Scaffmag Issue 11

scaffmag

ISSUE 11, 2020 SCAFFMAG.COM SCAFFOLDERS’ QUARTERLY

THE SCAFFOLDING MAGAZINE

Restoring a British icon GKR provides multi-phased access on one of the UK’s most treasured buildings

PLUS

Scaffolding Careers: Education is key to unlocking inclusion

SIMIAN on Covid impact and the outlook for scaffolding training

Layher & KAEFER partnership success at Hinkley Point C

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SCAFFOLDING The NASC is the national trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK and has been setting the industry benchmark for nearly 80 years. Our full contracting members are among the best in the business, accounting for the vast majority of the UK’s scaffolding spend – with a total annual turnover in excess of £2 billion – and are independently audited every year.

For demonstrably safe, skilled and compliant contractors it has to be NASC.

www.nasc.org.uk

RAISING THE STANDARD

GET CISRS TRAINING, GET SMART FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.CISRS.ORG.UK

2 | SCAFFMAG.COM

Contents 38

14

67 REGULARS

6

NEWS ROUNDUP The latest industry news including the impact Covid-19

has had on businesses and staff plus new acquisitions within

FEATURES

30

INTERVIEW Peter McShane talks about leaving school to work

with his father, and how TRAD’s commitment to investing in

the industry, investments in fleet solutions and much more.

its people has given him a rewarding career in the industry.

14

NEWS: TRAINING

34

MODULAR

14

NEWS: COVID-19

38

SCAFFOLDING CAREERS

UWTSD’s Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC)

collaborates to deliver training in Swansea and Cardiff.

Simon Hughes and Dave Randles, Directors of SIMIAN,

talk to us about the outlook for scaffolding training in the UK.

20

Layher & KAEFER Partnership meet complex

scaffolding requirements at Hinkley Point C.

In our big feature, we focus on how education is key to

unlocking inclusion and how valuing different skills to encourage diversity benefits businesses and profitability

BUSINESS Although construction output in 2020 is due to fall by

14.5%, there are promising signs of recovery from the pandemic, according to the Construction Products Association.

22

BUSINESS

25

OPINION

Simon Boyes asks the question “Are we turning

humans into robots or are they stealing our jobs?”

At a time when companies are already struggling to fill

roles, the Covid pandemic hasn’t helped, reflects Des Moore.

48

MENTAL HEALTH

50

NEW PRODUCTS

62

PROJECTS

Challenging the stigma that exists surrounding mental

health is a key theme in delivering mental first aid training.

Sound winter advice from Leach’s and new innovations

from G&M, Scafsleeve and G-Deck.

This issue focuses on London projects at Sayer Street

and the Royal Albert Hall, plus the University of Brighton.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 3

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Welcome Welcome to the latest issue of Scaffmag magazine which is jam-packed with interesting stories from across the industry. Since our last issue back in August our sector and the wider construction industry seems to now be on the right path for a hopeful recovery.

However, just as the country was getting used to some kind of normality, little did we realise another lockdown would be placed upon us all.

But while economic uncertainty still hangs in the balance, fortunately for us the government continues to support construction as a key industry along with those businesses that supply it, ultimately giving us the green light to continue to operate and ‘keep calm and carry on’, as long as we stick to the guidelines.

And encouragingly, as I write this, the very welcome news of a breakthrough in the race to find a Covid vaccine has shown the world there really is light at the end of the tunnel.

In this issue we have looked to have a special focus on careers, equality and inclusion within the scaffolding industry and as our sector begins to bounce back, we are asking ourselves, could we actually bounce back better?

On page 25, Des Moore discusses ways of encouraging new people to join the industry by providing them with a career, not just a job. In his article Des believes, as an industry, we need to widen our horizons if we are to find the workforce we need to fulfil our project opportunities.

Meanwhile on page 40, our man Richard Trenchard speaks with women in construction and within the scaffolding sector on how we can inspire and encourage other women to join the industry. “I would have to say although it has improved over the 15-plus years that I have worked in the industry, it still has a long way to go,” says Scaffolding Surveying Manager, Tanya Hamilton.

Elsewhere, on page 44, Helen Gowor explains how valuing different skills to encourage diversity not only benefits businesses but helps increase profitability.

And finally, with the nights drawing in and the colder weather on the way, thoughts across the scaffolding sector are turning to winter and what it means for on-site working. On page 50, our friends at Leach’s share their top tips to protect scaffolders this winter.

Happy reading, and stay safe!

EDITORIAL Editor Daniel Norton T 01472 476024 M 07776 218831 E dan@scaffmag.com @ScaffMagDan Features writers Grahame Anderson Richard Trenchard Simon Boyes Design Demot Rushe Dermotrushe.co.uk

CONTRIBUTERS Des Moore Peter McShane Sarah Jane Rose Helen Gawor

ADVERTISING Manager Jessica Norton T 01472 476024 M 07776 218831 E jess@scaffmag.com

PUBLISHED BY Scaffmag Ltd Office G8 The Enterprise Village Prince Albert Gardens Grimsby DN31 3AT

facebook.com/scaffolders twitter.com/ScaffoldingNews

Daniel Norton - Editor dan@scaffmag.com SCAFFMAG.COM | 5

News TWF LAUNCHES NEW SCAFFOLDING GUIDANCE ❖ The Temporary Works Forum (TWf) has published new important guidance on the Effective Management of scaffolding to BS 5975: 2019.

The 26-page guidance document which is available as a free download from the TWf website applies to organisations and individuals involved in specifying, procuring, designing, constructing and managing scaffolds.

It covers all ‘tube and

PERI UK INVESTS IN ELECTRIC FLEET SOLUTIONS ❖ The formwork and scaffolding supplier PERI has started its transition to an allelectric fleet to make its day-to-day operations safer and more sustainable.

After reviewing the output of its forklift trucks, PERI said that the new electric vehicles were more energy-efficient than diesel, and will enable safer manoeuvring and material handling in its three depots.

The electric forklifts are fitted with the latest camera technology, enabling greater visibility for the driver. The trucks are also GSM-enabled – a feature that PERI says it is keen to use to monitor the vehicles for efficiency in a bid to provide an even better service to its customers.

The company’s gradual transition to electric has seen a reduction in the number of its diesel forklift trucks by over half at its Brentwood depot, and this will continue to

6 | S CAFFMAG.COM

decrease across the rest of its fleet in the near future.

Mike Oakes, Operations Manager for PERI’s Brentwood depot, said, “At PERI, we are constantly looking to innovate and use new and emerging technologies so that we can provide our customers with the best possible service. As a family-owned company, we believe in acting in a socially responsible way.

These new forklift trucks help us to improve delivery of our market-leading formwork, scaffolding and plywood solutions to the construction industry, whilst also reducing our impact on the environment.”

The transition to electric is only part of PERI’s investment in a more sustainable way of working, with changes already being made to speed up its cleaning and repair services and improve the working environment for its employees.

fitting’ scaffolds as well as proprietary system scaffolds.

The guidance recommends how temporary works such as scaffolding should be managed to comply with legislation, regulations and industry best practice standards. It is complementary to other existing guidance from BSI, NASC, NFDC and CISRS. Guidance is also provided on management procedures ranging from simple scaffolding for domestic clients through to complex scaffolds for commercial or infrastructure clients.

It additionally emphasises the importance of competence and ensuring that scaffolding components are of the required quality.

NEWS IN BRIEF ❖ TG20:21 SET FOR MARCH 2021 LAUNCH The NASC is poised to launch the next version of the TG20 guidance

TURNER ACCESS OFFLOADS OCTO SYSTEM ®

in March 2021. Originally published back in 2014 the latest version has been radically revamped, according to the scaffolding trade body.

Working in conjunction with scaffolding software experts CADS,

❖ Turner Access has pulled out of the system scaffolding market after selling its system scaffolding production and sales arm.

The Glasgow-based firm will now focus on its rapidly expanding contract scaffolding business activities in the construction, infrastructure and other industry sectors. The company said recently that Sunshine Enterprises has successfully purchased the production and sales arm of OCTO® System Scaffolding from the

scaffolding supplier.

OCTO will now be traded via StepUp Scaffolding UK Ltd which is owned by North American business Sunshine Enterprises. Sunshine Enterprises is one of North America’s largest scaffolding importing and manufacturing brands. This new deal puts the company further into the UK and European markets, boosting the existing scaffold and access sales operation of StepUp Scaffolding UK.

the team have overhauled the now industry-standard compliance sheets, simplified the eGuide with new scaffold configurations and digitalised it all as an online app.

As an online app the TG20:21 eGuide can be used on Windows, Mac, iOS or Android via the NASC website.

❖ HADLEY DIVERSIFIES Rochester-based Hadley Scaffolding has diversified after launching a commercial waste management venture. Established in 1997, Hadley operates from its headquarters in Rochester and has depots in Avonmouth, Hastings and Salford.

Its recent rebranding as Hadley Group follows the decision to diversify into the commercial waste management sector. Hadley’s Managing Director, Carl Byford, explained: “It’s just a sideline at this stage, and we’ve only assigned the single tipper-grab to the new venture so far. But we’re aiming to target a lot of the big builders.”

Lee Marley expands into Leeds ❖ Scaffolding and brickwork

Reading and Glasgow, Leeds is the

business Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd

next step in their national expansion

(LMB) has opened a Leeds office

plan. The multi-million-pound

which forms part of a national

nationwide enterprise was formed

expansion plan. The firm says the

in 1997 by founder Lee Marley who

company has chosen Leeds as its

was just 24 years old at the time. His

base in the North of England

business is now a major integrated

because of its good transport links

brickwork, scaffolding and stone

and highly skilled labour pool.

subcontractor, and it turned over

With offices already in London,

£47.1m in 2019.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 7

// News

UK SYSTEM SCAFFOLD HIRE BUYS HAKI HQ ❖ UK System Scaffold Hire has announced the acquisition of the former HAKI UK Head Office and logistics hub in Tamworth. The deal also includes the purchase of £1.5m of HAKI systems.

It is a “return home” for UKSSH Managing Director Gary Griffiths, who started his scaffold career as a yard hand at the Tamworth site some 35 years ago and who explains that UKSSH’s strategic plan always included a Midlands operation and – as many of his senior team reside in the area – the Tamworth facility presented the ideal opportunity.

The Tamworth site (which will undergo a substantial refurbishment) will operate in addition to the company’s current site in Chesterfield, with the purchase reflecting both UKSSH’s impressive growth over the last few years and its ambitions for the future.

“The acquisition further cements our relationship with HAKI as their preferred hire partner and will obviously make it easier for us to service our existing customers in the Midlands and the south, but it is also a strategic move which will put us in a prime position to support major infrastructure projects such as HS2 and the construction programme leading up to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022” Gary explained.

MAJOR RECRUITMENT DRIVE

UKSSH’s expansion has also been great news for an otherwise depressed jobs market, with the creation of seven new posts that again reflect the company’s commitment to customer service, as Gary explains: “The Tamworth purchase doesn’t mean that we are diluting our efforts in the North of England: in fact, just the opposite, so we have recruited Ashley Rookes to take specific responsibility for north England and north Wales. Ashley has been plying his trade in the Middle East for the last 13

8 | SCAFFMAG.COM

years and has a wealth of experience. When he expressed a wish to ‘come home’ we snapped him up as someone who not only understands the importance of UKSSH’s reputation for customer service but, vitally, has the knowledge to enhance our already impressive skill base.”

And the customer focus doesn’t end there, with the recruitment of Kelly Scarborough and Anne Stanley – who have years of experience in HAKI products – joining the customer support team in Tamworth.

THE UK’S HAKI EXPERTS

“At its core, UKSSH has had a relatively small team who, between them, have built up getting on for 190 years’ experience at HAKI UK. It is a team that has managed product development, worked on some of the most demanding and challenging markets imaginable and – perhaps most importantly – is a team that thrives in getting deeply involved in complicated projects.

“I’m proud to say that our team has an unrivalled knowledge of HAKI products.

We believe our attention to detail is second

UKSSH concentrate on high end projects like the Haki Bridge System

to none and that has been the crux of our success to date. As we expand, I am determined not to dilute those principles, so I won’t recruit unless I know that it strengthens the team,” says Gary.

