In a significant blow to the scaffolding industry, both London-based BCM Scaffolding Services Ltd and Bristol’s Scaffteq West Ltd have fallen into administration.
These companies, collectively employing over 100 people, were part of the Saferise Scaffolding Group, an umbrella brand that had acquired high-performing scaffolding firms across the United Kingdom.
The news came to light through an internal memo obtained by Scaffmag, which was circulated among staff on Sunday at BCM by the Managing Director, Adele McLay.
In the memo, McLay expressed deep sadness at the turn of events, attributing the companies’ financial difficulties to the withdrawal of support from their finance company.
The memo revealed that despite anticipated substantial new projects on the horizon and recent investments, the finance company’s decision to pull out has left BCM and Scaffteq West in a precarious position.
McLay underscored the disappointment felt by the entire team, especially given the recent strides made in expanding their operational capacity with a new yard.
The memo further outlined the immediate impact on employees, instructing them not to report to sites, yards, or the office on Monday, February 19th. McLay also informed employees that the administrators would decide on the fate of existing projects and would reach out to key managers at client sites.
One of the most distressing aspects of the memo was McLay’s acknowledgement of the uncertainty surrounding employees’ salaries, with the possibility that they may not receive payment on the scheduled date of February 23rd. This, McLay noted, was beyond her control and was now in the hands of the administrators.
Employees in uncertainty
In a conversation with Scaffmag, an employee at BCM, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed concern over the impact of the administration, stating, “We have around 60 staff at BCM so will affect a lot of people. We should know more tomorrow once I receive the call from the administrator.”
Expressing her personal devastation at the turn of events, McLay highlighted the collective effort that had been invested in establishing BCM as a respected player in the industry. She thanked the team for their hard work and commitment, noting recent positive feedback from clients as a testament to their dedication.
McLay concluded the memo by offering personal conversations to any employee seeking to discuss the news further, emphasising her commitment to providing updates as soon as they become available.
Scaffmag has contacted Safe Rise Scaffolding and BCM for further comment; we await their reply and will update the story.