Phoenix Brickwork’s scaffolding division continues to grow after winning a £1.2M scaffolding contract in Birmingham.BMH Scaffolding, part of the Phoenix Brickwork group of companies, has recently started work on a new, £1.2m contract win to supply extensive scaffolding services for a major new residential project in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
Within a week of the appointment, teams from BMH Scaffolding began installation on this huge residential and retail block, to ensure that the full structure would be ready for the next phase.
The scaffolding element is scheduled to take 52 weeks of the overall 138-week construction plan and is challenging in both timings and scale.
The project involves in excess of 1000 tonnes of independent scaffolding with loading bays and stair towers, installed up to 18 storeys high.
BMH Scaffolding’s site manager, Kevin Mee, said “With a project of this size, it’s important to make a fast and efficient start. Our expert team of almost two dozen scaffolders is already delivering impressive progress in all areas, to make sure that multiple elevations are ready, in time for the next stages of construction.”
Phoenix Brickworks’ Chairman, Christian Watson, celebrates this impressive new win for his group; “This is yet another terrific win for BMH Scaffolding, part of the Phoenix Brickwork group of companies, demonstrating the breadth and depth of our offering to main contractors, and our ability to handle ever-larger projects.“Our growth across the country continues from North to South, despite the challenges of Covid restrictions, and is testament to the quality, expertise and industry knowledge of our workforce.”
With a turnover now exceeding £25m, Phoenix Brickwork is fast becoming a key player in the national sub-contracting landscape.
ScaffFloat has expanded overseas after launching its first scaffolding pontoon in Australia through one of its local partners, AEG Group.
Perth based Access Engineering Group is the first scaffold firm in Australia to become an Approved Partner of the patented system that allows pontoons, barges and workboats to be built from standard scaffold components.
The firm last week launched an 8m x 4m ScaffFloat pontoon with a submerged access shelf cantilevered off the end to give bespoke access to their client who is carrying out maintenance works Barrack Street Jetty and needs access above and below the water.
Access Engineering Group offer services throughout Australia and the Pacific Rim Region, both on and offshore and has over 24 years of trading in the industry.
They approached ScaffFloat and applied to be an Approved Provider as they undertake projects in domestic and commercial construction, as well as utilities and infrastructure and could see that ScaffFloat would be of use to their clients.
Damian Beausang, MD of AEG group said ”We have had a number of other enquiries for ScaffFloat in Australia and we expect this to be the first of many jobs where we provide safe floating access. In this case the client, Elite Concrete Protection and Repairs have said they are delighted with the bespoke access for their planned works, in particular how safe it is for the works close to the water. And at the end of the day that’s what it’s all about – happy customers saving time and money”
The ScaffFloat system is designed to integrate with the world’s most popular scaffold systems, including 450 and 750 lattice beams made by Apollo, Generation/Altrad, Layher and Haki. It is the versatility and compatibility that is feeding it’s growth overseas with floats in or on their way to Cyprus, Malta, Singapore, Australia & Ireland and growing enquiries from a number of other markets.
Toby Budd, MD of ScaffFloat added: ”We are delighted to have Damian and Access Engineering Group onboard and this first commercial job is a great start. It’s a real milestone that proves the ScaffFloat system is no longer limited to UK shores. We are now looking at starting manufacture in country so we can supply higher numbers of floats for other projects down under in the pipeline.’’
The smallest pontoons start at 3m x 3m and can scale to almost any size and shape with a 16m x 6.4m self-propelled pontoon with 12m spuds recently used for a 15t dive spread for UXO works on the Thames.
Uses for ScaffFloat™ span several sectors including survey, drilling, geotechnical, renewables, oil & gas, civils, events, military, disaster relief as well as safe floating access.
21% of construction employees have experienced bullying in the last year with almost 3 in 10 saying the bullying was just labelled as ‘banter’. Industry workers have reported high levels of stress, anxiety and depression as a result.
