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Our website is a hugely popular digital scaffolding resource. Launched back in 2009, ScaffMag has grown in popularity to become the industry’s leading source for the latest independent trade news, current affairs, scaffolding jobs and profiling the very best from our sector.
ScaffMag gives businesses and brands an unrivalled opportunity to advertise their products or services 24 hours a day 7 days a week to a highly targeted audience. Our readership includes main and sub-contractors, manufacturers, consultants, scaffolders and many others. We offer print and digital advertising opportunities across desktop, mobile and tablet channels.
During 2023 we welcomed over 250,000 individual users to the site, generating over 760,000 pageviews. We remain amongst our industry the most followed and liked company on social media with more than 132,000 followers on Facebook alone.
– Daniel Norton, Editor of ScaffMag
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We provide businesses and brands an unrivalled opportunity to advertise their products or services 24 hours a day 7 days a week to a highly targeted audience.
For a full list of website advertising opportunities with ScaffMag please contact us and download our 2024 Media Pack.
Our Daily Download and Weekly Rundown email newsletter is essential reading for thousands of scaffolding professionals. They are sent to more than 7,200 people providing a unique reach into companies across the country and the world. The newsletter enjoys an above-average open rate for the construction sector of 38% and our list is constantly updated to only include regular readers. Our subscriber database can be made available to selected clients for direct marketing in the form of an Email Blast.
EMAIL SPONSORSHIP ScaffMag offers email sponsorship in our daily and weekly round-up emails in the form of a banner advertisement contained within the newsletter Email Banner: £300.00pcm
EMAIL BLAST ScaffMag give’s businesses and industry service providers the ability to send out their very own promotional email co-branded with ScaffMag to our database of subscribers. Email Blast: £400.00 per campaign
Interested in learning more about advertising with us? Drop us a line on 01472 476024 or email [email protected]
As a natural progression for both our loyal readership and our scaffold sector advertising customers, we have launched the ScaffMag magazine – a fresh, slick, modern, vibrant and engaging product to enjoy and to back up our ScaffMag.com community and social media following, which advertisers in the magazine can tap their brand into. Created with both the scaffolder and contractor in mind, The ScaffMag Magazine gives businesses and brands an unrivalled opportunity to advertise their products or services 24:7:365 to a large, rapidly expanding and highly-targeted audience. It’s a unique proposition in digital and print.
“The new issue of Scaffmag is packed with great articles and opinions. We’re very lucky in our industry to have such a great support and loudspeaker for everything we do! Thanks as always to Daniel Norton for putting such great content together.” – Des Moore
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To find out more about advertising in our quarterly magazine please view and download our 2021 Media Pack.
Or Call: 01472 476024 Email: [email protected]
ScaffMag continues to dominate the social media networks within our industry with the most liked/followed Facebook page in the sector. At the time of writing this, ScaffMag’s official page has 135,000+ followers and 81,000+ likes.
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The London ambulance service said: “An investigation has been launched after two men were injured after scaffolding attached to Hammersmith town hall collapsed late on Wednesday afternoon.
“Officers from the Metropolitan police attended along with firefighters.”
Tube-Lock® tubes are regular 48,3mm scaffolding tubes, fitted with two cast iron Tube-Lock pieces. Because of the Tube-Lock ends, tubes can be connected with each other by a twisting motion, visibly locking them in place. No tools nor additional parts are required to make or secure the connection.
This provides many advantages.
Because the two tubes can be joined by a twisting motion, it is a fast and easy way to connect tubes together. This leads to faster erection and dismantling times for the entire scaffold.
Furthermore, no additional parts nor tools are needed. No longer needing sleeve couplers and joint pins means that there are no spare parts that need to be transported. Additionally, you don’t have to invest in sleeve couplers and joint pins as you no longer need them.
This also eliminates the risk of sleeve couplers breaking, getting lost or getting stolen. And you don’t have to service the sleeve couplers anymore. Tube-Lock connections are completely maintenance-free.
Another logistical advantage is that Tube-Lock comes in standard lengths from 1 meter or 4ft up to 4 meters or 13ft. Because of this flexibility, it prevents the necessity of cutting the tubes to length.
