Creating a respected voice

members to participate. Special Interest Groups will include Commercial, Training, Technical Standards and Offshore.

Concerns were raised among members around commercial issues and the validity of tendering and procurement processes. Members were urged to carefully review terms and conditions of contracts to ensure that they are not signing up to disadvantageous conditions that could cost them dearly.

The Scaffolding Association introduced its first President at this year’s Scaffolding Association Annual General Meeting as tackling skills and addressing procurement issues featured strongly.

More than 50 members attended the Association’s third AGM, held in central London last month, to hear the Scaffolding Association’s chief executive, Robert Candy, report that membership levels are continuing to grow and that enquiries were being regularly received.

Mr Candy said: “We have a growing membership that is committed to raising standards of safety and technical excellence. Our membership represents a broad cross section of specialist contractors, manufacturers and distributors.”

Russell Maxwell-Smith, founder and owner of Chelmsford-based scaffolding contractor WellMax, was introduced as the Association’s President. Mr Maxwell-Smith said: “The Association has a growing reputation for delivering high quality advice and support, and against the backdrop of membership reaching 255, this is an exciting time to be representing the organisation. I look forward to working with the executive team and members to make a positive difference in improving services for scaffolding businesses in the UK.

“We all share a common vision to raise standards and improve skills across the access and scaffolding sector. We also want to challenge our peers to create an even stronger commitment to training and skills development and leave a true legacy of continuing commitment and worthwhile careers for everyone that we work with.”

Membership now includes more than 100 assessed and audited members and 146 associate members. The Association now has more than 200 contractor members.

During the last 12 months, the Association has actively engaged with other trade bodies, clients and government agencies. Stacey Underhill, the head of public affairs, said: “More industry bodies recognise that our members deliver a significant part of the access and scaffolding supply chain.

“We’ve had regular meetings with groups representing major contractors and private housebuilders. The result is we’re now finding that when client groups learn more about our standards, they then recognise the benefits our members bring to the supply chain and invite them onto prequalification and tender lists.”

Adrian JG Marsh introduced members to the new AccessPoint magazine and encouraged everyone to submit examples of best practice so that specialist contractors can gain recognition for high standards of workmanship. Mr Marsh reported: “The new magazine has been well received but there is more to be done to raise the sector’s profile.”

Plans are also in place to expand the committee structure and encourage more

The executive team was also asked to consider the lack of scaffolding detail in the RICS Standard Methods of Measurement given the importance of a uniform basis for measuring scaffolding works in order to facilitate industry-wide consistency and benchmarking, and to encourage the adoption of best practice and help avoid disputes.

Ms Underhill then went on to outline the implications of the proposed new skills card, which the Association is in discussion with CSCS about. This new initiative is an industry-led response to raising standards and advocates more training on a regular basis while recognising and rewarding those who train regularly.

Mr Candy thanked everyone for attending and said: “We are a new and respected voice in the sector, here to represent the views and opinions of the access and scaffold industry. We need to continue to educate clients because there are misunderstandings and we will challenge policies and proposals that weaken safety and quality. We’re committed to raising levels of performance.” FIND www.accesspoint.org.uk