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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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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!
The UK construction industry will need an average of 41,200 extra workers each year between 2026 and 2030 to meet expected demand, according to new figures from the Construction Industry Training Board.
CITB’s latest Construction Workforce Outlook predicts that construction activity will remain weak in 2026 before growth returns from 2027.
The annual report, published on 17 June, sets out expected construction demand over the next 5 years and the impact this could have on the industry’s workforce.
It forecasts UK construction output growth of -0.2% in 2026, before rising to 1.8% in 2027 and 2.8% in 2028. Growth is then expected to ease slightly, with forecasts of 2.3% in 2029 and 2.1% in 2030.
The strongest average annual growth over the period is expected in public new housing, at 3.6%. Infrastructure and private new housing are both forecast to grow by 2.5% a year on average.
The forecast supports recent market data from Glenigan, which also pointed to a recovery in construction starts from 2027 after a difficult start to 2026.
Scaffmag reported earlier this week that Glenigan expects UK construction starts to fall by 1% in 2026 before rising by 11% in 2027 and a further 4% in 2028.
Glenigan’s forecast also said activity could be 13% higher than 2025 levels by the end of its forecast period, with stronger pipelines expected in housing, public sector work, civils and utilities.
Taken together, the 2 reports point to the same pressure point for contractors: workloads are expected to recover, but the industry may not have enough skilled workers ready when demand returns.
For scaffolding and access contractors, that creates a familiar problem. A stronger market from 2027 would bring more tender opportunities, but it would also increase pressure on labour, training and supervision.
CITB estimates the UK construction workforce stood at 2,606,380 in 2025. It is forecast to rise to 2,681,800 by 2030.
But the report says growth alone does not tell the full story. The industry also needs to replace workers leaving construction and deal with regional and occupational gaps.
Across the 5-year period, CITB says the sector will need about 206,000 additional workers. That is equal to 1.6% of the 2025 workforce each year.
The forecast comes after a difficult period for construction, with short-term uncertainty and cost pressures continuing to affect activity.
CITB said the industry faces a difficult balance: dealing with current business pressures while making sure it has enough skilled workers to meet future demand.
Tim Balcon, CITB chief executive, said the Outlook gives industry and government the evidence needed to plan for future skills demand.
“Our latest Construction Workforce Outlook highlights where construction skills demand is expected to grow, offering the evidence needed to guide workforce and skills planning in a period of significant opportunity and challenge,” he said.
“The construction industry is faced with balancing short-term business uncertainty while ensuring there are enough skilled workers to meet the expected demand for longer-term opportunities.
“Together, alongside government and industry stakeholders, we can ensure the construction industry is equipped to deliver for the UK’s future.”
The Outlook also links the workforce issue to wider delivery targets, including housing, infrastructure and retrofit work.
CITB said too few people are entering construction, too many experienced workers are leaving, and productivity gains have not been enough to close the gap.
The report follows recent government announcements on construction training, including a £600m investment package and wider support through youth employment and jobs schemes.
Mark Reynolds CBE, co-chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board, said the report gives employers a clearer view of the workforce needed across key trades and professions.
He said it showed “significant demand for new people to join our industry” and should give employers more confidence to recruit and train new entrants.
Mark Farmer, a member of the Construction Skills Mission Board and the Construction Leadership Council, said the industry still had to deal with weak trading conditions while preparing for future demand.
“The latest Construction Workforce Outlook published by CITB indicates that despite industry currently grappling with challenging economic conditions, longer-term needs to replenish and sustainably grow the workforce remain,” he said.
“Bridging the gap between current capacity to employ and train and the imperative to build a future ready workforce remains the central challenge.”
CITB has produced the Construction Workforce Outlook since 2006/07. The latest report includes UK-wide data, national and regional forecasts, an interactive tool and downloadable reports.
Tickets and tables for the 2026 Scaffolding Excellence Awards are now on sale, with the gala evening due to take place on Friday 11 September in Manchester.