QUALITY NOT QUANTITY

Coming as it does just after the hiatus caused by the Covid crisis, the Tamworth acquisition is also testament to UKSSH’s philosophy of quality not quantity, as Gary further explains: “A few years ago we made a conscious decision to concentrate on high-end projects where experience, knowhow and customer service were not only valued, but would prove to deliver real benefits and cost savings to clients.

“We put a dedicated site support team in place and realigned our product range to support our new strategy.

“Over the last four years the strategy has paid dividends. Not only has UKSSH achieved consistent growth, but we have strengthened our client base with new – blue chip – customers, achieved a very robust financial situation, and developed a reputation as the go-to specialists for projects requiring in-depth customer

TRADE BODY LAUNCHES CAREERS PORTAL support and hands-on guidance”.

“The result has been an impressive portfolio of work featuring products like the Haki Bridge System and Public Access Staircases.”

RESPONDING TO NEW REQUIREMENTS POST COVID

Gary also says that the requirement for social distancing on site and the need for companies to work smarter has also meant that he has seen an upturn in enquiries in the last few months: “The HAKI system is the only one built around three-metre horizontal modules, which means that adopting our products automatically helps to maintain social distancing. In addition, the sector is inevitably under pressure to make up for lost time with companies looking for new ways to manage their costs and improve profitability in order to recover from the impact that Covid-19 has had on their business, and more and more scaffold contractors realise that our products and knowhow mean that we can help them with that recovery.”

The company has also spent the last few months developing their own range of products to complement the HAKI range – including their Security Gate System which fits all HAKI site stairs – and will shortly launch an online resource to demonstrate to safety officers, project managers, scaffold designers and surveyors how some of their unique products, such as the UKSSH Loading Tower, deliver major advantages that can not only save costs but also help achieve the ‘new social distancing norm’ on site.

The purchase of the Tamworth site and £1.5m of stock may seem like a brave move in the current climate, but it is a decision that has been made with a very clear vision for the future of UK System Scaffold Hire.

❖ UK scaffolding trade body the NASC has launched a dedicated website at encouraging would-be employees of all ages and backgrounds to take up a position within the scaffolding industry.

The Scaffolding Careers website features a number of detailed overviews of a variety of job roles within the industry, from labourer and scaffolding operative through to SHEQ manager and estimator.

Each overview provides information such as what the role entails, what the responsibilities are and what key skills are advantageous.

The trade body has also launched a recruitment jobs board for its own members to feature vacancies currently on offer.

Henry Annafi, NASC Training

Officer, said: “As the trade body for access and scaffolding in the UK, the NASC has for many years led the way in the promotion of the industry to potential job seekers.

“These efforts have been stepped up recently and we’re now actively working with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defence, Department for Work and Pensions and various education providers to bring more people from all walks of life into the industry.

“The scaffolding careers website will significantly boost the efforts as it gives us for the very first time a dedicated place packed full of relevant information to point job seekers to. We would encourage the whole industry to refer job seekers to the website.”

CITB boss resigns ❖ Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of

In a statement, Sarah Beale

CITB, has handed in her resignation

said: “It’s been an honour to lead

which will come into effect from

CITB. A part of me will always stay

September 2021.

in this great organisation, which is

She has served as CEO since January 2017, having previously held a range of senior leadership

full of brilliant people making a real difference to people’s lives and careers, as well as supporting construction

positions at the

employers across

organisation over the

Great Britain.

past 16 years. Sarah, CITB’s first female CEO, led the training body through a major

“I’m proud of the work we have done together, and our record of delivery. It will be tough to

transformation programme,

leave after 16 fantastic years, but

Vision 2020.

right now I’m focused on delivering

To ensure delivery of CITB’s

our Skills Stability Plan, including

current plans, provide leadership

seeing through internal changes

and stability through these

and setting up CITB to deliver

challenging times, Sarah will be

beyond that, before taking a

staying on until September 2021,

breather and identifying a new

CITB said.

career challenge.”

SCAFFMAG.COM | 9

// News

Just think what we can do We listen. We resp The past, present and future of system scaffolding

Layher UK info@layher.co.uk | www.layher.co.uk Layher Ireland info@layher.ie | www.layher.ie

Approved Training Provider 10 | FSS 554413 CAFFMAG.COM

Z-8.22.64 and Z-8-22-64.1

07 P

VGS-L 10

in the future. Together.

YEARS OF

A NOV TION IN

ond. You succeed.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 11

// News

Fundraiser and business connections help city hospital in Covid-19 fight SCP Forgeco’s fundraising exploits and business knowhow has provided vital safety equipment for Wolverhampton NHS Trust to help tackle the Covid-19 pandemic ❖ The company with ‘SCP Forgeco’ has utilised its UK and international connections in the scaffolding and construction industry to source PPE, coveralls and hand sanitiser for New Cross Hospital to help NHS staff on the frontline.

The firm, based in Meadow Lane, Bilston, is more used to supplying equipment to construction sites across the globe, particularly in the healthcare, offshore, gas and electric sectors.

But following a family bereavement in April for SCP Forgeco’s Managing Director, Dale Ranjit, and witnessing the huge demand for PPE at New Cross Hospital, a fundraising campaign was launched.

Mr Dale’s family kickstarted it with a £10,000 donation and many of the company’s customers in the construction industry, plus the general public, donated generously to reach the bumper figure of £25,755.

12 | S CAFFMAG.COM

The company then secured an agreement with a UK supplier to provide large numbers of PPE equipment suitable for NHS staff at New Cross Hospital.

Mr Dale said: “Personally it was an eye-opening experience seeing frontline staff at New Cross Hospital without some crucial PPE. “At that point I felt it was my duty, using our UK connections, to source the necessary PPE and this led to our very successful JustGiving fundraiser.

“I would like to personally say thank you to everyone in my company, associated companies, family, friends and everyone that donated to our cause.”

SCP Forgeco has grown over the last three years with support from City of Wolverhampton Council’s Business Development Team, which – through the ‘AIM for GOLD’ programme – has provided business and investment advice

and access to a grant that helped the firm create five new jobs for local people.

Councillor Stephen Simkins, Cabinet Member for City Economy, added: “This is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates the spirit of generosity shown throughout the city from the SCP Group, other businesses in the construction industry and the general public, to support the NHS. “We’ve been working closely with SCP Forgeco for some time now and it’s good to see that despite the pandemic, they remain strong.

“The ‘Aim for Gold’ programme is open to all small-and-medium-sized businesses in the City of Wolverhampton.

The support we offer can be critical, especially in these difficult times.

“It gives the businesses the support they need to help them continue to thrive and grow, and to look ahead to better times once the pandemic is over.”

SITE OPERATING PROCEDURES UPDATED TO VERSION 6

NEWS IN BRIEF ❖ BRENT SEES RECORD DEMAND Selby-based Brent Scaffold Boards Ltd has reported a sustained and unprecedented demand for its timber boards. The massive demand is also being felt nationwide with other suppliers

❖ Now in its sixth version, The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has updated the Site Operating Procedures to reflect recent changes in government guidance.

Whilst there are no significant changes to social distancing requirements on sites, the CLC and Build UK have taken the opportunity to streamline the Site Operating Procedures document whilst maintaining the familiar format.

Changes to the Site Operating Procedures – Version 6 include: • Current requirements such as social distancing are referenced on page 1 making it easier to update in future • The CLC statement on the use of face coverings is included • Updated guidance on shielding, self-isolation, testing and what to do if a worker develops Covid-19 symptoms or has to self-isolate

• Confirmation that canteens serving food must display an NHS QR Code • The wording has been reviewed throughout to reflect the fact that social distancing is no longer exceptional, and that in some key areas government has published more detailed guidance or updated terminology.

Cases of coronavirus are increasing across all four nations, and sites are urged to remind the workforce of the importance of social distancing outside of work, in order to protect themselves and others and help keep construction sites open.

reporting similar results.

View and download the Site Operating Procedures – Version 6 at constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/ wp-content/uploads/2020/10/SiteOperating-Procedures-Version-6.pdf

❖ LAYHER APPRENTICESHIP

Brent, which operates from its 10-acre site in Yorkshire, supplies boards to some of the largest scaffolding hire and sales yards across the country. They also provide boards to major DIY stores like Wicks and B&Q. The familyowned firm has told Scaffmag they have been working at full capacity since lockdown restrictions were lifted back in April. Its five banding machines have been running non-stop churning out more than 160,000 timber scaffold boards per month, with a record of 186,000 produced in July.

SCHEME LAUNCHED SIMIAN the UK’s largest privatelyowned scaffolding training provider has launched the new Layher Scaffolding Apprenticeship Scheme following the increased exponential UK growth of the use of the Layher

Covid-19 takes down Anglewest ❖ Maidenhead-based scaffolding contractor Anglewest Scaffolding Ltd

Allround system. Fully supported

by Layher UK, SIMIAN’s apprenticeship scheme will start in early 2021 with candidates

has gone to the wall.

progressing to

The company had been trading for over

become qualified

30 years offering scaffolding and access solutions to London, the south-east and the home counties.

Anglewest had worked on a number of

Layher Scaffolders in the early part of 2023. Speaking of the

high-profile projects for construction giants

initiative, Simon Hughes, MD at

in and around London including the Gherkin,

SIMIAN, said: “We’re really pleased

London Bridge Station and Lords Cricket Ground.

The firm employed over 30 scaffolders and office staff who were unaware

that our proposed Layher apprenticeship programme is

of its financial position. Difficulties arose after a number of the firm’s projects

starting to gain traction and it’s

and contracts were suspended or cancelled as a direct result of Covid-19.

another very exciting addition to

Uxbridge-based PHD Access has stepped in to fulfil contractual obligations of the business and minimise disruption to Anglewest’s clients. The firm has

the scaffolding training courses that we deliver.”

also taken on some of Anglewest’s staff that were made redundant.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 13

// News: Training

PARTNERSHIP HELPS DELIVER TRAINING AT NEW £1.5M SCAFFOLDING ACADEMY ❖ UWTSD’s Construction Wales Innovation Centre (CWIC) is collaborating with south Wales-based Alpha Safety to deliver training at its new £1.5m Scaffolding Academy in Swansea and Cardiff.

Led by CWIC in partnership with Alpha Safety and the Construction Industry Training Board Wales (CITB), the new academy opens later this month.

The partnership with Alpha Safety will enable a range of courses to be delivered locally to meet the needs of the construction industry. Alpha Safety has been one of the main construction training suppliers across wales for many years. This also means that students based in Wales and wishing to gain extensive scaffolding training will no longer have to travel to England or beyond to acquire a full set of skills.

The Scaffolding Academy is a purpose-built facility based on Fabian Way in Swansea Bay. Together with a satellite facility in Cardiff, our partnership will service the Welsh construction industry with a one-stop shop of access and rigging training.

The Academy’s first group of learners will embark on a Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Accessing Operations and Rigging

14 | SCAFFMAG.COM

(Construction) – Scaffolding. An apprenticeship course in Wales has been long awaited by Welsh industry and this course is ideal for those looking to gain an industry-recognised qualification in scaffolding, while gaining the valuable vocational experience alongside their study at CWIC’s Academy.

Gareth Evans, Centre Manager at The Construction Wales Innovation Centre at University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), said: “CWIC’s activities have already supported hundreds of employers in the construction industry across Wales.

Our unique partnership is delivering world-class training and bespoke programmes for this hugely important sector to the Welsh economy. The new Scaffolding Academy provides access to leading facilities and expertise and it now gives welsh employers the confidence to develop their employees and to recruit new entrants into the industry.”

He added: “CWIC are pleased to be working with the team at Alpha Safety and the development of this new facility will have a significant impact on upskilling Welsh workers within the scaffolding sector.”

The Building has undergone a £1.5m refurbishment, thanks to TRJ

Construction, working closely with Alpha Safety, to create an Access Hall of 2,000 m2 including classroom and IT facilities to deliver the full range of working-at-height training to new entrants, apprentices, up-skillers, supervisors and inspectors. There are nine training bays and four dedicated classrooms, one with IT facilities.

Paul Jones, MD of Alpha Safety, said: “We’re delighted and honoured to have been chosen by UWTSD and CWIC to partner with them on this venture and it’s a tribute to the Alpha team that we’ve been recognised as being up to the challenge of developing the skills of people working in this important industry.”