The maximum length of 4 meters means the maximum weight of a Tube-Lock tube is 16 kg. This leads to less strain on scaffolders, which is essential because of the strict Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
Additionally, there is no need to stagger joints, Tube-Lock is as strong as a continuous tube. The connection may even be submitted to pull force. Using Tube-Lock tubes leads to a smooth tube connection over the full length of the tube. This makes it possible to use couplers anywhere on the tube. Even on the Tube-Lock connection.
In their innovative production facility, they can turn your (used) scaffolding tube to Tube-Lock tubes! This means you can update your own material without enormous investments. Even the repair of existing Tube-Lock stock is possible. And they now offer a special discount on the conversion of your scaffolding tube!
Have a look at www.thielscaffolding.com for more information, or contact [email protected] to hear more about all possibilities!
Pilosio is set to use its presence at GIC Piacenza, a major construction trade event in northern Italy, this week to push a broader message on safety, training and temporary structural engineering, alongside the launch of a wide range of new and existing systems.
The Italian manufacturer will exhibit from 16 to 18 April with two stands at the event, while also organising a two-day conference focused on infrastructure repair, digital change and construction site safety.
Rather than treating the exhibition as a standard product showcase, Pilosio is positioning its appearance around the role temporary works can play in improving both safety and efficiency on complex projects.
A key part of that approach will be the conference, The Frontiers of Concrete 7.0: From Historic Infrastructure to Data Centres, which brings together academics, engineers and contractors to discuss material degradation, restoration in harsh environments, data centre construction and high-altitude rehabilitation works.
For UK readers, the most notable part of the programme will be a dedicated safety session on 17 April featuring Clive Dickin, chief executive of NASC and CISRS. Pilosio says the session will present the British scaffolding training and audit model to an Italian audience as part of a wider discussion on reducing accidents and raising standards on site.
The company is also using the event to promote its “Pilosio Experience Week”, which will take selected visitors beyond the exhibition hall and onto live infrastructure sites. The aim is to show how temporary works, suspended access and protection systems are used in real conditions.
Alongside that wider message, Pilosio will present 21 products across scaffolding, suspended access and formwork. These include the FlyDeck suspended platform system, Flash 2.2.1 aluminium scaffolding, the IXI Truss modular beam, the Dynamo Trailer mobile platform and new aluminium formwork systems.
Pilosio said its aim at GIC is to combine product innovation with a stronger focus on technical knowledge, site safety and practical training.
The event will give visitors a chance to see that approach both on the exhibition floor and through the conference programme running across 16 and 17 April.
CISRS has set out plans to reform its Overseas Scaffolder Training Scheme, with proposals that would lead to a single global baseline training standard for scaffolders by 2028.
The review, co-authored by CISRS Group CEO Clive Dickin and Head of Training and Education Paul Napper, says the current two-tier system introduced in 2013 is no longer fit for purpose and should not have been adopted in its present form.
The paper made public today comes as the OSTS scheme has grown to more than 30,000 cardholders across 22 centres in the Middle East, Caribbean and Africa, with CISRS saying global labour mobility and employer confusion over different card schemes have made reform increasingly urgent.
In blunt terms, the review argues that the split between the UK labourer and trainee route and the overseas OSTS Level 1 and above route has created structural weakness in the system. It says the arrangement was driven largely by commercial and market-access considerations rather than long-term workforce strategy.
CISRS also accepts that the current setup has had wider consequences. According to the paper, these include confusion in the market, pressure on employers trying to judge competence, and what it describes as a gradual erosion of confidence in the UK baseline standard.
A key finding in the review is that OSTS Level 1 already goes beyond the UK Labourer Card in both course length and technical expectation. One stakeholder quoted in the paper said: “It is increasingly difficult to explain why an overseas Level 1 operative has done more training than a UK labourer. The logic no longer stacks up.”
The review also makes a broader point about regulation.
It argues that, outside broad legal duties placed on employers, there is no tightly prescribed statutory competence framework for entry-level scaffolding labour in the UK. In practice, CISRS says this has left a fragmented market where UK labourers may enter with limited formal training while some overseas workers arrive with a higher baseline level of competence.
Three strategic options are set out in the paper.
The first is to keep the current two-tier structure. CISRS says that would be the simplest option, but warns it would continue to carry reputational and compliance risks.
The second is to make the existing UK route the global standard. While that would strengthen alignment, the paper says it would still not prevent lower standards operating in some territories.
The third option, and the one recommended by CISRS, is to raise the UK labourer standard so it aligns with OSTS Level 1. The review describes this as the only credible long-term solution, creating a single global entry point supported by modular and technology-enabled delivery.