The awards will be held as part of ScaffEx26, which returns to Manchester Central on 10 and 11 September.
The annual dinner brings together scaffolding contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, training providers and other industry figures for one of the main social events in the sector’s calendar.
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by comedian and broadcaster Dara Ó Briain, best known for Mock the Week, Blockbusters, Robot Wars and Stargazing Live.
The 2026 awards will use the same 9 categories as last year, covering projects, design, products, services, apprenticeships and long-term contribution to the scaffolding and access industry.
One change has been made for this year’s event. The Apprentice of the Year Award has been renamed the Wayne Connolly Apprentice of the Year Award, in memory of the former NASC president and CISRS chairman, who died in December 2025.
The move recognises Connolly’s long service to the sector, including his work around training and standards.
Judging will be chaired by Dr James MacFadden, senior responsible CSA engineer at Sellafield.
Dr MacFadden said the 2025 entries had shown a strong standard across project delivery, leadership and teamwork.
He said the awards were a way to recognise “hard work and professionalism that often goes unseen”.
He added that he was pleased to chair the judging panel again, with experts from across the industry involved in the process.
Tickets and tables are available now here, with organisers expecting demand to be high.
UK construction activity is expected to recover from 2027 after a difficult start to the year, according to Glenigan’s Summer 2026 Construction Forecast.
The report predicts underlying project starts, covering schemes under £100m, will fall by 1% in 2026 before rising by 11% in 2027 and a further 4% in 2028.
That would leave activity 13% higher than 2025 levels by the end of the forecast period.
Glenigan said the short-term picture remains weak, with investors and developers reassessing planned schemes following a volatile six months for the UK and global economy.
But the construction intelligence firm expects improving economic conditions, stronger public spending and renewed private investment to support a wider recovery from next year.
Allan Wilen, economics director at Glenigan, said the sector had faced “a turbulent few months”, with projects being reviewed and rescheduled.
He said activity was expected to strengthen from 2027 as confidence returns across private and public sector markets.
“There are some particularly exciting growth areas as Government funding is released and investor appetite starts to return to the market,” he said.
“Contractors will need to be quick off the mark as more favourable conditions are finally felt.”
Education and health are forecast to be among the stronger areas of growth.
Education project starts are expected to rise by 8% in 2026, followed by 20% growth in 2027 and a further 5% in 2028.
Glenigan said school construction will continue to dominate, supported by clearer funding for rebuilding and refurbishment work across ageing education estates.
Health work is also forecast to recover. Starts are expected to rise by 9% this year, another 9% in 2027 and 14% in 2028.
The forecast points to increased capital funding, deferred NHS schemes and work linked to estate repairs, diagnostic hubs and community care facilities.
Civil engineering activity is expected to remain flat in 2026 before rising by 15% in 2027.
Glenigan said water, energy and transport work should support the sector over the forecast period.
Water investment is expected to increase following Ofwat’s approval of £104bn of upgrades and repairs between 2025 and 2030.
Electricity networks, renewables, offshore wind and nuclear projects, including Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, are also expected to support demand.
Transport infrastructure is forecast to strengthen from next year, helped by funding for road maintenance, rail upgrades, HS2 and the TransPennine Route.
Office starts are expected to rise by 21% in 2026, making the sector one of the stronger performers this year.
Glenigan said demand is being driven by high-quality, energy-efficient office space, flexible working requirements and data centre development linked to artificial intelligence.
However, office activity is forecast to fall by 11% in 2027 after recent growth, before returning to a 4% rise in 2028.
Industrial work is expected to fall by 9% this year, before rising by 16% in 2027 and 5% in 2028.
Demand for logistics space, business investment and planning policy changes are expected to support the recovery.
Private and social housebuilding are both expected to finish 2026 in negative territory.
Private housing starts are forecast to fall by 5% this year, while social housing is expected to fall by 3%.
Glenigan expects private housing to rebound by 13% in 2027 and 5% in 2028, supported by lower borrowing costs, better consumer confidence and planning reform.