Poor mental health in the construction industry has reached an all-time high, with over half of UK construction workers reporting mental health issues in the last year. According to the findings from a nationwide survey, 1 in 5 construction workers have been impacted by bullying alone in the last year.
The Mental Health in the Construction Industry survey, found that only 7% of workers raised feelings of poor mental health with their HR team. Shockingly, when issues were raised, only 6% said they had sufficient mental health support.
The data was collected by London plant hire specialists Herts Tools, who surveyed employees from 88 construction companies in the UK, to highlight the impacts of poor mental health in the industry.
With the construction and trades industries traditionally leaning towards ‘manning up’ or ‘cracking on’ as solutions to mental health issues, the findings suggest this attitude is still very much present.
50% of workers between the ages 21-24 were found to be the worst affected by bullying labelled as ‘banter’.
Workers surveyed also noted that the industry could improve its approach to confidentiality, with 56% of bullied employees wanting more privacy on issues raised. Even those who hadn’t personally been subject to bullying felt more could be done to improve confidentiality around sensitive, personal issues (36%).
Stefano Lobban, Director at Herts Tools, said: “The UK construction industry is still experiencing a mental health crisis: workers continue to demonstrate a ‘suck it up and deal with it’ approach to poor mental health. “The findings from our survey highlight that workplaces could be doing more. They could encourage workers suffering to come forward and share their experiences of poor mental health issues and/or bullying by having more confidentiality measures in place. Companies could look at investing in workplace surveys, private spaces and more wellbeing measures, to give workers the opportunity to share any personal issues in a safe and supportive environment.“We just hope that companies take these new figures as a warning and address their own workplace culture so that these difficult and sensitive issues can be discussed.”Kasia Richter, Founder at Wellbeing Strategist, said: “Harmless joking is when it is enjoyed by both parties. Banter can be a way of creating bonds by sharing experiences and exchanging thoughts and feelings in a way that is mutually accepted. Bullying starts when boundaries of respect are crossed and certain behaviour is harmful, causing negative feelings such as emotional pain, sorrow, guilt or shame.”
Where can construction workers seek professional support?
Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity
The charity has been delivering charitable welfare and support to the construction community since 1956. The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is funded by the industry, for the industry.https://www.constructionindustryhelpline.com/
Mates in Mind
Mates in Mind is a leading UK charity raising awareness and addressing the stigma of poor mental health. We promote and lead on the development of positive mental wellbeing within the workplace. Mates in Mind works across industries, focusing on construction, as well as related sectors, including transport, logistics, manufacturing, and others.https://www.matesinmind.org/This article was first published in the ScaffMag Magazine Issue 15
Engineering and maintenance firm Bilfinger UK has secured a major contract in the North Sea that will create 300 new roles in scaffolding and rope access.
The contract will see Bilfinger UK deliver fabric maintenance services at TotalEnergies’ Elgin and Franklin platforms located in the UK Central North Sea.
The deal supports a 270-day campaign on the installations and will start in March 2022, creating 300 fixed-term positions. Bilfinger will provide fabric maintenance, rope access and over 50 new scaffolding personnel.
Mike Henderson, business development and commercial director at Bilfinger UK, said: “We’ve supported TotalEnergies to operate and maintain its North Sea assets for more than a decade.“This new contract win is testament to the strong relationship we’ve built with the operator’s team over this period, and to the skills and expertise within Bilfinger for successfully delivering critical offshore projects. We’re proud to be part of the team helping to extend the life of these offshore assets.”
The contract win follows Bilfinger commencing a five-year inspection contract for TotalEnergies’ Danish North Sea assets in July 2021.
Aberdeen-based Bilfinger Salamis UK now trades under the new Bilfinger UK brand following its merger with Warrington-based Bilfinger UK on 1st January 2022.
The merger, combining the onshore and offshore capabilities of the two businesses, forms one of the UK’s largest integrated services contractors, with 4,500 employees during peak periods and 14 onshore locations across the UK’s key industrial hubs.