Throughout the consultation, centres and employers also pointed to confusion at client level. As one comment in the paper put it: “Clients simply don’t understand the difference between CISRS, OSTS and CSCS. To them, a card is a card.”
Under the proposed reform programme, the first phase in 2026 would include aligning system scaffolding courses with TG30, introducing UK-delivered courses into OSTS, explicitly positioning the OSTS card as an industrial card, and removing the requirement for overseas training providers to operate a UK headquarters.
A transition period would then follow, with both systems running in parallel while governance and delivery infrastructure are strengthened. The final stage, planned for 2028, would see the launch of a combined global programme and a single baseline standard.
The paper also acknowledges the risks attached to reform, including training capacity, rising costs, workforce disruption and the possibility that some territories may resist higher standards. But it argues that doing nothing would carry its own risks, including continued recruitment of minimally trained labour and further dilution of the CISRS brand. The risk register on page 14 rates both the status quo risk and reputational risk as high likelihood and high impact.
In a statement accompanying the review, Clive Dickin said the industry had changed significantly since OSTS was introduced and that reform was now both necessary and inevitable.
The consultation now opens the door to what could become one of the biggest changes to the CISRS training structure in more than a decade. The real issue is not just overseas training. It is that CISRS is now openly arguing that the UK entry-level standard itself needs to move.
A four-day inquest has opened into the death of a scaffolder who died nine months after falling more than three metres while working on a Bloor Homes site.
Carl Williams, 53, was injured in February 2023 while erecting scaffolding on his first day at the development. He suffered multiple rib fractures and serious injuries to his spine.
The inquest heard Mr Williams remained at Royal Stoke University Hospital until September 2023. He later died at Adderley Green Care Centre in November 2023.
Evidence heard by the court said Mr Williams, from Burton, had more than 30 years of scaffolding experience.
He had been working alongside fellow scaffolder Daniel Sahadeo, who told the hearing the pair had previously worked together for around two years on another site.
Mr Sahadeo said they had been subcontracted to erect and dismantle scaffolding and had signed a risk assessment and method statement before starting work.
He told the inquest they had been asked to raise the scaffold to fourth lift height in preparation for roof works.
Describing the incident, Mr Sahadeo said he had been sorting fittings for a birdcage scaffold when he turned and saw a stillage go over the edge with Mr Williams holding onto the bars.
He told the hearing Mr Williams fell head first and landed beneath the stillage. He then pulled him clear and called for an ambulance.
The inquest heard Mr Williams had been wearing a harness at the time. However, he was not clipped on to a structure when he fell, and the lanyard clip was attached to the back of the harness instead.
His cause of death was given as complications of a blunt force neck injury.
The hearing, taking place in Stoke, is continuing.
A team of seven apprentices from Scotland and Northern Ireland will compete at ScaffChamp 2026 in Vilnius this summer, after securing full backing from across the scaffolding industry.
The group, aged between 17 and 20, has been brought together by Ross Brown of I-Scaff and Robbie Andrews of Advanced NI Scaffolding, following a push to show what the trade can offer young people entering the sector.
All costs for the trip have been covered through industry support, with around £24,000 raised to fund flights, accommodation and daily expenses. Sponsors include companies with no direct link to the team, reflecting wider backing for the initiative.
The idea first took shape at ScaffEx in Manchester last year, where Brown and Andrews highlighted the need to better promote scaffolding careers to younger audiences.
Brown said the issue was not a lack of interest from young people, but a lack of awareness about the range of work available.
“Most young people only ever see a scaffold on the way to school,” he said. “They don’t see the bigger picture, whether that’s the Forth Bridge or other major infrastructure, offshore work or complex projects. Once they understand that, it changes how they look at the job.”
The apprentices were selected through an open call and time trials held at Advanced NI’s yard, before beginning a structured training programme across multiple locations. This included practical sessions in Scotland and Northern Ireland, along with SSPTS training delivered by Layher UK at its Letchworth headquarters.
Employers were also asked to support the project by allowing apprentices to attend training and the competition as paid working time.
Brown said the wider aim was to challenge perceptions within the industry around taking on apprentices.
“There are companies that still see apprentices as a risk,” he said. “This shows what can happen when you invest in them properly and give them the right opportunities.”