Social housing starts are forecast to rise by 8% in 2027 and 4% in 2028.
The report said higher Government funding, changes to the Social Housing Rent Cap and faster Building Safety Regulator approvals should help more schemes move forward.
Retail construction is forecast to rise by 1% in 2026, followed by 10% growth in 2027 and a 4% fall in 2028.
Glenigan said supermarket work is expected to remain the largest part of retail activity.
Hotel and leisure starts are forecast to fall by 12% this year, before rising by 11% in 2027 and slipping by 1% in 2028.
The sector has been hit by cost pressure, weaker margins and uncertainty affecting travel and hospitality investment.
Glenigan said a recovering economy and lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure could help operators bring forward delayed schemes.
For scaffolding and access contractors, the forecast points to a market that may remain uneven through the rest of 2026, before stronger tender pipelines begin to appear in 2027.
Midland Scaffolding Services has helped deliver an unusual event project after building a 270 sq m scaffold projection screen for Arc Project’s 24-hour treadmill race in north London.
The structure formed part of Arc Project 4, known as The Treadmill Factory, which saw 50 teams compete on manual treadmills inside a former World War Two tank factory.
The event, staged on Saturday 30 May, brought together running, music, lighting and projection inside the industrial venue.
For MSS, the brief was to create the main projection screen at the rear of the event space.
The scaffold screen measured 30 metres wide and 9 metres high.
MSS said it believes the structure could be one of the largest projection screens built using scaffolding and monarflex, although that claim has not been independently verified.
The project was structurally calculated by Chris at Apex Scaffold Design and designed by MSS contracts director Ben Ekins.
A 6-strong MSS team erected the structure in a single day using Cuplock system scaffold, complete with a Cuplock staircase.
Superclad Monarflex was then cut to the frame, pulled tight and finished smooth to give the projection team a clean surface for video mapping.
The screen had to be ready quickly so the lighting and projection teams could begin setting up the visual content for the event.
Arc Project 4 was a 24-hour indoor treadmill relay, with runners competing from 10 am on Saturday until 10 am on Sunday.
The format saw teams of 4 rotate across the event, with each team using a manual treadmill and aiming to cover the greatest distance over the 24-hour period.
The race environment changed throughout the event, with lighting, darkness, heat, sound and DJ sets used to create a demanding setting for the runners.
The scaffold screen became a major part of that environment, carrying projected imagery throughout the race and turning the factory wall into a visual backdrop for the event.
Ben Ekins also took part in the race the morning after overseeing the scaffold design, joining the runners on one of the treadmills.
MSS said the project showed how scaffolding skills can be used beyond conventional construction work.
The company said event structures, creative installations and temporary production spaces all need the same planning, speed and attention to detail seen on building sites.
In a statement, MSS said: “When James, Sonni and Hamish needed someone to help make their vision structurally possible, we wanted to deliver.
“Scaffolding is structure, possibility and problem solving. It can be the backbone behind experiences people talk about long after the event has finished.”
The company added that the AP4 project was “something different” for the team and showed how temporary scaffold structures can support large-scale creative events as well as construction projects.
Layher UK is bringing its regional open morning series to Scotland later this month, with an event planned at its Livingston depot.
The free event will take place on Wednesday 24 June 2026 from 10am to 1pm at Layher Ltd, 3 Letham Road, Houstoun Industrial Estate, Livingston.
The company said the morning is open to existing customers, potential customers and wider industry professionals, including scaffolding contractors, main contractors, housebuilders, temporary works engineers and health and safety teams.
Visitors will be able to view a range of demo structures in the depot’s updated demonstration area and speak with Layher staff about product supply, technical support and project planning.
The event will begin with coffee and bacon rolls from 10am, followed by a SIM2Field XR demonstration at 10.30am.
The app uses augmented reality to bring scaffold drawings into the site environment, giving teams a clearer view of complex designs before work begins on site.
Layher said the demonstration will show how digital tools can support scaffold planning and communication between design teams, site teams and clients.
