SCAFFOLDING CONFERENCE 2022

On the 29th of September 2022 the Scaffolding Association hosted the UK’s first dedicated scaffolding and access conference at the Heart of England Conference Centre in Coventry. Around 150 people attended the day which had an agenda packed full of insightful speakers, here are some of the highlights...

Live Contract Review - Through a Lawyer’s Eyes

Construction Law Solicitors, Holmes & Hills LLP, delivered a live contract review where Sam Bawden summarised with one key piece of advice: “When it comes to contracts, scrutinise each and every one carefully and look where the areas of risk are.”

Case Studies: Addressing the Skills Challenge Session

The first speaker in this session was David Abraham, the Managing Director of Fulcrum Scaffold Safety & Training Ltd, who spoke about the recruitment of ex-offenders into scaffolding and commented: “We’ve trained 73 people in the last 6 months. The biggest thing for us is social values - giving people a road to go down - a direction in life.”

Next to the stage in this session was Jim Scott, Head of Trainee Recruitment & Development at Alltask Ltd, who discussed ways to address the skills gap, he concluded: “Recruitment is about engagement - talk to as many people as you can and sell the compelling story.”

The last speaker in this session was Danny Heath, founder of Your Game Plan, who delivered a talk on early talent recruitment communications & training, he commented that scaffolders need to know who they’re talking to: “Know your target audience and start talking about what they want to hear!”

Discussion: System Scaffolding - Is this the future?

Des Moore (CEO at TRAD Group), Sean Pike (Managing Director at Layher) & David Abraham (Managing Director at Fulcrum Scaffold Safety & Training Ltd) joined the Scaffolding Association’s Chief Executive, Robert Candy, on the stage to discuss the merits of system scaffold and how it can provide a way forward for the scaffolding industry.

Keynote: CITB’s Vision for the Future

The Chief Executive of the CITB, Tim Balcon, delivered his keynote speech that highlighted the funding available for employers to help train and develop their staff, with his closing sentiment being: “There’s only one way to kill a skills gap, and that’s to train more people.”

Keynote: HR Mistakes and Myths

Catherine Hare, Professional Support Solicitor from Citation Ltd, delivered a session on employment law and stated “good intentions are not enough” and where shortcuts are available, she advised scaffolders to “use them wisely.”

Case Studies: Insurance - Why the Right Cover is Important

Alan Roe, MD of Touchstone Underwriting Limited, delivered a session in which he broke down some of the more common insurance claims they see from scaffolding contractors and reminded people that: “If it’s not evidenced, it didn’t happen.”

Keynote: When is a scaffold company not a scaffold company?

Senior Traffic Commissioner, Richard Turfitt, reminds scaffolding contractors of their responsibilities as hauliers and advised them: “To treat their Operators License as an asset.”

Presentation: Truck Manufacturers Price Fixing ClaimHow it Affects you!

Martin Dean, Key Account Manager at the Road Haulage Association, talked about the European truck manufacturers who were found to be operating a price-fixing cartel between 1997 and 2011 and how delegates could get involved with the RHA’s collective claim.

Discussion: What does the future hold for the scaffolding industry?

Russell Maxwell-Smith (Managing Director at WellMax and Scaffolding Association President), Jonathan Greer (Operations Director at Ducker & Young Scaffolding Limited and Scaffolding Association Committee Member) and Ian Pickard (Managing Director at I.D.P. Safety Services Limited and Scaffolding Association Wellbeing Committee Member) all joined the Scaffolding Association’s Chief Executive, Robert Candy, on the stage to discuss what they think the future holds for the industry. Topics such as: procurement, skills shortage and well-being were all discussed with Russell Maxwell-Smith concluding: “We are all in this together, we need to stop looking to others to solve the industries problems, and work on the solutions together.”

The Scaffolding Association would also like to say a huge thank you to their exhibitors and sponsors:

Amicus | Avontus | Citation | CITB | DESSA | G-DECK | Holmes & Hills | ITP | Layher | PERI STAY-SAFE | TRAD UK