Fulcrum Scaffold Safety & Training Ltd are leading the way in training young prisoners awaiting release after HMP/YOI Thorn Cross and HMP Lancaster Farms have become CISRS COTS accredited centres as part of the Made Inside Britain (MIB) project.
Made Inside Britain is a Ministry of Justice funded campaign to support prison leavers into sustainable
employment in the North West of England.
An innovative partnership between New Futures Network, Antz Junction,
Fulcrum Scaffold & Safety Ltd and the two prisons, have designed and invested in employer-led workshops called Real Work Environments (RWE’s) creating clear job outcomes for participants in the sector.
These are the first CISRS centres to be located in a prison establishment. Participants are taking part in practical scaffolding training and leaving with a CISRS COTS card and real-life work experience leading to full-time, sustainable employment.
The first Real Work Environment launched at HMP/YOI Thorn Cross on the 4
th April with nine men all who expressed an interest in a career in scaffolding and who are extremely motivated to learn new skills. Following the successful training, all nine men have been matched with a job on release.
After delivering the first course at HMP Thorn Cross, Fulcrum’s Managing Director, Dave Abraham, said
“it was a pleasure to deliver the course, the lads are a great bunch and are keen to integrate back into society up on their release. The course is held over 5 days, during which the candidates are given practical hands-on experience, achieving a CISRS COTS card and GQA Level 1 Health and Safety in a Construction Environment.
We are pleased to announce that all those who attended the course have been offered employment with the following companies: Allied Access, Connolly Scaffolding, PDL Scaffolding and Gorilla Scaffolding. I would like to thank these companies for their support and for recognising that prison leavers deserve the opportunity of employment”
Dave went on to say:
“Our staff at Fulcrum have put a lot of time and commitment into this project but we would not have been able to make this happen without the support from CITB and Procure Plus (Wiktor Morrell & Simon O’Donnell)”.
Tim Bailey, Business Manager, Made Inside Britain, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire Prison Groups commented:
“I am very excited by the potential of this initiative and what can be achieved.
Ultimately, we want to increase employer confidence in the value of employing prison leavers, which to this point is a largely untapped employment market. We also want to ensure there is improved workforce retention among prison leavers and that they get the qualifications and skills needed to enter the local labour market.”
Employment Manager, HMP Thorn Cross said
“Our aim as an open prison is to support those in our care to return to society with all that they need to live purposeful, crime-free lives. Stable, meaningful employment is a key part of this. Having worked with Made Inside Britain and Fulcrum Scaffolding from the outset, it’s clear the opportunities provided will make a real difference to the men in offering something they know will lead them into employment.
Both the MiB team and Fulcrum have, from the start, put the men’s needs first, even securing employment for one man before the course started! Their drive to help our men succeed is evident both in discussions with staff and prisoners and in their delivery of the qualification and work. We look forward to continuing this partnership in the future and seeing the successes of our men in their new jobs!”
The MiB team recognise that providing skills and employment is only part of what is required to break the cycle of reoffending.
An integral part of the project is to provide wraparound support to those prisoners as they progress through the gate and back into society. This support is provided by Antz Junction, a North West based charity.
Their through the gate support covers employment, education and training, housing, health and well-being, finance and benefits and most importantly being that trusted person that our participants can come to when needed.
Alongside through the gate support, prison leavers are given the opportunity to be matched with a business mentor who will provide an extra layer of support into employment and beyond.
This extra layer of support helps to overcome personal barriers and break the cycle of re-offending.
New Futures Network, HMP Lancaster Farms, HMP/YOI Thorn Cross and
Antz Junction are incredibly excited to be working with Fulcrum on this new initiative.
More Information
Working with the Made Inside Britain project could give your business access to a rich and often talented pool of people looking for work upon release from prison. This is an opportunity to fill a skills shortage that could result in business growth and supporting the local community.
Email [email protected] now to find out more.
Henry Annafi added: “It’s amazing how much interest in the scaffolding industry there was from visitors at Catterick. The fact that there was such a surge of interest in applications demonstrates that our message is getting out there to the wider Forces community.
“Ultimately though, it’s all down to the energy, enthusiasm and participation of our members, who each offer their time to promote careers within our sector, with no guarantee of reward. It’s always a privilege to work alongside them.” 