To ensure that training meets the requirements of the scaffolding industry in Wales, CWIC has been consulting with the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) members, employers and CITB. Mark Bodger, CITB Wales Partnership Director, said: “The new state-of-the-art Scaffolding Academy will soon start training thousands of learners in their own country. We look forward to working with Alpha Safety, a holder of CITB Approved Training Organisation status, who bring considerable experience and expertise to

SHORT COURSE OFFERS A STEP-UP TO SUCCESS

these much-needed facilities.

“CWIC reaffirms CITB’s commitment to the construction industry in Wales and shows what can be achieved by working in collaboration with employers, education providers and Welsh government.

“CWIC has already made a huge impact on the sector in Wales through its partners across the nation, and the SA1 hub will help the industry to deliver and expand on its ambitions.”

The addition of the scaffolding training centre to the Construction Wales Innovation Centre offer enables CWIC to build on the recent delivery of their immensely successful training courses and programmes which have spanned the past three years.

This period has seen the delivery of nearly 408 activities across Wales, supporting 691 Welsh employers and upskilling over 3,500 construction industry staff. CWIC will build on this initial programme by continuing to support the industry through the provision of innovative and industryleading courses led from its Swansea based Hub and delivered across Wales through its extensive spoke and partner network.

❖ Three unemployed learners have walked straight into jobs, and five more equipped with the skills to find work, thanks to a pilot course offering a step-up into the scaffolding industry.

The short programme, delivered by NETA Training, was funded by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority’s devolved Adult Education Budget, with the aim of helping get people back into work.

Working alongside Stockton-based employer JMAC Scaffolding Ltd, the eight-day programme came with an interview, with three jobs up for grabs.

Liam Bates, 29, Dean Bishop, 31, and Dylan Frost, 21, have now started work in the scaffolding yard as trainee scaffolders.

NETA’s managing director, Phil Blewitt, said: “We are proud to have supported these learners with the help of JMAC Scaffolding and Tees Valley Combined Authority in gaining valuable skills and industry-recognised qualifications to help them build their careers. To have three students go straight into employment is a positive outcome and we aim to build on this success.”

The bespoke programme offered the chance to pick up a selection of industry qualifications and skills including the CCNSG National Safety Passport, Scaffolding COTS, Scaffolding Mobile, Scaffolding Appreciation, Towers, Confined Space (Entry, Awareness and Escape), Mental Health First Aid and Emergency First Aid at Work.

PASMA teams up with CSCS ❖ PASMA, the recognised authority in

carry the Construction Skills

mobile access towers, and CSCS, the

Certification Scheme (CSCS) logo,

leading card scheme for the

providing a familiar way for clients,

UK construction industry, have teamed

employers and contractors to verify

up to help firms check that anyone

qualifications and training.

working with complex access towers is suitably qualified.

Starting in 2021, PASMA’s new Access Tower Specialist cards will

The holographic logo will only appear on cards held by those who achieve the highest qualification available for access towers.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 15

// News: Covid-19

TRAINING GROUND Since the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic hit the UK shores in late March, the UK’s construction industry has led the way in terms of attempting to operate with a degree of normality. Here we speak with Simon Hughes and Dave Randles, Directors of SIMIAN, the country’s largest privately owned scaffolding training provider, about the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic and the outlook for scaffolding training in the UK ❖ We asked Simon and Dave about the early stages of the pandemic and how Simian reacted to the initial lockdown.

Dave Randles said: “At the outset of the pandemic, Simian adopted a policy of compliance with government recommendations and as such, we took the unilateral decision to close our training centres with effect from Friday 20 March.

We were the first centre to proactively do that and as an unfortunate consequence, the majority of training delivery staff were furloughed, using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme – leaving a skeleton resource to hold the fort.

“We were very conscious that we had learners who were part way through training programmes and these included scaffolding apprentices and those taking the traditional route of scaffolding training. We knew that the lockdown could last a while, so we wanted to be innovative and ensure that our learners remained engaged, even though our centres were closed. As a result, the team members who remained in work put a significant amount of time and effort into developing a range of online and remote training initiatives, using technology that

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had, up to that point, been largely untapped by the scaffolding industry. This included webinar and ‘virtual classroom’ products such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom – both of which are now commonplace in almost every UK workplace and very many homes.”

Simon Hughes said: “As those who have attended a CISRS scaffolding training course will know, the skills and behaviours required for scaffolding cannot be taught or assessed solely in a classroom or through a computer screen. For this reason, our virtual sessions were intended to serve as supplementary knowledge-based learning for those looking to increase or maintain their knowledge, and they were made available to learners registered with SIMIAN, and to the wider scaffolding community, generally.

“As a professional training provider, we are always keen to explore the use of alternative teaching methods, many of which are used successfully in other occupations. Within the education sector, this approach is commonly referred to as ‘blended learning’, and it combines remote/virtual learning techniques with the more traditional classroom and

workshop-based training.

“Despite our best efforts throughout the initial lockdown to introduce these initiatives to the scaffolding industry and to engage with learners and their employers, participation was extremely disappointing. After several weeks of low attendance at our virtual sessions, a decision was made to suspend them and to concentrate our efforts on ensuring the Covid security of our training centres.

“Many occupations currently adopt a blended learning approach, and this is clearly a technique that can add value and reduce the time spent in a training centre, but the indicators from this experience tell us that the scaffolding industry is perhaps not ready to take this step.”

Dave Randles added: “As the initial lockdown eased, our Centres in Warrington, Weston-super-Mare, Waltham Forest and Coventry were made Covid secure to ensure compliance with both government guidance and CISRS’ interim licensing requirements, and they reopened gradually from 01 June. The biggest challenge we faced (and continue to face!) was reduced capacity, as a consequence of ensuring social distancing requirements

SOME OF THE SECTORS HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC WILL SEE RETRAINING AND UPSKILLING OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP BRIDGE THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SKILLS GAP were met. The physical constraints of some of our buildings means that some class sizes have had to be reduced and therefore, our overall capacity has been restricted and with this comes the challenge of reduced revenue and the viability issues this presents.

“Throughout the lockdown months, we received very few cancellations, as our customers sought to reschedule their deferred bookings as opposed to cancelling them and for that, we remain grateful for their flexibility and understanding.

However, this created a further issue, which meant that hundreds of rescheduled learners had to be incorporated into our schedule, alongside pre-existing bookings.”

We asked how trainees have adapted to the new requirements in training centres.

Simon said: “Since reopening, the conduct of our learners has been exemplary. Many of them have worked throughout the lockdown and are familiar

with the arrangements we have implemented in our centres as they have experience of working under the recommendations of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) and NASC guidance that has been produced to control the spread of the virus.”

SIMIAN are confident that demand for scaffolding training courses is showing signs of recovery. However, the level of demand differs across the regions and it remains to be seen whether this is part of a larger regional economic trend.

Simon Hughes, said: “In some regions, the curve towards pre-Covid levels of scaffolding training demand has been fairly steady, to the point where further instructor recruitment is taking place, and in other regions, this has not been the case.

On this basis it is difficult to identify a consistent trend across the whole UK. “In the past 18 months or so, the north -west has seen five or six very large

independently owned construction businesses fail and we have been concerned for some time that this may be an indicator of a general decline in the regional North West construction market. We are also mindful that with BREXIT looming on the horizon, the imminent end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and locally enforced lockdowns, that there is more uncertainty to come.

On a positive note for the construction training industry, it is pleasing to hear that the Government is planning several initiatives, such as Kick Start, the Apprenticeship Incentive and Traineeships to plug the gaps in the economy. This will inevitably result in job opportunities and with them, a greater demand for construction skills training.

Some of the sectors hardest hit by the pandemic will see retraining and upskilling opportunities to help bridge the construction industry skills gap.”

SCAFFMAG.COM | 17

// Business

CRUCIAL WINTER AHEAD FOR CONSTRUCTION Construction output in 2020 will fall by 14.5% according to the latest Construction Products Association (CPA) main scenario, but shows promising signs of recovery from the pandemic

D

emand for new private housing and private housing repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI), as well as strong growth in the infrastructure sector, are expected to support recovery for the industry towards the end of this year and into the next following historic falls in output during lockdown.

The prospects, however, of both a deterioration in labour market conditions along with a potential ‘no deal’ Brexit at the end of December mean that the upcoming winter will be decisive in terms of how far such a recovery can be sustained.

The recently published CPA Autumn Scenarios continue to expect a tick-shaped economic recovery as the most likely outcome, with output for construction rising by 13.5% in 2021 from the sharpest fall on record in 2020.

The easing of lockdown measures over the summer was accompanied by a rush to meet pent-up demand, particularly in private housing and refurbishment work that couldn’t take place while sites were closed. With social distancing integrated on construction sites, productivity was also able to pick up.

The CPA points out that the housing market is being given a boost from pent-up demand coming through and transactions

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being brought forward by both the stamp duty holiday and the end of the first phase of Help to Buy in March 2021. Equally, private housing (RMI) has benefited from the increase in home working brought on by the pandemic.

With more disposable income as a result of spending less on travel and hospitality, many households are choosing to spend it on ‘safe’ options such as home improvements. Some caution still remains for 2021 Q2, with the end of the stamp duty holiday and uncertainty in the employment market possibly reducing demand.

Along with private housing, the CPA expects the infrastructure sector to be critical for growth. With output not falling as sharply this year as in other sectors due to

larger sites making social distancing easier, next year’s growth will capture the start of main works on HS2, plus ongoing work on major projects such as offshore wind, Thames Tideway and Hinkley Point C. Only airports within the infrastructure sector are expected to see a decline in activity over the next few years, given sharp declines in airline passenger numbers as a result of the pandemic.

Commenting on the Autumn Scenarios, the CPA’s Economics Director, Noble Francis, said: “The easing of the social distancing restrictions in summer led to a sharp recovery in certain sectors of the construction industry – most notably, in the form of increased demand for private housing and private housing RM&I where growth is currently strong.

HMRC WARNS IR35 CHANGES ARE PRESSING AHEAD HMRC has warned construction firms this week to prepare for controversial changes to IR35 rules

The government’s commitment to infrastructure delivery, as outlined in the National Infrastructure and Construction Procurement Pipeline for 2020/21, is also a promising sign of growth.

“But, uncertainty continues to loom for the commercial sector. If working from home becomes more ingrained in society, footfall in city and town centres will decline leading to a lack of demand for office and retail space. Equally, a critical winter lies ahead for the wider economy.

The key risks to the construction industry remain a potential second national lockdown and a ‘no deal’ Brexit, which are illustrated in the CPA’s other scenario.

Either would lead to a second dip in the UK economy and construction output.

“A free trade deal agreed in principle with the EU, with the details determined over time, would at least give some degree of confidence for what is still a fragile economic recovery. In addition, construction recovery so far has been highly reliant on the government, either directly through spending in infrastructure, or indirectly through policy stimulus to boost housing.

The government therefore has an extra responsibility to deliver on its announcements and ensure construction recovery does not stall in the next 12 months. We certainly aren’t out of the woods yet.”

T

he HM Revenue & Customs has warned businesses to prepare for the controversial changes to off-payroll working rules known as IR35.

Earlier this year, HMRC delayed the introduction of IR35 for 12 months to help businesses and individuals deal with the economic impact of Covid. The construction industry had hoped the new rules would be again delayed but the latest warning from HMRC this week has put paid to that.

Industry experts from Hudson Contract have said the move will “go down like a lead balloon” considering the current economic crisis contractors are facing due to Covid.

In its latest statement, HMRC said: “We recognise that businesses are facing difficult challenges due to Covid-19. HMRC is providing information and support now to ensure businesses have plenty of time to prepare for the changes coming into effect in April 2021.”

As it stands now the rules allow workers to be employed via a

personal service company (PSC) which determines whether IR35 tax rules should apply. The new rules are intended to make sure all workers pay broadly the same tax and National Insurance contributions.

Ian Anfield, managing director of Hudson Contract, said: “This announcement will go down like a lead balloon with companies and freelancers fighting for survival in a difficult trading environment with the constant imposition of new lockdown restrictions. In the best of times, businesses and freelancers found the HMRC guidance on IR35 difficult to follow, causing confusion and concern over liabilities.