From 11am to 1pm, visitors will be able to walk through the demo area and see Layher’s core product range.
The company said staff will be available throughout the morning to discuss how its products and support services can be used across different project types.
Layher Livingston will also run a time-limited promotional offer for attendees, with details due to be announced on the day.
Attendance is free, with refreshments included, but spaces are limited.
Those wishing to attend are being asked to register in advance through Layher’s online sign-up form.
CCTV footage showing the moment a scaffolder fell through a warehouse roof skylight has been released by the Health and Safety Executive.
The video captures James Cranswick, 26, stepping onto a skylight while working on the roof of a warehouse in Keighley, West Yorkshire.
Seconds later, he falls more than 6 metres through the roof, landing on a pallet truck before hitting the concrete floor below.
Mr Cranswick suffered head lacerations, a broken arm and a broken leg.
HSE described the footage as “harrowing” and said Mr Cranswick was “lucky to be alive”.
Mr Cranswick was working for Clover Access Systems Limited at the time of the incident.
He was part of a team installing temporary scaffolding edge protection at the warehouse unit when the fall happened.
An HSE investigation found that Clover Access Systems Limited and STM360 Limited had failed to properly plan, manage and monitor the work being carried out by scaffolders on the roof.
The regulator said there were no measures in place to prevent workers falling from the edge of the unit or through fragile parts of the roof.
The skylights were described as almost invisible to Mr Cranswick, who was unaware of the fragile elements on the roof.
HSE said the risks linked to fragile surfaces are well known across construction.
Its roof work guidance sets out a clear hierarchy for those in control of work at height. The first step is to avoid the need to access fragile roofs wherever possible.
Where access cannot be avoided, suitable protection must be used to prevent falls through fragile materials.
Clover Access Systems Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
The company was fined £26,000 and ordered to pay £2,866 in costs at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on 4 June 2026. HSE said the company is now in liquidation.
STM360 Limited pleaded guilty to breaching the same regulations. It was fined £53,300 and ordered to pay £3,167 in costs.
HSE inspector Shauna Halstead said: “Mr Cranswick is lucky to be alive after this incident.
“His fall was wholly avoidable; the risks associated with work on, or around fragile surfaces are well-known, and HSE guidance is available to assist companies in complying with the law.
“Everyone working in construction should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action where roof work is not properly managed, as workers should not be needlessly put in harm’s way.”
NASC contractor members recorded zero operative fatalities in 2025, according to the organisation’s latest Safety Report.
The 2026 NASC Safety Report, published today to coincide with NASC Safety Day, is based on RIDDOR accident data submitted by all NASC contractor members.
The report shows 82 reportable accidents across a combined workforce of 20,168 operatives employed by 332 contractor members.
NASC said this equated to one RIDDOR accident for every 470,000 operative hours worked.
The trade body’s Accident Incident Rate stood at 4.07, while its Accident Frequency Rate was 0.21. Both figures remain below the 10-year averages of 5.2 and 0.26 respectively.
The figures come as NASC membership continues to grow. Contractor membership rose to 332 in 2025, while the number of operatives working for NASC contractor members passed 20,000 for the first time.
The report also sets the figures against wider construction safety data. It cites Health and Safety Executive figures showing 35 fatal injuries in construction in 2024/25, the highest number of any industry sector.
Falls from height remained a major concern across construction. According to data referenced in the report from the No Falls Foundation and HSE, falls from height accounted for 35 lives lost in Great Britain in 2025, representing 28% of all workplace fatalities.
Within NASC contractor member data, the most common causes of injury were slips and trips on the same level, manual handling, and falls from height.
Slips and trips were the leading cause, with 25 reported incidents in 2025, up from 21 in 2024. Manual handling injuries fell slightly, from 22 to 20. Falls from height involving persons reduced from 19 to 17.
The report said 88.5% of reportable accidents occurred on site, with 11.5% taking place in yards.
