Most scaffolding sets may come with different types of casters that allow you to move the scaffolding without taking it. However, when using casters, it is important to install a horizontal brace between the two outside frames to make the scaffolding sturdier. Never attempt to roll the scaffolding with workers or materials still on top of the planks. Make sure also to lock the casters before climbing the scaffolding.