“The latest set of guidance runs over hundreds of pages and invites companies to attend online seminars which HMRC plans to run between now and April next year. The confusion has created a vacuum for bad advice with so-called HR specialists and umbrella organisations offering services which could lead to incorrect and potentially damaging determinations for companies and freelancers alike.”

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL GO DOWN LIKE A LEAD BALLOON WITH COMPANIES AND FREELANCERS FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL IN A DIFFICULT TRADING ENVIRONMENT

SCAFFMAG.COM | 21

// Business

THE ROBOTS ARE COMING… AND WE ARE BUILDING THEM! We have all heard about the robots and how they are going to steal our jobs and do everything that humans can do, right? The big question we need to ask ourselves, says Simon Boyes, is “Are we turning humans into robots?”

S

ome of you may have seen the videos being circulated on the internet of robots installing scaffolding couplers and delivering scaffolding components to different parts of the scaffolding structure, but are the most sophisticated robots we are creating in fact human scaffolders?

Now you might have read up to this point of the article and thought ‘What is this guy talking about?’ but stick with me because I think you will understand where I am coming from in a moment.

Over the last five years, the scaffolding industry has evolved, and we have experienced more change than at any other time in our history. When any industry experiences rapid growth and advancements in techniques, materials and technology, there is often a delay in the legislation keeping up with the new ways of doing things and we experience a period of confusion and misinterpretation. Companies and individuals find new ways to solve old problems and the legislation may not have considered such methods in previous editions, so we experience a divide in the industry between people who are still doing things the old way and people who have harnessed the change and are finding more efficient ways to do business.

Slowly over time, legislation catches up with the advancements and new rules and regulations are implemented, and this is where things can get scary.

Many of the older generation of scaffolders tell stories of a truck load of materials being delivered to a

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job site where the scaffolders would use their skills and knowledge to use the materials the best way they knew how. If they were short of some items, they would find a way to substitute different components to get the job done. This process has worked well for many years and still happens in some places today with great success. The biggest challenge with this method is that the guys on site are completely responsible for the success or failure of the project and the skill of the crew will impact how well the scaffolding has been built. You could send 10 different scaffolding crews to build the exact same job and they would all build it differently. All 10 crews will still get the job done and still give the client what they are paying for, but which crew will be the most efficient, fastest, safest, etc? In a competitive market where, often, the cheapest price will win the job, time and efficiency are key to the success of the business and this forces senior management to find new ways to get an edge on their competitors.

In comes the introduction of technology, and innovation and businesses must ask themselves, how can we make the scaffolders work faster, what materials can we use to make it quicker, how can we save transport and delivery costs, how can we use less equipment so we can do more jobs? And so on...

The answer to all the above questions is to plan out and design the project before arriving on site.

There are many great scaffolding design platforms on the market that will help design the scaffolding layout, provide a bill of materials, generate accurate transport take-offs and provide the client with a

visual idea of the finished product to help the business gain an advantage over their competition, but by doing all the thinking for the scaffolders, are we turning them into robots?

Nowadays, the scaffolders arrive on site and everything is already done for them, someone has decided on the most efficient way to install the scaffolding and what components need to go where.

The scaffolders no longer need to think for themselves and simply must follow what has been shown on the scaffolding plan. They will be given just the right amount of materials needed to complete the works – all the thinking has already been done for them so they can simply focus on the execution.

This is a great way to reduce costs and increase efficiency, but are the scaffolders losing their ability to think for themselves?

What happens in the instance where the client needs an alteration to the original design, or the conditions of the site have changed and the scaffolding needs to be modified, or when a client has an urgent requirement and there isn’t enough time to prepare scaffolding plans? By asking for the use of

ARE WE KILLING OFF A GENERATION OF CREATIVE THINKERS WHO CAN LOOK AT A PROJECT, COME UP WITH A DESIGN IN THEIR HEADS AND THEN EXECUTE THEIR IDEAS?

skills and knowledge to come up with a solution, are we expecting too much of a generation of scaffolders who aren’t allowed to think for themselves and must follow what they have been shown on a piece of paper? Are we killing off a generation of creative thinkers who can look at a project, come up with a design in their heads and then execute their ideas?

Are we turning human scaffolders into robots?

Where do we draw the line between efficiency and building an industry of harnessing innovation and technology that does not destroy the human touch at the same time? If the client could have used a machine or a robot to access their work area, they wouldn’t have needed scaffolding in the first place.

Will legislation eliminate the human factor and create an industry where the scaffolder is legally no longer allowed to think for themselves and can no longer erect a scaffolding without an engineered scaffolding plan?

In the last five years we have felt the industry change and evolve at a rapid pace, so over the next five years we will find the answers to all the above questions. I’m not sure if I am excited or scared to sit down and write this same article again in the year 2025.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 23

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// Opinion

What does the future hold for careers in the scaffolding industry?

At a time when companies were already struggling to fill roles, the Covid pandemic has put extra stress on the industry, reflects Des Moore

F

or a company that’s coming up to its 50th anniversary, TRAD Scaffolding has certainly seen its share of industry challenges. And I know we’re not alone in that. Over the past few years, I’ve been talking with lots of businesses in both scaffolding and the wider construction industry about how we encourage people to join the industry at a time when construction is vital to the economy – and also to support the ‘build, build, build’ New Deal strategy announced by Boris Johnson earlier this year.

Before this year, we were already experiencing issues with EU and other overseas workers deciding to return home, leaving significant gaps in the workforce. As we all know, training takes time – you can’t just replace a seasoned scaffolder with someone out of school – so it’s important that we are both bringing new talent into the business and able to recruit experienced professionals where necessary.

Of course, 2020 has thrown everything at us, with the pandemic halting work on many construction sites and projects experiencing downtime because of furlough or other restrictions. The subsequent and continued hit to the economy means that getting construction and infrastructure projects back on line is a priority – and with that comes a need for a competent and sustainable workforce.

We’ve heard a lot of warnings about a ‘lost generation’ – those young people who would have been coming out of school or college and looking for secure apprenticeships and jobs that give them useful skills to start their career.

That’s why the government has announced a number of

SCAFFMAG.COM | 25

// Opinion

measures to encourage employers to take on young people, including the Kickstart Scheme, which we’re currently investigating, working with the NASC as a gateway partner.

Alongside that, however, we’re continuing to invest in our existing apprenticeship scheme, and we believe this is one of the key ways to ensure a good supply of trained, reliable and skilled scaffolders into the future.

TRAD Scaffolding has a history of recruiting and supporting young people, mentoring them to learn skills and get qualifications on the tools so they can progress their careers – this is exactly the route I took through the business, and TRAD Scaffolding’s Managing Director, Peter McShane, also started with us as a trainee and has taken advantage of the mentoring and career opportunities we’ve created to help build his career.

We have supported many people into long-term careers within the TRAD Group, and our low churn rate reflects this, with many staff having 30 years’ service or more. In fact, I’m heading for my own fourth decade with the business, having joined in 1971.

Now more than ever, we need to create an environment where we can help young people prosper by giving them a career, not just a job. We want to find the right people with a great attitude – we can train for skills. Our ambition is to keep promoting and train from within. A focus on practical and personal attributes, and not just qualifications means that we always get the right people for the job, and that everyone has the same opportunity to progress and succeed. We currently have nine apprentices – eight on our scaffold apprenticeship programme, and one, Stephanie Betts, on our management trainee scheme.

Stephanie is currently shortlisted for the Construction News Apprenticeship Award.

Alongside the more traditional entry into the industry, the TRAD Group is committed to hiring, mentoring and promoting everyone within the business, and we are committed to increasing the number of women in the company and giving them the same mentoring and opportunity to further their careers.

The nature of the industry means that only a few women choose to work on site, and one of the advantages of being a larger business is that we can offer roles in construction that cover a wide remit, including estimating, surveying, contracts and project management.

By working closely with the Construction News Women in Construction scheme, we have been actively promoting construction and scaffolding as career paths

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NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE NEED TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE WE CAN HELP YOUNG PEOPLE PROSPER BY GIVING THEM A CAREER, NOT JUST A JOB by talking to young people in schools and colleges, taking part in debates, and ensuring that we offer a culture and environment that trains, supports and enables women to achieve everything they can in their careers. To that end, we have always paid women the same as men for the same job – I have never been able to understand why that shouldn’t be the case! Sadly that’s not what we see across the board, although improvements are being made. We also offer flexibility to both men and women to create an environment where, when sabbaticals or extended statutory leaves are required, we make it easy to return, so that we don’t lose the expertise and skills.

I believe that, as an industry, we need to widen our horizons if we are to find the workforce we need to fulfil our project opportunities, and if we are to position ourselves as a progressive, useful and interesting sector in which to work – a sector that appeals to everyone. We have a huge perception barrier to leap, but with small steps, commitment to opportunities for everyone and better engagement with those outside the industry, we stand a great chance of recruiting the best young people and experienced workers from all walks of life.

Stephanie Betts, who is currently on the management trainee scheme and shortlisted for the Construction News Apprenticeship Award.

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// Interview

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CLIMBING THE LADDER Recently announced as TRAD Scaffolding’s new Managing Director, Peter McShane talks about leaving school to work on the tools with his father, and how TRAD’s commitment to investing in its people has given him a rewarding career in the industry

SCAFFMAG.COM | 29

// Interview

“W

hen I left school with no qualifications in 1990, I said to my teachers: ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be fine – I’m going to be a scaffolder like my dad!’ It was all I had ever wanted to do, and I couldn’t wait to get on a site and work alongside him.”

Peter didn’t realise at the time, but his father was very highly regarded within the industry and had worked with some of the leading scaffolding companies of that era during his career – in particular learning his trade with London & Midland, and, following that, Taskers & Booth, becoming one of their youngest chargehands at just 22. He had also worked on some of the most high-profile projects in London at the time.

“My dad was such a huge influence on my early scaffolding career,” says Peter. “But more importantly, he really influenced my work ethic, and a good attitude to hard work never goes out of fashion.”

Peter started as a trainee with TRAD Scaffolding in 1993, after the company he was working for was acquired by TRAD. “In the early years I was fortunate to quickly integrate with several different highly experienced and long-standing gangs already in place at the company, and even at that stage I knew that TRAD was the place for me, despite the industry being so transient,” remembers Peter.

“Working for TRAD throughout the 1990s holds some of the most memorable times for me – the great camaraderie and fantastic people I met along the way and the great projects we were all a part of.”

Peter worked on the tools until he was 30, when he was asked by his manager at the time if he would be interested in joining the office staff as a contracts supervisor. “This was in 2002, and I felt I was in my prime as a scaffolder and had a young family to support. I was concerned about taking the job, as I knew it was a slight step down in salary, but I wanted to see if I could do it, and it proved to be the right decision for me.”

It proved to be a good decision by Peter’s manager too as, with mentoring and supervision, he quickly went into higher management roles, looking after the broader aspects of the contracting role. “TRAD has a great ethos of internal training and the company impressed on me the importance of being well rounded – being able to secure a project with good knowledge and advice and the ability to estimate it alongside the management of labour, and surveying the finances to provide the customer with the best product and on-time build at the most competitive rates possible. Our primary goal was always to have repeat business and the better skilled all our teams are

30 | S CAFFMAG.COM

– both in management and in delivery on-site – the more likely that is to happen.”

In 2014, Peter was appointed as a divisional director by TRAD’s founder, former owner and chairman Hayden Smith – one of the best-respected people in the industry.

The directorship allowed Peter to work with his own team and to appoint and bring through new staff and to train them in the same way he had been during his early management years.

“This period also allowed me to understand the wider TRAD Group, with our sister companies TRAD Hire and Sales and TRAD Safety Systems offering bespoke edge protection and specialist scaffolding products to our clients.”

In January 2020, TRAD Group CEO Des Moore appointed Peter to Deputy Managing Director, and then to Managing Director in September 2020. “Des has been hugely influential on my career, helping me to adjust to each different role along my journey and to provide guidance based on his experience within the industry, and I owe him thanks for his belief in what I can achieve. It’s fantastic now to be leading one of the TRAD Group companies and to be in a position to mentor and advise others to achieve their own potential.”