The team includes apprentices from several employers, many of whom had not previously heard of ScaffChamp before being selected.
The ScaffChamp competition, widely regarded as one of the leading international events for scaffolders, will take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 5–6 June.
Organisers hope the initiative will help raise the profile of scaffolding as a long-term career option, particularly at a time when the industry continues to face skills shortages.
Clive Dickin, Group CEO of NASC and CISRS, is set to take part in the British Heart Foundation London to Brighton Bike Ride on 21 June 2026.
The ride is being undertaken in memory of Wayne Connolly, former president of the NASC, who died late last year following a heart-related condition.
Connolly’s death prompted widespread tributes from across the scaffolding and access sector. As previously reported by Scaffmag, he was regarded as a respected and influential figure in the industry, with many highlighting his contribution over several decades.
In a post shared online, Dickin described Connolly as a colleague, champion and friend, adding that the cause “could not be closer”.
More than £1,200 has already been raised for the appeal, with further support being encouraged from across the industry.
Funds raised will support the British Heart Foundation, which funds research into heart and circulatory diseases. The charity says hundreds of people in the UK die each day from such conditions, despite long-term progress in reducing mortality rates.
Dickin is encouraging support from across the industry, with donations contributing to research, treatment development and prevention.
The London to Brighton Bike Ride is one of the UK’s largest charity cycling events, attracting thousands of riders each year.
You can donate on Clive’s Just Giving Page.
A group of companies linked to one of Australia’s largest scaffolding and formwork providers has entered voluntary administration, placing more than 650 jobs at risk.
Ten entities tied to Kwikform, the Australian arm of Waco International, were placed into administration earlier this week.
The Sydney-based businesses traded under several names, including Waco Kwikform, Star Scaffolds and United Scaffolding Group. The group operates across 23 locations in Australia and New Zealand, providing scaffolding, formwork and shoring services.
Administrators from McGrathNicol have been appointed to oversee the process, with the companies continuing to trade while options are explored.
In a statement, management said efforts had been underway to sell parts of the business, but delays and wider market conditions forced the move.
They said the appointment of administrators would provide “sufficient runway” to complete potential transactions and maximise returns for creditors.
Financial pressures appear to have played a key role. The most recent accounts showed revenue of around $148 million, alongside a loss of more than $10 million, a sharp reversal from a profit the previous year.
The group has been involved in major projects, including supplying scaffolding for infrastructure and events such as Formula One in Melbourne and hospital developments in New South Wales.
It remains unclear how much debt the companies hold.
Other parts of the wider Waco International Group are not affected by the administration.
Brogan Group has expanded its scaffolding operations across the Midlands and North of England, extending its regional coverage to support projects in cities including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle.
The move forms part of a wider investment in infrastructure, workforce and operational capacity, aimed at strengthening delivery across key UK construction hubs.
The company said regional teams will provide scaffolding, powered access and common tower services, supported by engineering input and site management expertise.
Industry specialist Jon Cooke has joined the business to support the expansion.
He said: “I’m excited to be joining Brogan Group at such an important time for the business, as we continue to expand scaffolding operations across the North.
“Brogan has built a strong reputation for technical excellence, safety and reliable delivery, and I look forward to working with our teams and clients to provide combined access solutions across the region.”
The company said the expanded footprint will improve its ability to deliver complex scaffolding packages, drawing on both regional teams and wider national and international resources where required.
The development follows earlier investment in powered access capability across the Midlands and North, particularly in construction hoists.
Brogan’s services include scaffolding, mast climbers, hoists, common towers, loading gantries and crane decks. The firm said its multi-discipline model allows contractors to reduce interface risk and simplify project management on larger schemes.
The expansion comes as the group continues a period of growth, supported by investment in depots, equipment and specialist personnel.
Layher UK has reported a strong turnout at its latest ‘Sizzle & Learn’ open morning, with attendees engaging closely with both product demonstrations and digital tools.
The session followed the company’s recently launched open morning series, designed to give customers practical insight into its systems and applications.
Layher said the event focused on its strategic partnership approach, alongside the four core values that underpin its way of working. Discussions centred on how these principles are applied in real project environments rather than remaining theoretical.
A key highlight was the SIM2Field XR application, which allows scaffold designs to be visualised in 3D and placed into real-world environments. According to Layher, the tool generated strong interest, with attendees able to see how digital models translate directly onto site.