Workers including scaffolders at a construction firm are to receive several thousand pounds after they were dismissed without any consultation in July 2019.
A total of 73 former employees of Focus (MDC) in Whitehaven, Cumbria have received the protective award from an employment tribunal (ET).
A spokesperson from Unite the Union said on Thursday, February 3, that they welcomed the 90-day protective award for the failure by the company to consult on the redundancies as it went into liquidation.
The firm had provided construction workers, such as scaffolders and joiners, for the Sellafield site.
As the award will be paid by the government and capped at eight weeks pay, the former employees can expect several thousand pounds, which will be taxed, depending on personal circumstances.
Unite regional officer Ryan Armstrong said: “This is a classic case of the benefits of being a member of a trade union in tough times. Standing collectively, we can reach awards and settlements that would be immensely difficult for individuals to achieve by themselves. “Our members at Focus (MDC) were treated in a shabby way by the management and we are pleased that this has been rightly recognised by an employment tribunal.”
The TRAD Group has presented The Royal British Legion, MIND and MS Society with cheques for £25,000 each, following a year of fundraising in 2021.
TRAD Group, one of the UK’s leading scaffolding groups, presented its three 50th anniversary charities with cheques for £25,000 this week. The charities, which were chosen by staff, were the focus of the Group’s 50th anniversary year charity fundraising, and TRAD reached its target of £75,000 before Christmas, thanks to the generosity of staff, customers and the wider construction community.
“It was an absolute pleasure to be involved with these fantastic charities during our 50th anniversary year,” says Des Moore, CEO of TRAD Group.
“The whole group got involved, and we learned a lot about ourselves and what we were prepared to do to raise money for good causes – our incredible staff ran, cycled, walked, climbed and much more to get us to our ambitious target of £75,000.”
The cheques, which were presented at an event on February 8th, divided the money equally between the three charities. MIND, which works on a regional basis, is splitting its £25,000 between the regions related to TRAD’s depots and Head Office in Kent, Andover, Stockport, Leeds, Glasgow, Birmingham and London. The MS Society, chosen because of links with some TRAD staff members, will support its important research into Multiple Sclerosis, along with the support it offers to those with MS and their families.
“We are very grateful to TRAD for the considerable efforts their staff have made to raise such a fantastic amount of money for the Poppy Appeal,” said Greenhithe Royal British Legion Branch Treasurer, David Mote. “The Poppy Appeal is the Royal British Legion’s biggest annual fundraising campaign in November, during the period of Remembrance, but we try to raise money all year round. This generous donation will support those still serving and those who have previously served in any war where the UK has been involved.”
TRAD is now working towards its charity scheme for this year “22 for 22”, where the Group will be raising money for the Anthony Nolan Trust, in memory of John Paterson, previously Managing Director at TRAD Hire & Sales for many years, and who sadly passed away in June 2021.
Yorkshire-based manufacturer, ITP Ltd, has secured a contract to supply scaffold sheeting for the construction of a unique building showcasing the very latest in architectural design at the Leonardo Hotel in central Manchester.
One of the UK’s most ambitious and eye-catching hotel projects, the development features biodiverse facades inspired by Milan’s Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) and is known as the ‘Jenga’ hotel, due to its design resembling stacked blocks of the classic game, Jenga. Located at 1 Adair Street, near Piccadilly Station, the striking £35m build will be 14 storeys tall and comprise over 110,000 sq ft, with 275 rooms.
Designed by local architect, Roger Stephenson of Stephenson Studio, the Leonardo Hotel project was recently featured in the BBC 2 series Manctopia: Billion Pound Property Boom, and gained significant attention for its innovative design, winning an award from the Manchester Society of Architects prior to its construction.
Main contractor, Bowmer & Kirkland, is overseeing a scheme featuring 17 external planted tiers referred to in planning documents as ‘Jenga blocks.’ The tiers will be filled with trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses and perennials tailored to suit the microclimate of each space in a similar way to Bosco Verticale, the pioneering eco-friendly residential complex created in 2014 by Stefano Boeri Architetti.