As Managing Director, Peter is keen to uphold the familyoriented culture that TRAD promotes, despite being part of an international brand, the Altrad Group. “This has always been a company that has led the way in innovation, and hasn’t been afraid to make changes where clear improvements can be made,” says Peter. “We embrace diversity and we believe in opportunities for all, promotion from within, strong training and mentoring programmes and making the most of all the talents across the business.”

As TRAD Scaffolding approaches its 50th anniversary in 2021, it would be easy, thinks Peter, to get settled into an ‘If it’s not broken, don’t try and fix it’ mindset. However, he says that’s not TRAD’s way. “We need to continue to move with the times, and lead the way in the industry,” he concludes.

“Our products and services reflect all our combined years of work and experience on projects, and our goal is to improve the safety of site systems and scaffolding workers. Scaffolding is an essential part of the construction industry and we intend to be at the forefront of innovation and growth. I’m extremely proud to be leading the company that I have grown up with and love, and to be shaping the next chapter of its great history.”

I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT TAKING THE JOB, AS I KNEW IT WAS A SLIGHT STEP DOWN IN SALARY, BUT I WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD DO IT, AND IT PROVED TO BE THE RIGHT DECISION FOR ME

SCAFFMAG.COM | 31

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// Modular

RING OF FIRE Layher & KAEFER partnership meet complex scaffolding requirements at Hinkley Point C

T

he safety, versatility and efficiency for which Layher Ltd scaffolding and access systems and KAEFER Ltd expertise are known worldwide are now being dramatically demonstrated during one of the most significant construction projects in the UK for many years.

Hinkley Point C in Somerset is seeing two new nuclear reactors built – the first in this country for over 20 years – to provide 3200 MWe of low-carbon electricity which is sufficient to power six million homes.

Layher’s involvement is via a strategic partnership with KAEFER, who have been commissioned to provide access and specialist coating services during the construction of the Nuclear Island inner containment liners. It is work that has presented significant challenges, as Layher’s UK Managing Director, Sean Pike explains: “Each of the six circular liners includes three steel rings measuring some 48.2 metres in diameter and 17 metres in height,” he says.

34 | SCAFFMAG.COM

“The scaffolding has been designed to provide both external and internal access to the faces for coating operations and, therefore, has had to follow the build programme very closely.” He explains that as each structure – comprising a cup, the three rings and a dome – is completed, it is then craned onto the Nuclear Island.

“As this process is undertaken, scaffold is being prepared for the second and then subsequent structures to follow on,” says Sean.

The external structures are a particularly impressive blend of design innovation and Layher’s equipment suitability for highly complex installations.

“The scaffolding has to provide access to both vertical and horizontal welds for each ring – a total of some 150 linear metres,” says Jonathan Leyland, UK Design Manager at KAEFER. The external walls of each containment liner also feature a series of circular protrusions which had to be accommodated by the scaffolding design.

“There is little commonality in the layout of

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// Modular

BOTH THE COMPLEX BIM MODEL AND OUR SIM SCAFFOLD MODEL INTEGRATE SEAMLESSLY, THEREBY IDENTIFYING ANY COLLISIONS, CLASHES AND PROBLEMS LONG BEFORE THE SCAFFOLD IS PHYSICALLY BUILT these protrusions on each structure and, also, a wide variation in dimensions – from diameters of 2.7 metres to just 50mm – so it is vital that the scaffold layout is sufficiently adaptable to meet this variation. The Layher equipment has proven to be ideal,” adds Jonathan.

The rosette design of the Layher standards, which allows multiple connections, is ideal for the circular nature of the installations at Hinkley Point.

Each makes full use of Layher’s Allround lightweight scaffolding and associated lightweight deck systems to create multiple lifts that encircle each liner. This provides access for painting and coating operations and offers key benefits in terms of wide

36 | S CAFFMAG.COM

ABOVE: Hinkley Point C in Somerset’s new nuclear reactors will be the first in this country for over 20 years providing 3200 MWe of low-carbon electricity which is sufficient to power six million homes.

bays and clear access due to no requirement for cross-platform-bracing.

It has also led to the innovative development of a specific, adjustable splay deck. This is a one-piece extendable corner unit that removes the need for overlay decking and which, again, reflects the circular nature of the structure.

“The complexity of the scaffold project could only be realised by utilising Layher’s 5D modelling system, SIM (Scaffold Information Modelling) software,” continues Sean Pike. “This interfaces directly with the Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology model used on the project to identify the optimum scaffold layout and build method.

Both the complex BIM model and our SIM scaffold model integrate seamlessly, thereby identifying any collisions, clashes and problems long before the scaffold is physically built. This saves time and helps to optimise logistics and labour – and the customer sees what they are getting beforehand.”

This further enables virtual structures to be designed in fine detail and visualised via a VR model on screen or VR headset so that both the layout and

movement through the structure can be assessed and modified long before equipment arrives at site. It is estimated that this has reduced the amount of scaffolding that may otherwise have been required for the project by some 15%.

“Hinkley Point C is an important project for KAEFER’s wide range of technical industrial services solutions and a site where we are always looking to apply best practices in construction methodology and digital technology,” explains Trevor Woodward, Director of Business & Strategy for KAEFER in the UK & Ireland.

“We believe in working hard in collaboration with our supply chain partners and customers to provide the most reliable and efficient industrial services.

KAEFER chose to use our own 5D scaffolding design expertise, alongside Layher equipment and SIM design capability, for the critical access and containment structures. Access for productivity and efficiency is essential but more importantly we are able to design, model and plan safety critical aspects such as ventilation and rescue. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Layher on this world-leading project.”

ABOVE: Layher’s 5D modelling system, SIM (Scaffold Information Modelling) software is utilised for this complex scaffold project.

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// Careers

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Back to school

Education is key to unlocking inclusion so construction must aim for schools, not just skylines, when it comes to plugging the gender gap

SCAFFMAG.COM | 39

// Careers

I

t’s not without good reason that alarm bells rang in the construction industry two years ago.

A pre-pandemic world defined by a listless obsession with brakes-off development might sound like a glory age for the sector, but the findings of a 2018 ONS review of the UK workforce painted a less positive picture.

Despite efforts to address the imbalance, the report found women were so poorly represented in certain construction occupations – including bricklaying, scaffolding and roofing – the actual numbers were too low to measure accurately.

Potential causes of the imbalance range from health and safety concerns to inflexible working structures, but in reality old public image, stereotypes and sexism also factor in the explanation.

Crucially, the news hit two years after a separate report, Modernise Or Die, looking at the UK construction workforce as a whole. It warned an extra 120,000 employees would be needed within the industry to meet rising demand for skilled trades in the coming years, with 700,000 workers also due to retire in that time. The point being, by addressing construction’s shameful gender inequality we will also help plug that gaping hole.

“I would have to say although it has improved over the 15-plus years that I have worked in the industry, it still has a long way to go,” says Tanya Hilton, scaffolding survey manager at Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd, when we ask about how much has been done to encourage more women into the industry during her career.

“Currently I work across nine different sites and the presence of women on site is more prevalent in the offices. However, actually on site it still appears to be lacking and this is clear by how you are looked at, almost as though it is still a massive surprise to see a woman walking around site.”

A key problem, according to Hilton, isn’t so much the reality but the image and perceptions of construction work.

“There is still plenty of work to be done to improve understanding of the career options available within the construction industry,” she explains.

“We need to get the message across that a career in construction does not mean that you have to work on site only, and eliminate one of the main

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I would have to say although it has improved over the 15-plus years that I have worked in the industry, it still has a long way to go misconceptions — that this is an intimidating environment for women. In my experience that’s not the case at all.”

“For me it needs to start at school level. Teaching from a young age about the diverse opportunities within construction, and the many options for career progression,” Hilton continues.

“This would open up an understanding and trigger consideration for this type of career much earlier, rather than, for example, in my case, where I luckily found this career by chance through another job I was doing, and had no idea a career in this field was even an option while at school.”

Hilton isn’t alone. Another senior member of the Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd team, Sylvia Wheatcroft, echoes similar concerns. Having worked in the industry for 13 years, rising to logistics manager, she believes progress has been made but women still find themselves in back office roles, rather than on site.

“At Lee Marley Brickwork we do have a small team of women such as apprentice bricklayers, health and safety managers and surveyors who are working on our sites on a daily basis,” she says.

“But, like many sectors, while this has made

ABOVE: Logistics Manager Sylvia Wheatcroft at Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd. LEFT: Scaffolding Surveying Manager Tanya Hamilton also at Lee Marley Brickwork Ltd.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 41

// Careers

fundamental changes, more can be done to encourage and develop more diversity in all departments.”

Again, the crux of the problem lies in a lack of awareness among young women about potential careers within construction. And the solution involves reaching people at school age to open their eyes to opportunities.

“I think there is still a requirement to encourage more diversity in the workforce and to raise awareness of what the industry can offer. Perhaps more funding, investment and support for start-up companies with diversity as a focus would help change perceptions that construction is predominantly male,” she says.

“I think raising the awareness from a school or college age would help, along with promoting apprenticeships. Companies who canshould publish diversity reports and policies, and committing to improving may attract applicants,” Wheatcroft continues, before explaining her views are formed from first-hand experience.

“I never envisaged working in construction.

I would have never known the opportunities if I did not apply for my initial administrator role, 13 years ago, but I can confidently recommended the industry to anyone.”

Hilton and Wheatcroft see eye-to-eye on the gender imbalance in the construction workforce,

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I never envisaged working in construction but I can confidently recommended the industry to anyone and the possible ways to improve that situation.

The pair also share the same opinion on the emerging skills gap. And, as Whatcroft explains, this also comes down to educating people on the different careers available.

“I would not say there is a current skill gap in the industry as such, but a lack of awareness of what opportunities, training and career paths are available within construction, and how working in construction does not mean every individual is physically on site laying bricks or erecting scaffolding. I feel this message could be made clearer from a school or college age,” she says.

“I think that if there are currently skills shortages across the board in construction, again this comes down to the complete misconception of what a career in construction means,” agrees Hilton.

“A lack of education of what is available and the opportunities at school and college level is where the industry is falling short in obtaining new and talented young people who want to work in construction.”

In many ways this should be taken as a positive – clearly major steps have been made to build a world where the industry as a whole wants, and needs, more female employees.

Nevertheless, it should also be taken as a telling sign that failure to invest in and connect with tomorrow’s workforce is only ever going to come back to bite us tenfold. Compelling evidence that an industry’s survival relies on its ability to nurture, not just function.

scaffmag THE SCAFFOLDING MAGAZINE

ISSUE 8, 2020 SCAFFMAG.COM SCAFFOLDER’S QUARTERLY

WELLINGTON MONUMENT Apex tops out on the world’s tallest triangular obelisk

PLUS

Tech trends that will reshape the future of construction

Business Spotlight: Enigma Industrial Services

Lynn Way: The first female President of the NASC

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ISSUE 9, 2020 SCAFFMAG.COM SCAFFOLDER’S QUARTERLY

THE SCAFFOLDING MAGAZINE

HOW COVID-19 IS CHANGING THE SCAFFOLDING INDUSTRY The greatest crisis Britain has faced since World War 2

PLUS

CISRS Card changeover proves an uphill battle

Attracting a new generation to the sector

Coventry Scaffolding: A phoenix from the city’s ashes

The best-read quarterly magazine in scaffolding At the very heart of the scaffolding and access industry, ScaffMag has been serving the industry since 2009 by championing best practice, raising awareness of safety issues on-site and promoting business excellence.

ScaffMag delivers its mixture of news, views, trends and product updates through digital channels and in print.

ScaffMag gives businesses and brands an unrivaled opportunity to advertise their products or services 24 hours a day, seven days a week to a highly targeted audience.

To find out more about advertising, contact Jessica Norton on 01472 476024 or email jess@scaffmag.com

SCAFFMAG.COM | 43

// Careers

CHANGING THE MINDSET

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Helen Gawor explains how valuing different skills to encourage diversity not only benefits businesses but helps increase profitability

’ve always struggled with the ‘women in construction’ movement because if not handled properly it puts us in a ‘subset’ of the workforce rather than addressing the diversity of skills, capabilities and experience women bring as equals.

