The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) and the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) have urged the UK government to address a severe scaffolding skills shortage by adding scaffolders to the country’s shortage occupation list.
They argue that this move is essential to ensuring the success of the government’s housing, infrastructure, and energy goals.
The two organisations have written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Migration Advisory Committee Chair Brian Bell requesting changes to immigration rules to facilitate the recruitment of scaffolders from overseas.
In a letter to the Chancellor, NASC Chief Executive Clive Dickin warned that the shortage of skilled scaffolders threatens progress on critical projects tied to the government’s economic and environmental strategy.
“The scaffolding and access sector is confronting a significant skills shortage that threatens progress on essential infrastructure and housing projects – areas critical to your economic strategy and broader fiscal objectives,” Dickin stated.
The NASC and CISRS emphasised their commitment to investing in training and upskilling domestic talent through initiatives such as their Talent Portal, Bootcamp funding, and changes to the CISRS training scheme.
However, they stressed that these measures will take time to address the shortfall.
Dickin explained: “Until and unless we sort out the challenge of the severe shortage of skilled scaffolders in the UK, the government’s mission for growth is unlikely to succeed. The real boost for the UK economy that could come from the plans to build more homes and invest in more infrastructure, for example, won’t be realised without more scaffolders.
“While in the medium-to-long term we will continue to push for better funding for training and education to allow us to develop and nurture home-grown talent, in the short term these skills must come from overseas.
Adding scaffolders to the Occupational Shortage List is a vital first step. This would be an intelligent, strategic use of immigration to drive the growth agenda forward, allowing for the medium- to long-term steps to take effect, at which point the trade could be removed from the list.”
Currently, roles such as bricklayers, carpenters, plasterers, and roofers are already on the shortage occupation list, renamed the immigration salary list. This designation simplifies the process of hiring overseas workers for industries facing significant workforce challenges.
In a letter to Brian Bell, the two organisations called for scaffolding and access roles—particularly those requiring Level 2 and below qualifications—to be included in the list for a five-year period.
They also highlighted the critical role skilled scaffolders play in advancing national priorities, including infrastructure expansion and achieving net-zero targets.
NASC estimates that there are currently over 1,200 unfilled scaffolding roles nationwide, with sector growth of 18 per cent anticipated among its members.
Speaking to Construction News, Dickin reiterated the urgency of the matter. “The talent shortage is a major barrier to achieving good growth within the UK economy. It is really important that the government afford change in the short term to amend the shortage occupation list and bring talent into the UK.”
A government spokesperson responded, pointing to their strategy to boost the domestic workforce and reduce reliance on overseas labour.
“Under our Plan for Change, we will restore order by linking our immigration, skills, and visa systems so we can grow our domestic workforce, end the reliance on overseas labour, and boost economic growth,” they said.
The spokesperson also noted a £140m investment in Homebuilding Skills Hubs to train construction apprentices and the establishment of Skills England to address workforce