Peter Bennett OBE, Executive Director of the Ladder Association, commented: “Making sure consumers are safe is our number one priority and we are committed to raising awareness of potentially harmful ladders. We are aware of below-standard ladders being sold across the UK to unsuspecting customers, and we are particularly surprised and unsettled to hear that some of our best-loved retailers are stocking potentially hazardous products.
“The evidence we have found of unsafe ladders being retailed in the UK is astounding. The majority of telescopic ladders we tested did not meet the minimum safety requirements designed to keep users safe. These ladders are dangerous and have the potential to cause serious injury. Retailers have a legal and moral duty to consumer safety, and it is vital that they carry out due diligence to ensure that products are safe, particularly when they have been imported to the UK from an unknown manufacturer. We hope our research conducted in partnership with Trading Standards and Suffolk County Council gives both consumers and retailers an increased awareness around the issue and encourages them to exercise caution when sourcing ladders.”
Vicki Burch, Chair of the East of England Trading Standards Association Product Safety Group, said: “EETSA and Suffolk Trading Standards Imports Team have found it invaluable to work with the Ladder Association on this project. From the samples provided by EETSA, over half failed the appropriate tests to the applicable safety standard. For those telescopic ladders identified as non-compliant to EN 131-6, action has been taken to ensure they are removed from sale. EETSA would advise consumers to take time to research before buying, particularly online, buy from reputable sources and check product reviews. If consumers have concerns about the safety of a product before or after purchase, it should be reported to Trading Standards.”
Gail Hounslea, Chair of the Ladder Association, added: “Our research carried out in the Telescopic Ladder Surveillance Survey underlines the importance of putting safety first when it comes to purchasing ladders. It’s easy to assume that ladders being sold from a recognisable site or store are ‘trustworthy’ and these marketplaces would only sell tried and tested products, but sadly this is not always the case. We are calling on consumers to shop safer, and one way to guarantee product safety is to buy from a Ladder Association member. We are also urging suppliers, retailers and importers to play their role in sourcing only compliant and safe ladders. If they are unsure of the quality, they should have them independently tested within the UK. No matter their size, retailers and suppliers must take greater responsibility for consumer safety.”
The Ladder Association and East of England Trading Standards Association are committed to ensuring customer safety through testing and product recommendations. Following the results of the Survey, both organisations are calling for increased vigilance of the issues on the part of suppliers, marketplaces and social media selling platforms, as well as enforcement agencies and governing bodies, and a joined-up approach with Trading Standards to stop these products at port.
Founded in 1947 and celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, the Ladder Association is the voice of the industry and promotes the highest standards and competence, while working with major bodies including the Health & Safety Executive. The Association harnesses its own expertise along with that of its member companies to support technical excellence, safety and best practice in the interests of ladder users everywhere. All Ladder Association members are required to make or supply ladders that meet the current product standard.
To find out more information on the Step Up to Safe Ladders campaign and to view the full report, please follow the link:
TRAD Group CEO, Des Moore, said: “We are delighted to have won this prestigious award for our health and safety approach. The Progress Unit has worked incredibly hard to design, develop and roll out our new PEP scheme, and to make our other health and safety initiatives a reality. As with everything we do in TRAD, this is a whole-team effort and I couldn’t be prouder of the staff, who have committed to higher standards and a proactive approach, helping to make everyone our yards and our customer sites safer places to be.
I’d like to say a big thank you to all our staff who have helped to make these initiatives a reality, without your input and commitment we wouldn’t have been considered for, never mind been given, this prestigious award. This is yours.” 
Jeff Satwick of Scaffolding Access told us: “The whole job came together from start to finish. The supply of the equipment from AFIX UK, the design work from DESSA, down to the scaffolding site team, who’s outstanding efforts delivered the job with time to spare. They have all done me proud.
We have become a significant contractor in the construction industry by growing in a controlled way, taking on staff who expand the depth of our technical expertise, whom we value appropriately and intend to keep. This policy has resulted in excellent relations with our growing list of high-profile clients and project completion times on – and often before – target.”
The Scaffold Access site team Geoff O’Brien and Joe Satwick told us: “Every job has its challenges, and this was no different, building a roof of this size by hand and on time was a serious task. We are glad it’s over the line and the client was very happy with the overall result of the project.” 