Attracting women into the industry starts with attracting these diverse capabilities, not just targeting by gender. When this experience comes from other industries, we should organically attract more women into our businesses.

I started working with GKR over four years ago as a management consultant. Scaffolding businesses were not a category of client I would typically work with as my background and therefore my client base was digital media businesses and tech start-ups. In fact, I originally said I couldn’t help them.

However, when I met MD Lee Rowswell, I realised that the challenges and aspirations of GKR were not too far removed from the other businesses I worked with. Having a very entrepreneurial mindset similar to the tech founders I worked with, he wanted to strengthen their market positioning, structure GKR for growth and build a culture that drives innovation.

So, when I later joined the business permanently as Strategy Director, I felt very much at home despite my original belief that scaffolding was not an industry I could add value to.

I got to enjoy the challenge of an industry that needed change and GKR got an instant injection of experience from a faster-moving industry.

When a business is open to bringing in people from different backgrounds or with different skills, you will create a more diverse workforce.

HOW DOES THIS WORK FOR FEMALE SCAFFOLDERS?

I must caveat my comments here with the fact that I have never worked as a scaffolder nor have the skills to become one. But I do want to find ways of attracting people of both genders into scaffolding roles because we are currently not finding enough new entrants into the industry.

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Attracting women into on-site operative roles is a challenge for every part of the construction industry. Recruiting men is hard enough!

Construction in general has approximately a 12% female workforce. However, only 2% of these are site operatives.

Like other professions that struggle to appeal to women, the issue is around identifying the pool of the right women with the right capabilities and skills who want to work in a technical environment.

The physical capabilities are often seen as a barrier for women coming into labouring or scaffolding roles. Just as there are many men who do not have the physical capabilities, many women won’t have either. But some women do.

We would give an opportunity to a male school leaver who doesn’t look physically fit or strong. So, we should be openminded about women too.

However, this is not the only way we should be assessing core capabilities of the work.

I worked with a Project Manager who had spent a few years scaffolding in Canada. He commented that there were more women scaffolders, and those that weren’t as physically strong made up for it in technical competence. He stated they were more meticulous, meaning less time spent snagging, improving quality.

This is simply an anecdote, but it does suggest that we should measure performance across the broad range of capabilities so that we can better evaluate what having women in teams of operatives would bring.

INCLUSION WITHOUT TOKENISM

ATTRACTING WOMEN INTO ON-SITE OPERATIVE ROLES IS A CHALLENGE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, RECRUITING MEN IS HARD ENOUGH!

Including women when we are in the minority requires businesses to have very open cultures where diversity of thinking and skills is welcomed.

With the whole construction industry being challenged to adapt and modernise, having more women in our businesses will be proof that we are attracting and nurturing the right people, with the right skills to take our businesses into the future.

I must stress, however, that equality is what we are looking for. Women being treated equally, not as the token woman.

But we do need to think about what we are measuring if women bring something different that benefits how we work.

We shouldn’t put quotas on gender either. Positive discrimination is real, and no woman wants to feel they are in a job because the business wanted a female to reach targets. I’d want to know I’m in a job because I’m the best candidate – better than the men I was up against.

But we will create more opportunities for women when we measure and value diversity of skills and capabilities.

This only benefits our businesses. Research into the most successful businesses has proved that more diverse businesses are more profitable.

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// Careers

RAISING AWARENESS

A few years ago, the NASC exhibited at a school careers event, dressing its stand with a large chunk of scaffolding in a bid to catch young jobseekers’ eyes. Robin James, NASC Managing Director, tells us more

T

he tube and fitting totem achieved two things; one, serving as a beacon to second-andthird-generation scaffolders who were keen to follow their dads and grandfathers into the industry and were already set on this path, and two, putting off almost everyone else, with the majority looking at the stand, thinking “I don’t want to become a scaffolder,” before moving on.

Clearly, a different approach was required. Since then, we have gone to great lengths to look at ways to entice more people of all ages, backgrounds and professional experiences to take up roles in the scaffolding industry.

We recognised that there was a lack of awareness of the multitude of careers available to jobseekers and decided that a dedicated scaffolding careers website was needed. This site went live in September 2020.

The site scaffoldingcareers.nasc.org.uk features more than a dozen detailed overviews of a variety of careers, from labourer and scaffolding operative through to SHEQ manager and estimator, each providing information, such as what the role entails, what the responsibilities are, what key skills are advantageous and expected salaries.

There’s also a jobs board featuring vacancies currently being offered by NASC members.

This site gives us a great place to direct jobseekers and we hope will encourage people to apply for the live

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jobs on the site or work towards entering the industry by other means.

We’re also taking other proactive steps to encourage more people, particularly young people, to consider careers in the scaffolding industry.

This has included school and college visits, organising open days, participating in careers events and creating pre-employment training schemes (PETS).

The NASC is also looking to become a gateway organisation for the Kickstart Scheme, which provides funding to employers to create new six-month job placements for young people.

A Kickstart Scheme application must be for a minimum of 30 job placements.

That is why the NASC is looking to serve as a gateway organisation, and looking for at least 30 placements to be created across the NASC membership.

NASC members have responded really positively to our gateway organisation intention to date. As such, we’re hopeful that we will soon have more than 30 16–24-yearold apprentices entering the scaffolding industry under the scheme shortly.

There’s much more to be done, of course, but we’re confident that we’re on the right course. The scaffolding industry has a number of fantastic career opportunities. Now that we’re actively promoting these vacancies, the industry as a whole will benefit in the coming years and beyond.

SCAFFMAG.COM | 47

// Mental health

STICK IT TO STIGMA Hey, nut Job?! Have I got your attention?

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Challenging the stigma that exists surrounding mental health is a key theme in delivering mental health first aid training. One of the first exercises that I do as a mental health trainer is to address that stigma, in particular with the words that we use.

I ask people to think of words that describe someone with poor mental health, reassuring them that political correctness does not apply in this instance. ‘Psycho, schizo, mad as a box of frogs…’ the list goes on. These words, many of which are dated, build a barrier to getting help as well as helping discrimination and stigma to be acceptable.

Then I ask for the groups to give a list of words that describe positive mental health. I can guarantee that the list of words for those experiencing mental issues will be considerably longer and, in fact, there are comparatively few words that we use for people in a good place mentally.

Very often the negative language that we use is embedded into our speech. We use the terms and phrases without thinking of the impact that they might have on someone dealing with poor mental health who may already be struggling to talk about it. Research shows us that statistically men will find it more difficult to open up and talk about how they are feeling and seek help. Whilst this is changing, it is still an established fact.

Building-site banter has its place and helps to get through the day, however, it could be that describing someone as a ‘nutter’ may make them laugh on the outside, but might make them further retreat mentally and emotionally making talking about how they feel less likely.

To turn around the negative phrases, we no longer talk about people ‘suffering’ from poor mental health as that could be perceived as seeing them as being lesser as a person.

Our language around suicide is hugely important to how we think about it and an illustration of how outdated words perpetuate stigma.

The word, ‘commited’ suicide is used commonly.

This relates to when suicide was viewed as a crime and therefore an offence was committed. We now talk about someone, ‘completing suicide’ as a non-judgemental way of dealing with an extremely emotive issue. We also refer to suicide as being a successful or a failed attempt. Less stigmatic phrasing would be to say a ‘non-fatal suicide attempt’ or just ‘suicide attempt’.

Alternatively a more neutral phrase would be death by suicide.

Mental health first aid aims to support people in crisis, including suicide. It is a myth that being direct and talking to someone about suicide will lead to them to act on their

thoughts. One person told me that when he was seriously thinking about suicide and had prepared the means to do so, when someone took the time to ask him how he was feeling after noticing a change in his behaviour, it was enough for him to see that he was worth talking to.

That glimmer of seeing that someone else recognised his worth was enough to put him onto to a path towards therapy and support. It is worth remembering that whilst we may not always say the right thing, the most important part is reaching out – you just might save a life.

The Counselling Hub offers Mental Health First Aid UK training on an individual and corporate basis, please contact me at: sj@ansellrose.com.

OUR LANGUAGE AROUND SUICIDE IS HUGELY IMPORTANT TO HOW WE THINK ABOUT IT AND AN ILLUSTRATION OF HOW OUTDATED WORDS PERPETUATE STIGMA

If you or someone you know needs confidential help with suicidal thoughts, the following organisations can offer support: Samaritans 116 www.samaritans.org or Papyrus 08000684141 / www.papyrus-uk.org.

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// Advice

WRAP UP WARM In the winter months, erecting a scaffold can be dangerous work. To help us overcome these challenges, our friends at Leach’s have shared their top 10 tips to protect scaffolders this winter

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Erecting a scaffold is a hazardous job at the best of times. Risks such as falling from height, or being struck by dropped tools, take a lot of planning, preparation and training to overcome. Utilising the right equipment is essential to ensure scaffolders’ safety throughout the working day.

Add winter to the equation and the risks become even more severe.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), there were 54,000 non-fatal injuries on-site in 2019, as well as 30 fatalities. With the increased risk of slips, trips and falls that winter brings, having the right on-site precautions in place is critical.

A CHANGING WORLD

If recent years have taught us anything, we must start preparing for the unexpected. Our ever-changing climate is throwing more wintery storms our way; it’s almost impossible to predict what’s coming. This year also brings the threat of coronavirus – halting the illness in its tracks is imperative if we are to minimise the threat of a winter shutdown. Worker safety and comfort in this challenging time has never been so important.

At Leach’s, we want to go the extra mile to protect on-site workers from any risk. We’ve put together our top 10 tips to keep scaffolders and sites safe during the winter months.

WINTER WORK WEAR

8

Our first focus is on work wear, giving you the low-down on the best clothes for working outdoors in winter:

1

Be seen… and warm!

When visibility is low and the cold sweeps in, a good high-vis jacket is just what’s needed to keep you warm and safe. The more comfortable the worker, the easier it is to do the job. It’s important to be seen too, as the risk of being struck by moving vehicles increases during winter.

2

Keep the rain out.

A good set of waterproofs is essential for worker comfort, but it’s also necessary to dress for the conditions. If it’s slightly milder, you may prefer something more breathable. Closer to zero degrees Celsius and you might like that extra layer for warmth. It’s important to get the balance right.

3

Protect your hands.

We can all relate to the feeling of freezing hands. A good pair of gloves protects them during everyday tasks and keeps them warm.

But you need to do be able to do the job well too, so dexterity is a must. If you take off your gloves to carry out the work, then you’ve probably got the wrong pair.

4

Keep your head warm.

A helmet liner is the perfect addition to a hard hat in winter to keep your head warm. Fastening under the chin, they protect your head, ears and part of your neck from the cold. Make sure you get one that’s also easily attached to a helmet harness for added comfort.

5

Look after your feet.

Winter footwear must offer great protection, but also be durable and comfortable.

A decent pair of safety boots will improve productivity as you’ll feel better on your feet for longer. During the winter you’ll want to stop the cold setting in too, so you’ll need something fully waterproof and insulated.

ON-SITE SAFETY

Now you’ve kitted yourself out in all the right gear, it’s time to ensure your building or scaffolding site is also fully prepared:

6

Heavy-dutyscaffoldsheeting: If you’re working on a scaffold in winter, it’s likely you’ll be exposed to some quite unsavory conditions. Heavy-duty scaffold sheeting does a fantastic job of keeping out the wind and rain, helping you focus on the task at hand. There are many options available including flame-retardant and certified. You can even print your sheeting to display your logo across your scaffolds.

7

Tether your tools: Cold, wet and numb hands means it’s more likely you could drop your tools, and the results can be catastrophic. Of course, accidents happen, but the right preparation can ensure that even if you do drop a tool, no one else will pay the price. Tool tethering ensures you’re attached to the tools you’re using, protecting those around you from that free-falling spanner.

Clamp down your boards.

When the stormy weather blows in, the last thing you want is unsecured scaffold boards that can become displaced. This is extremely hazardous and could result in a board dislodging and striking fellow workers, or misplaced footing causing falls and trips. A good set of board clamps will ensure your scaffold boards remain in place during the bad weather.

9

Light your work area. Winter brings with it shorter days.

That means many on-site workers may start and finish the day in almost total darkness. Good scaffold lighting is imperative to ensure hazards are highly visible, and to keep workers alert when the light fades.

