Problem-solving

Despite the complete incompetence of the current government, we must remember that back in 2016, they took a bold step and published a strategy for construction. This set out ambitions for smarter procurement, fairer payment, improving digital skills, reducing carbon emissions and increasing client capability.

The strategy themes were consistent with the wider ambitions for construction to improve productivity and be in a stronger position by 2025. While malaise and inertia surrounding our exit from the EU sweeps across the country, the access and scaffolding sector is stepping up to the crease and demonstrating its ability to meet challenges and find solutions.

Inside this issue, the problem-solving capabilities of contractors and manufacturers are on show (turn to page 8) with a new approach to birdcage scaffolding that has seen productivity improve and helped to meet a housebuilding client’s challenging cost-saving targets.

More and more tier 1 contractors are turning to access and scaffolding specialists to look at more than just erecting a scaffold. The sector is increasingly having to devise better solutions that stretch their involvement into new areas. Ground conditions might not be the first concern for scaffold contractors, designers and temporary works managers –but they are important (turn to page 14).

Increasingly, our sector is having to make sure it shows that it has taken all the necessary steps to provide as much information as possible in order to mitigate any risk. It is even now at the cutting edge of driving improvements in construction programmes.

Scaffolding on a new residential development in central Manchester is being delivered by using system scaffold to overcome skills shortages, restricted access and a tight programme (turn to page 16). The contractor proposed an approach that took account of a restricted site and was able to give clean, unrestricted access to any area of the site.

While smart procurement, reducing carbon and digitisation are important, what access and scaffolding specialists are demonstrating is that practical know-how can tackle problems and is making a difference. We’re playing our part in delivering on the Construction Strategy.

Adrian JG Marsh Editor