Of the 82 RIDDOR accidents involving operatives, 28 were specified injuries and 54 were over-seven-day injuries. Fractures were the most common injury type, occurring in 46% of all RIDDOR accidents.
The report also found that 14 of the 17 falls from height were from under 4m, while 3 were from 4m or above. The highest reported fall was 22m. One further fall from a scaffold was arrested by a safety harness.
Mark Collinson, Head of Technical at NASC, said recording zero operative fatalities among contractor members was an “encouraging outcome”, particularly as the contractor member workforce had grown to record levels.
“These results reflect NASC members’ commitment to recognised best-practice guidance, investment in competence and high standards on site,” he said.
“But safety is never something we can take for granted. Every RIDDOR affects a person, a family and a workforce. The report gives us useful insight, but what matters most is how we act on it: identifying trends, improving guidance, sharing learning and supporting members to keep improving.”
NASC Group CEO Clive Dickin said the report reflected decades of work by members, committees, clients, training partners and the wider industry.
“There is no room for complacency,” he said. “Falls from height remain the leading cause of workplace fatalities in our country, and the sector must keep raising standards.”
The report said smaller and medium-sized contractors continued to account for a higher proportion of RIDDOR reports relative to workforce size.
It said companies with between 1 and 200 operatives contributed around 50% more RIDDOR accident reports than would be expected based on their share of the workforce. Larger companies, particularly those with more than 200 operatives, reported proportionally fewer incidents.
The report suggested this may reflect differences in management structure, with larger companies more likely to have dedicated safety teams, greater resources and higher levels of supervision.
Alan Harris, chair of NASC’s Health and Safety Committee, said training support remained a priority, particularly as smaller companies continued to join the organisation.
He said NASC would maintain focus on manual handling, slips and trips, and falls from height, while placing renewed attention on falling materials during 2026.
The Safety Report has been published alongside NASC Safety Day, which brings together member companies, safety professionals and industry experts for talks, demonstrations and discussion.
NASC said feedback from the event will help inform the next phase of its safety guidance.
The future location of ScaffChamp is unclear after key figures behind the international scaffolding competition moved on from Layher Baltic.
This year’s event in Vilnius closed after another successful competition, with 19 teams taking part across 2 rounds in front of sponsors, suppliers and supporters from across the scaffolding industry.
RNDV Industries won the title for the second year running, giving the Lithuanian team another major result on home ground.
But the event now enters a period of uncertainty.
ScaffChamp has become closely linked with Lithuania and the team at Layher Baltic, who have helped turn it into one of Europe’s most visible international scaffolding competitions.
Viktor Voroncov, one of the figures most closely associated with the event, has already left Layher Baltic after 15 years with the company.
Oleg Abramov, another central driving figure connected with ScaffChamp, is also due to leave Layher Baltic in the near future.
Speaking to Scaffmag during this year’s event, both Voroncov and Abramov said they did not yet know what was planned for ScaffChamp 2027.
Andrius Mikenas, Layher Baltic’s new general manager, said he was confident the event would continue, but confirmed that the final decision rests with Layher Germany.
“The event will continue for sure,” he told Scaffmag. “The question is where.”
Mikenas said Layher Germany controls the ScaffChamp brand and would decide where the next competition is held.
He said it was “hard to say” what would happen in 2027, but added that feedback from Layher representatives at this year’s event had left him confident the competition would continue.
Scaffmag understands that Poland and Germany have both been discussed as possible future host countries.
A source familiar with discussions around the event said ScaffChamp was expected to take place next year, but suggested it may not return to Vilnius. The source said Poland or Germany were likely options.
Mikenas also confirmed that Poland had previously been considered as a possible host before the decision was made to hold the 2026 event in Lithuania.
He said moving ScaffChamp to another country would require knowledge and support to be transferred, with local partner companies needing time to prepare.
That could keep Lithuania in the conversation.
Several support companies involved in the Vilnius event already understand the format and have experience helping deliver it. Asked whether he would like ScaffChamp to return to Lithuania, Mikenas said he would be happy to host it again.