10

Stop the spread: As we know, this will be a winter like no other.

With coronavirus in the air and the threat of another winter lockdown looming, it’s important we do as much as we can to protect workers from infection. Ensuring good hand sanitisation and enforcing social distancing to minimise the risk of transmission will be critical. And that’s a wrap!

If you need support to prepare for winter, visit www.leachs.com or give our friendly team a call and we’ ll be happy to advise on a bespoke range for your needs. Call +44 (0)1432 346 890 today.

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// New products

T

he G&M freestanding crash deck offers all of the benefits of the leading G&M Safe Deck access platform decking system – fast, safe working platform and fall protection, 2kn/m2 loading strength, various 1.5m, 1.7m, 2.0m and 2.5m leg heights, non-slip, allowing tube and fitting scaffolding through it, the ability to be cut to size, manufactured to the highest standards and available with bespoke company branding.

But now there is no need for a supporting structure to contain the G&M Safe Deck system on site – with just one simple supporting component that can be quickly and easily pinned onto either end of a leg tube allowing almost total independence for the working platform. This means birdcages and other working platforms can be installed virtually anywhere on site, qucikly and safely, with next to no additional support.

In addition to the free-standing G&M Safe Deck, the innovative family business has also launched the G&M Hatch – uniquely designed to offer the safe access of personnel and materials between floors during the building process.

The G&M hatch – tested to load Class 4 – comes in one size and fits between the floor joists, secured into place with screws. The multifunctional hatch not only allows site personnel to gain access through the main hatch but enables materials to be safely passed through a loading hatch.

An added feature is the ladder hatch which allows you to safely lash your ladder into place. The robust design

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SAFETY FIRST

Top UK work-at-height training and safety systems providers G&M Safety Netting/G&M Safe Deck have launched two innovative new products to boost construction site safety post lockdown – the G&M freestanding crash deck and the G&M Hatch

THE RESPONSE TO BOTH THE G&M FREESTANDING CRASH DECK AND G&M HATCH HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL means the hatch has been tested to BSEN12811-Part4. UK-manufactured we can supply in your company colours for identification and traceability.

G&M Managing Director Mark Pickles said: “We never stand still and rest on our laurels here at G&M. The nationwide success of G&M Safe Deck has allowed us to be able to re-invest in products we know the industry needs to boost safety on site and allow greater flexibility, productivity and operational capacity.

“The response to both the G&M freestanding crash deck and G&M Hatch has been phenomenal from leading construction firms and the housebuilding industry who are looking for ways to be faster and safer on site.

“And this is just the beginning.

The team at G&M has a whole raft of ideas in the pipeline to help us keep our hard-fought reputation as the leading independent provider of UK-wide fall-prevention safety systems and associated training.”

G&M Safety Training Ltd offers wide range of FASET and other work-at-height training courses, as well as their own range of access platform decking, G&M Safe Deck and associated work-at-height safety products. Course and product information and contact details can be found on the new-look websites: www.gmsafetynetting.co.uk & www.gmsafedeck.com

ABOVE: The G&M hatch – tested to load Class 4 – comes in one size and fits between the floor joists, secured into place with screws.

ABOVE: One simple supporting component can be quickly and easily pinned onto either end of a leg tube allowing almost total independence for the working platform

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// New products

FOR YOUR PROTECTION The UK scaffolding industry is always ready to lead in the community at large through a number of sources. Now, thanks to a couple of innovative designers, the door is opening on a new threeway concept ensuring everyone involved wins

A

combination of a green vision, cutting-edge safety for both site workers and the public and a bright 21stcentury way of advertising is taking shape even as this report was being written.

Scafsleeves are the next generation of protective and bright scaffolding covers, made to suit health and safety legislation and lasting more than 10 times longer than ordinary scaffold protector foam.

Current foam, of course, provides a softer outside covering protecting against impact and a multitude of other dangers – but too often when the scaffolding is dismantled, it gets torn off and thrown away ready for the process to start all over again on another site. This in itself can’t be sustained in terms of helping the environment. It can also prove costly with many products costing up to £2 a metre.

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WATERPROOF AND WASHABLE

Waterproof and light Scafsleeves last a lifetime, can be taken off the tubes easily – can even be washed down where they are, and remain rugged and untearable in the face of potential petty vandalism.

What’s more both one- and two-metre lengths are available and there’s a lifetime guarantee against faulty workmanship.

Alan Mohan from AMS Services told us: “Our design comes with the option of having logos and text printed onto

OUR DESIGN COMES WITH THE OPTION OF HAVING LOGOS AND TEXT PRINTED ONTO EACH SLEEVE. THE SECTIONS ARE HIGHLY REFLECTIVE AND CAN BE SEEN QUITE CLEARLY

each sleeve. The sections are highly reflective and light up so much under lights, any company name or form of advertising can be seen quite clearly.

“They are 15mm thick with a patented design allowing the sleeve to lay flat while also allowing it to be wrapped around the pole. It can make a strikingly bold statement about any company image. And of course, this is open to anyone. Not just scaffolding or construction companies. It has a universal appeal all round – ideal for those whose image is important.”

It gets even better, however, on discovering this is a lay-flat creation, meaning transportation and storage is made easy. It’s perfect for prime locations, and, of course, it can make a huge difference when it comes to wastage and helping the environment. They can even supply eyelets and printing, so nothing is a problem.

INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENTS

AM Services prides itself on its innovative designs and developments – they’ve both developed and improved upon essential construction site products for everyone’s benefit. From social distancing screens to sound barriers, their products are making a real impact with firms across the UK. THE FUTURE HERE NOW

The Scafsleeve is already generating a great deal of interest both in the industry and outside. The designers hope the product will eventually go worldwide as it gains in popularity.

Scafsleeve is available to purchase from the height safety equipment specialist, Leach’s.

Visit www.leachs.com for more information.

Or alternatively, to find out more Scafsleeve, and their innovative designs, go to www.scafsleeve.com.

Scaffolding | Hoists | Mast Climbers | Temporary Works Design | Innovation

Proud sponsors of London Irish Rugby Club Discover more at www.phdaccess.com 01895 822 292 | info@phdaccess.com | Safety By Choice, Not By Chance

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// New products

INTO THE VOID With construction contractors looking to their scaffolding partners to provide safety solutions for all areas of site, there are wide-ranging opportunities for scaffolding companies to generate revenue while adding value for customers.

One of those opportunities is lift void gates

L

ift void gates protect site workers from the risk of falling into the void and are an important element of due diligence for construction companies and developers. Now, a lift void gate that offers enhanced safety at reduced cost is available from G-DECK, the trusted name in construction safety decks and the company behind the G-DECK Dual hybrid crash deck alternative to birdcage.

Designed by the experts behind G-DECK’s range of robust construction safety and scaffolding systems, the G-DECK Lift Void Gate provides a flexible solution, suitable for any site and any lift void.

Fabricated from galvanised metal for a strong and weather-resistant solution for any location, the gate can be extended with the addition of one or more ‘wings’ and takes just five minutes to install.

A standard G-DECK Lift Void Gate with one wing costs just £475 – less than half the cost of comparable systems on the market – which creates an opportunity for scaffolding companies to acquire the system at relatively low cost while creating an opportunity for regular rental income.

Explains Ty Wilson, sales director of G-DECK: “On large development sites there is often a number of lift void apertures which need to be

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protected to avoid the risk of falls from height. However, the lift shaft needs to remain accessible to allow operatives to work in the void when required.

“For scaffolding companies with lift void gates to hire, this creates a significant opportunity to hire out lift void gate assets on a continuous basis for months or even years. Even at a modest rental of £10/week, the payback period for a gate and wing set up is under a year and, as site safety becomes an increasingly important element of winning and delivering projects for construction companies, demand has never been higher.”

A FULLY TESTED AND COMPLIANT LIFT VOID GATE

As you would expect from G-DECK, the company’s new Lift Void Gate system may come at a value-for-money cost, but it has been designed and manufactured to the very highest standards.

Compliant with BS EN13374:

FOR SCAFFOLDING COMPANIES THIS CREATES A SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY TO HIRE OUT LIFT VOID GATE ASSETS ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS

2013 Class A, and fully tested by independent testing experts Tesmec, the G-DECK Lift Void Gate has been designed for safety, ease of use and versatility. The gate can be installed within just five minutes using a self-tapping concrete bolt and the doors open outwards only, avoiding any risk of site operatives falling into the void by pushing on the gate or colliding with it.

The gate has a stable door design, enabling users to choose whether to open the upper or lower half of the door or both sections together, providing increased flexibility and safety while maintaining simple operation. The system can be padlocked when access to the void is not required, providing a robust and secure barrier to the void that ensures reliable protection against falls from height.

Ty Wilson continues: “Construction companies, developers and housebuilders already trust the G-DECK name because we offer the strongest construction safety deck on the market with flexible solutions to suit a wide range of site requirements and conditions.

“The scaffolding sector also knows us as an innovator, thanks to our G-DECK Dual system which allows scaffolding companies to combine their existing scaffolding tube assets with our market-leading G-DECK

decks for a hybrid solution that’s costeffective, adaptable and time-efficient.

“With the new Lift Void Gate, we are building on this track record of safety, innovation and value for money by offering a site safety solution that exceeds expectations on cost, functionality and safety. At just

£475 for a gate and wing combination, it’s an ideal solution for scaffolding companies that want to diversify with new long-term revenue-generation opportunities and the perfect way to add value to relationships built on service and safety.”

G-DECK can provide demos of all

the company’s systems, including the new Lift Void Gate system and has product in stock, ensuring excellent product availability.

To find out more contact the G-DECK team on 0116 2510352 or email office@gdecking.com

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// Insurance

What is scaffolding insurance, Does your scaffolding business have the right type of insurance?

If not, you could be putting yourself, your staff and your business at risk, should something unfortunate happen whilst on-site. Whether you’re buying scaffolding insurance for the first time, or are looking to renew, there’s a few things to consider to make sure you’re completely covered for all eventualities

WHAT IS SCAFFOLDING INSURANCE?

This is a good place to start, because it’s not always known what this type of insurance is, let alone why you need it.

By understanding what the insurance is, you’ll see why it’s something that your scaffolding business needs.

Scaffolding is a high-risk business.

Consider all the risks associated with your day-to-day job. Now consider who is at risk; you, your team, contractors, members of the public, and so on. With a lot going on, anything can happen to anyone at any time. But without insurance, should any accident occur, your business could be financially liable if the accident was caused by you.

Scaffolding insurance is therefore designed to protect you financially, against unforeseen accidents.

WHY DO YOU NEED IT?

To mitigate risk, even the unavoidable and unknown risks. And because of the nature of the work, scaffolders are putting themselves, and others in greater risk than many other trades. From erecting the scaffolding, to working on it, maintaining it and dismantling it,

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and do I need it? consider the different types of accidents that may occur to you, your colleagues, contractors, members of the public and even the site itself.

For example, workers could fall, workers or the public could be hit by falling objects, the scaffolding could accidently damage property, the scaffolding or parts of it may even be vandalised or stolen. These are all risks that you may end up paying for, and the bill coming your way could be a lot more than the amount to pay for the insurance in the first place. Ultimately it gives you peace of mind that you’re covered.

TYPES OF INSURANCES AVAILABLE

Scaffolding insurance is made up of a number of different types of insurances.

This is because each insurance covers a different risk: • T he main type of insurance is public liability insurance. This insurance is designed to protect your business if a third party (ie someone who isn’t an employee or contractor) makes a claim against your company for causing an accident or injury to themselves or damage to their property. If you are found to be legally responsible for the injury or damage claim, public liability insurance will help to pay the financial cost.

• A nother key insurance for scaffolding businesses is employer’s liability insurance. If your scaffolding business directly employs people, whether they

are full-time, part-time or contractors, it is a legal requirement for you to have employer’s liability insurance (other than for bona fide subcontractors). It is designed to protect an employee should something happen to them when operating and working on the scaffolding. For example, they may get injured or fall ill as a result of an accident caused by the scaffolding. If you are found to be legally responsible, employer’s liability insurance will help to pay the financial cost to the employee.