The company said the reaction reflected growing demand for practical digital solutions that can improve planning and communication on projects.
The session also covered Layher’s event systems, before moving into a networking period. The company noted that informal discussions remain a key part of the format, allowing contractors and partners to explore specific use cases and challenges.
Layher reported positive feedback from attendees, particularly around the balance of live demonstrations and open discussion.
Further ‘Sizzle & Learn’ events are scheduled to take place in Livingston on 24 June and Eggborough on 21 July, as the company continues its nationwide programme.
Three men have been sentenced for their role in a construction test fraud scheme that allowed more than 70 candidates to cheat health and safety exams.
The investigation, led by the Metropolitan Police, uncovered a year-long operation involving the use of Bluetooth earpieces to feed answers to test candidates at centres across London.
The case came to light after concerns were raised by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), which flagged unusual activity linked to its testing system. Officers then carried out surveillance at multiple test centres, working alongside Pearson Professional Assessments to identify those involved.
At Snaresbrook Crown Court on 31 March, three men were sentenced after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation.
Sushil Kumar, 37, was jailed for two years and eight months.
Pradeep Sheragar, 35, received a two-year suspended sentence.
Jaspal Sani, 43, was given a one year and three month suspended sentence.
Police said candidates paid up to £850 to receive answers during exams. The group is believed to have made more than £60,000.
Detective Sergeant Neil Stanley said the scheme exploited individuals seeking work while putting others at risk.
“Falsifying results is extremely dangerous and poses a risk to site workers,” he said. “This showed a clear disregard for safety.”
The fraud directly undermined the integrity of the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), which requires workers to pass health and safety tests before accessing sites.
CITB said it would work with CSCS to revoke any qualifications obtained fraudulently.
Christopher Simpson, Head of CITB Standards Setting Body, said: “Cheats and fraudsters who circumvent these safety critical exams are putting lives at risk.”
The organisation has urged the industry to report suspected fraud and warned that further action will be taken against those attempting to bypass safety requirements.
Scaffolding companies and industry figures have taken to social media to mark April Fools’ Day, with a wide range of posts blending humour with familiar industry themes.
Among the more widely shared posts, Connolly Scaffolding Ltd claimed it had been appointed to carry out works at both of Manchester’s major football clubs.
While works at Old Trafford were described as routine upgrades, the post joked that Manchester City F.C.’s Etihad Stadium was to be demolished immediately due to “planning irregularities”, leaving uncertainty over future fixtures.
Sustainability and innovation were also common targets. Optimum Scaffolding Ltd announced it had invested in five “Euro7 horse-drawn carriages”, claiming the move would reduce emissions while running on “recycled grass”.
Technology themes featured heavily. Total Access Solutions Pty Ltd shared a mock announcement claiming it would introduce “scaffbots” capable of replacing human scaffolders.
In the post, Managing Director Stuart White outlined a future with no wages, no breaks, and no downtime, reflecting ongoing discussions around automation and labour shortages.
Others focused on regulation and policy. ScaffSAFE’s Steve Gregory joked that the UK Government was preparing to ban impact wrenches, proposing a return to manual tools under a fictional “Traditional Methods Act”.
Politics also featured. Ultra Access’s Jason Gibbs claimed he was standing as an MP in Clacton-on-Sea, directly challenging Nigel Farage, with supposed backing from the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation.
Other posts leaned into culture and everyday site life. Coles Scaffolding’s Martyn Coles announced a fictional takeover by “Disney Construction Group”, while James McMillan shared a mock film concept starring Jason Statham in a scaffolding-themed action film.
Meanwhile, Carl Sharley promoted a fake “Inspect7® Mug” system for rating tea, and Dr. Alan Osborn announced a fictional Tube and Fitting Scaffolding World Championships.
This year, many of the posts were made more convincing by the growing use of AI-generated imagery, with realistic visuals helping blur the line between genuine announcements and satire.
Across the posts, common themes emerged, including automation, sustainability, regulation, and industry culture. Many of the jokes worked by exaggerating real issues, making them believable enough to prompt initial reactions before the punchline became clear.
The volume and variety of posts underline how social media is now embedded in the scaffolding sector, giving companies and individuals a platform to engage audiences beyond standard project updates and safety messaging.
For one day, at least, the industry steps back from its usual focus and shows a more informal side, even if the announcements remain firmly fictional.