He also suggested Abramov could continue to support the event after leaving Layher Baltic, potentially through a subcontracted role.
ScaffChamp has built a strong following because it gives working scaffolders a rare public platform.
Teams are judged on safety, speed, accuracy and teamwork as they complete a timed scaffold build in front of an industry audience.
This year’s competition included teams from Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Ireland, Türkiye, Mongolia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Italy, Peru, Romania, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Switzerland and Canada.
For competitors, the event is a chance to represent their country, employer and trade on an international stage.
For Layher, the decision now is whether to keep ScaffChamp in Lithuania, where the support network is already in place, or take the competition to another country under the ScaffChamp brand.
No formal announcement has yet been made on the 2027 event.
Stepup Octo ApS has announced a new partnership with Danish scaffolding specialist SST ApS to widen access to its OCTO scaffolding system across Denmark.
Under the agreement, SST will supply Stepup OCTO equipment for both resale and hire. The deal gives Danish contractors a local route to the system, backed by SST’s market knowledge and customer base.
SST was founded in 2009 and has built its business around scaffolding sector supply and support. By adding OCTO to its range, the company said it aims to give customers wider access to a flexible system with local service behind it.
Stepup said the agreement forms part of its wider European growth plans. The two businesses will work together on sales, leasing and customer account development in Denmark.
The companies said demand for higher-performance scaffolding systems in Denmark is rising as contractors place more focus on efficiency, safety and reliable supply.
Stepup and SST are also investing in production planning, stock availability and operational capacity. The aim is to improve delivery performance and reduce the risk of supply delays.
The release said expanded investment will increase warehouse and service capacity during 2026, giving Danish customers more consistent product availability.
Stepup also plans to introduce its own RINGLOCK product range to the Danish market. The move would give customers access to a wider product range from the same supply base.
Mike McAnnally, CEO of Stepup, said the agreement would help strengthen the OCTO platform in Denmark.
“By working with SST, we can support customers more closely, respond faster to market needs and create the right conditions for continued growth,” he said.
Nicholas Morgan, Managing Director UK & Europe, said the collaboration would help Stepup serve Danish customers with reliable supply and a clear long-term commitment.
“It also supports our wider strategy to expand Stepup’s presence across key European markets,” he said.
The move is another sign of manufacturers and suppliers placing more weight on local stock, hire availability and country-level support as European contractors look for more certainty in system scaffold supply.
Authorities in the German state of Hesse have launched a week-long scaffold safety inspection campaign after previous checks found that only 21% of construction sites fully met required safety measures.
The targeted inspections are taking place across Hesse from 8 to 12 June and involve the regional administrations in Gießen, Darmstadt and Kassel.
The move forms part of a wider campaign by Germany’s Joint Occupational Safety and Health Strategy, known as GDA, which is focused on reducing fall accidents in construction.
Falls remain one of the biggest risks facing construction workers in Germany. According to Hesse officials, falls accounted for 31% of fatal workplace accidents in the country between 2009 and 2023.
Inspectors are expected to focus on both technical and organisational failings linked to scaffolding. Previous checks found a high level of non-compliance, including missing assembly instructions and scaffolds being altered incorrectly on site.
Dr Katherina Rüping, deputy head of the construction occupational safety department at the Kassel regional administration, said accidents continue to occur where scaffolds are built incorrectly or are not properly secured.
The campaign follows several years of information, advice and monitoring work aimed at improving fall prevention on German construction sites.
For scaffold contractors, the findings point to a familiar problem: safety failures often sit between the scaffold handover, site management and later unauthorised changes made during use.
The German action will be watched by safety bodies across Europe, where falls from height remain a major cause of death and serious injury in construction. Eurostat data shows construction accounted for 24% of all fatal workplace accidents in the EU in 2023.
The Hesse campaign is expected to put site managers, employers and scaffold users under closer scrutiny, with inspectors aiming to address unsafe conditions while they are on site.