• T here are a number of other types of insurances to consider as part of scaffolding insurance. For example, Financial Loss will protect you against claims that your client has suffered financial losses as a result of your work. Additionally, Professional Indemnity Insurance will protect you against claims from a client who has lost money as a result of a perceived sub-standard service. Not least, depending on your circumstances, you should also consider protecting your tools and equipment, and if you’re a sole trader, looking into personal accidental cover and accidental death.

With some insurance providers, these insurances can be combined into one package, or bought individually.

In either case it is considered appropriate to obtain a detailed picture of what you’re being insured for, what your claim limits are, and how much it will cost you each month or year to be insured.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR?

As well as obtaining a detailed picture of what your insurance will cover, you should check for restrictions. These can come in different forms, but the most obvious one for scaffolders is a height restriction. Always double-check what the height restriction is. Some providers do actually offer an unrestricted height limit, so consider your needs and requirements. If there is a height restriction in place, do not erect scaffolding or work higher than this level, as your cover won’t be valid if any accidents do occur. Other restrictions may include regional access, for example you may not be able to work in certain locations either home or abroad, so it is worth double-checking the locations where you are covered.

NEXT STEPS

Once you have a clear idea of your needs and requirements, it’s time to obtain quotes. Be sure to choose a reliable provider that has experience in your trade. And if you’re unsure of anything, be sure you choose a provider who’ll be able to answer any of your questions.

For reliable scaffolding insurance, Trade Direct Insurance provide comprehensive policies tailored for different budgets. Visit their site for a quick, no quibble, quote. www.tradedirectinsurance.co.uk/ insurance-by-trade/roofersscaffolders-liability

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When the Layher system was it was a breath of

The past, present and future of system scaffolding

Layher UK info@layher.co.uk | www.layher.co.uk Layher Ireland info@layher.ie | www.layher.ie

FS 554413

Approved Training Provider

Z-8.22.64 and Z-8-22-64.1

introduced, fresh air. It still is.

Safety, versatility, cost effectiveness – today, the benefits that define our scaffolding, access and weather protection systems are all enhanced by a clear commitment to the environment.

From a dedicated Energy Management Team and sustainable production processes, to a focus on reducing manufacturing energy consumption and CO2 emissions, our emphasis in this vital area is all-embracing.

So every time you install equipment with the famous red label, you can be confident we are all working together towards a greener future.

We listen. We respond. You succeed.

07 P

VGS-L 10

// Projects

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PROJECTS Royal Albert Hall, London ● Sayer Street, London ● University of Brighton, Sussex ●

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A BRITISH ICON The iconic Royal Albert Hall will reach its 150th Anniversary in March 2021.

In preparation for this milestone, the Grade I-listed building has been carefully cleaned, restored and upgraded, a task made possible with access provided by GKR Scaffolding

T

he work completes at the end of 2020 after GKR has worked on every phase of the restoration since it started in 2014. The main challenge was to create unobtrusive, safe access to enable cleaning and restoration of the external facade which is made up of brick, stone, terracotta and mosaics.

GKR’s Special Works Division specialises in working on listed buildings, overcoming the operational and engineering challenges presented by minimising the impact of access works on heritage buildings.

Programmed to work on a quadrant at a time, the external scaffold was first erected at the north-east quadrant. A full-height scaffold was installed to the lower and upper tiers of the main external facade.

This was built in 4m individual towers in order to follow the circular profile of the building.

Each tower was linked together to create a splayed scaffold. This allowed clear access through the towers, with full working platforms complete with a HAKI staircase to all levels and the upper roof area.

The scaffold moved around the building quadrant by quadrant, also taking into account the access requirements for a building that was still open to

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// Projects

visitors. This included extensive bridging over all entrances to allow clear access in the hall for members of the public.

Gantries were installed over the public footpaths to both support the scaffold and give maximum protection to members of the public. Six board-wide protection fans were also installed at the second lift.

HANGING SCAFFOLDS PROTECTING STONEWORK

At the highest point is the ‘inner drum’ where scaffold was erected around the entire external perimeter.

However, in order to avoid tying into the terracotta and mosaic façade to work above the east and west porches, the inner drum was also used to bridge beams to the main external façade.

Cantilevered double 450 aluminium beams with fully braced support towers were used to tie the four-lift hanging scaffolds. Dropping each lift in sections allowed the scaffolders to work from each completed lift, ensuring a safe and controlled build for operatives whilst protecting the historic facade.

Extensive bridging was also installed above the Smoking Gallery – the ornate balustrade above the top tier. This was to distribute the weight of the scaffold above as the Gallery is not designed to support imposed loadings.

FROM BASEMENT TO ROOF SUPPORT

The project included internal roof support and access in various parts of the building including the areas used by the monarchy, although one of the more challenging parts of the internal restoration work was excavating a new two-storey basement to extend backstage facilities.

Before this could progress, GKR initially created access to the boiler rooms to replace the heating and boiler systems by erecting a birdcage scaffold.

The team were required to create access to reroute the boiler house flue due to the existing chimney being decommissioned to allow for excavation work to commence. A full-height support scaffold was also erected adjacent to the north porch to support the new flue from the boiler room.

A lifting beam was then built to facilitate in the excavation of the two-story basement extension.

MAINTAINING THE AESTHETICS OF A LANDMARK

Being one of London’s most recognisable landmarks, 6.5m-high hoarding complete with di-bond panels

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replicating the iconic building was used to replicate the iconic façade.

The work overall was sympathetic to both the aesthetics of the building and the access needs of the restoration; keeping the building accessible and safe.But more importantly, the scaffold programme ensured delivery of the work in time for a very special anniversary.

EXTENSIVE BRIDGING WAS ALSO INSTALLED ABOVE THE SMOKING GALLERY – THE ORNATE BALUSTRADE ABOVE THE TOP TIER. THIS WAS TO DISTRIBUTE THE WEIGHT OF THE SCAFFOLD ABOVE AS THE GALLERY IS NOT DESIGNED TO SUPPORT IMPOSED LOADINGS

LEFT: Scaffolding covering the iconic Royal Albert Hall.

Each tower was linked together to create a splayed scaffold clearing through the towers.

Design for life The capital is now a melting pot for architectural innovation and design – and for ingenuity projects, they don’t come much better than Sayer Street, where different becomes the new norm for two visionary leaders in the industry, as Grahame Anderson found out DIFFERENT IS THE NEW NORM IN SOUTH-EAST LONDON

Elephant and Castle is an iconic landmark of London now being skilfully regenerated to match 21st-century expectations just south of the Thames.

Its exciting highlight will be charismatic Sayer Street gloriously revamped to the tune of £2.3bn, with an overall aim of transforming and reconnecting the area with its network. In fact, residents will soon find the area is the perfect place to socialise, relax and work in complete

comfort and safety. What’s more, it’s set to become home to a diverse range of local businesses, restaurants, shops and budding entrepreneurs.

BESPOKE STRUCTURE

Those looking more closely would have borne witness to a bespoke, semipermanent, modular ring system scaffold structure to complement the various businesses along Sayer Street, during construction works, whilst creating a pleasing yet fully functional urban space

both alluring and easy on the eye.

PHD Access, in conjunction with sister company Overlay Events, was chosen by Lendlease to design, supply, install and oversee the semi-permanent structure as Danny Dwyer, Managing Director of the company, pointed out.

He told us: “The Sayer Street project presented us with a unique challenge to create a semi-permanent structure which captured the aspiration of the architects.

“Early engagement with our client throughout the design process and the

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EARLY ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR CLIENT THROUGHOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS AND THE USE OF 3D MODELLING ENABLED US TO CREATE A FANTASTIC SPACE WHICH CAN BE ENJOYED BY THE RESIDENTS WHILST HIGHLIGHTING THE FLEXIBILITY OF A SYSTEM SCAFFOLDING use of 3D modelling enabled us to create a fantastic space which can be enjoyed by the residents whilst highlighting the flexibility of a system scaffolding. We were delighted to partner with our sister company, Overlay Events, to bring the concept to reality.”

CAPTURING IMAGINATION

The brief was to create interest and intrigue for the local community in the same way a well-thought-out art structure would capture their imagination. In the most wonderful way, the architectural concept was brought to life seamlessly identifying and merging interfaces between structural integrity and final cladded finishes, fixtures and fittings.

In fascination fashion, the architectural scaffold utilised bespoke bay sizes with special-length diagonaly bracings and fittings fabricated in Germany. All scaffold was formed in Layher ALL-Round, and once inspected by the end client for authenticity, all its orange stickers were removed with a heat gun to keep a constant contrast of urban silver galvanised steel against a lively multi-coloured backdrop.

VISIONARY CONTRACTORS

The visionary contractors explained that both communication and visualisation were key during the design and build process, with various stakeholders, planning representatives, architects and

trades, all working in unison to produce something unique and very special.

In truth, the project took six months of planning, design and development leading up to a precise engineered installation in July 2020. The £250,000 project will see the structure remain in situ for the next five years, with a strict NASC maintenance and inspection schedule in place.

The bottom line is wellconstructed temporary works can always be used to form aesthetically pleasing architecture – just ask PHD and Overlay Events. It’s a triumph of modern thinking and innovative design from some of the leading players in the industry.

ABOVE: 3D modelling and partnering with sister company Overlay Events enabled the concept to be brought to reality.

LEFT: Sayer Street in London has been gloriously revamped to the tune of £2.3bn.

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UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE TRAD Scaffolding Contractors marks halfway point in University of Brighton build

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T

RAD Scaffolding Contractors (‘TRAD’) has been working on several significant schemes recently with Bouygues Construction UK (BYUK). One of these is the construction of a new student residence on the Moulsecoomb campus, the University of Brighton’s single biggest campus, based in the north of the city.

The £160m+ project has a scaffold value in excess of £2m over a period of 18 months.

Construction began in January 2020 and is anticipated to complete in June 2021, in time for the new cohort of students arriving in September 2021.

TRAD is supplying a workforce of more than 20 operatives and onsite management which is headed up by its longstanding and very experienced contracts Director, Craig Hayes.

During this large and fast-moving programme, the new-build construction of five blocks of between nine and 18 storeys will eventually utilise over 1,000 tonnes of equipment.

“We have been commended by various levels of BYUK management on the quality, appearance and day-to-day control of the system scaffolding at University of Brighton,” said a representative of Bouygues Construction UK. “We would like to extend our acknowledgement and thanks for the positive input, hard work and commitment shown thus far.”

The project has multiple cranes, as you would expect over such a large site, and TRAD – able to use its expansive stock of system scaffold on the project – has also utilised site hoists to full effect.

With no component more than 3m long, the scaffold is comfortably transported within a standard hoist cage size which takes the pressure off the cranes during inclement weather or when they are in use by the critical path RC frame contractors.

Another time and crucial space-saving item will be the 50 cantilevered loading platforms eventually to be erected on the project.

Each block is using the popular full-height TRAD System Staircase during construction which fits snugly with the system scaffold. The TRAD mini catch fans are also being used for erection and subsequent dismantling of the main independents.

The lightweight and manually transferable mini catch fan, which has been designed and developed

by TRAD, is proving its worth for both safety and speed as it follows up behind the scaffold build – both these products are readily available for hire and sale from TRAD UK depots across the country.

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ABOVE: The new student residence on the Moulsecoomb campus has a scaffold value in excess of £2m over a period of 18 months,

To add to the complexity, each block has a large chamfered sloping corner, the potential difficulties of which have been overcome by TRAD using innovative design and development at an early stage whilst engaging fully with Bouygues UK, resulting in a stepped-in bridged beam-access solution.

This once again proves the adaptability and capability of its system scaffold.

University of Brighton vice-chancellor Professor Debra Humphris said: “We’re proud to be investing in the future of our university, making Brighton a great place to live, work and study.

“The transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus is a vital part of this and will provide our students with access to modern accommodation, new teaching and learning spaces as well as new social and fitness facilities.”

“We are delighted to be working on this important project for the University of Brighton – and for the city in general,” commented Craig Hayes, Contracts Director at TRAD Scaffolding.

“This is a project in which we have invested a lot of time during concept and planning stages with our client, ensuring complex needs are met across a multi-building site and working within strict timescales and budgets. We look forward to completing the project successfully alongside our construction partners.”

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO BE WORKING ON THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON – AND FOR THE CITY IN GENERAL

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