Award-winning scaffold company, IBN Scaffold Access Ltd, chose ITP’s Powerclad Standard Flame Retardant scaffold sheeting to provide robust weather protection and containment during construction. Compliant with all relevant regulations, the product’s flame retardant performance has been certified to the highest standard Certifire TS 62 and 63 by independent testing bodies Exova Warrington.
The 4-star hotel is due to open to the public in 2022 and will be operated by Fattal Hotel Group under the Leonardo Hotels brand. The build will make up part of developer Capital & Centric’s Piccadilly East neighbourhood which will see further apartments created in the area alongside a hotel at Ducie Street warehouse. It is hoped that the project will promote Manchester’s architectural reputation on an international level.
David Brown, Managing Director of IBN Scaffold Access Ltd, said: “The Leonardo Hotel is one of various high-profile city centre developments which IBN Scaffold Access Ltd are currently supporting, and we are excited to be involved in this impressive project. ITP’s Powerclad offers tried and tested strength, durability and fire retardancy. The system is in keeping with the exceptionally high standards that clients expect from our scaffolding solutions.”
ITP Account Manager, Caroline Collins, added: “ITP are proud to supply our products for another innovative architectural project. We are looking forward to seeing the completed Leonardo Hotel – it promises to be a very impressive sight on Manchester’s skyline.”
A wannabe scaffolder living with Down’s Syndrome has been accepted onto an apprenticeship course to become fully qualified within the industry.
32-year-old Todd Scanlon from Swindon who works for Coles Scaffolding Ltd has been awarded a place on a scaffolding training scheme at Weston College in what is believed to be a UK first.
His boss Martyn Coles has told the Swindon Advertiser that he has been fighting for Todd to be heard to further his training for nearly two years.“I wanted to show that Todd is more than capable of achieving what he wants to achieve.”“It’s often been the case that it’s the unknown, no-one with Todd’s condition has challenged training providers so they say no because they’re looking at things that could go wrong rather than thinking ‘well, actually this lad can do it’,” he said.
Budding scaffolder Todd is set to continue through the course at his own pace, with no deadline while receiving one-to-one support. He then aims to get his NVQs to eventually become a fully-qualified scaffolder.
“It would be phenomenal, there’s a good chance he will do it, no-one’s done this ever, so it’s trail and error.“But no-one with Down Syndrome in the whole of the construction industry has done this, so we are setting the benchmark.”
Martyn and Todd have been campaigning for construction to become a more inclusive industry since Todd joined his firm three years ago. They’ve gone on to see a lot of success in changing attitudes towards hiring people with disabilities, including Down’s Syndrome.
As reported previously, Todd won a national award for ‘best apprentice’ at the On The Tools Awards in 2019 and in 2021 the firm won a special recognition award at the construction industry’s Total Awards.
“At first, I think they were hesitant towards him working in the industry, still negative people, but a lot of people, the majority of people have seen him and seen what he’s capable of, and seen it’s not just a gimmick or a quick thing.”“What Todd’s message is showing is that anyone can achieve their goals if they want to and have the right people around them, all of the lads have been amazing with him and helping him.”
Construction employers are set to receive a suite of apprenticeship support resources, as CITB urges employers to rethink their recruitment methods.
To mark National Apprenticeship Week, a series of apprenticeship toolkits have been launched to support construction employers with hiring an apprentice.
Acting as a one-stop-shop for support and guidance, the website toolkits simplify access to information and reduce the obstacles that often deter employers from looking into the process. Starting at the beginning of the journey, they will detail the various routes to hiring an apprentice across England, Scotland, and Wales. From there, there’s a choice of four other sections to explore, including support available from CITB. This could be practical support, assisting employers with completing paperwork, or financial support, with a breakdown on how to claim funding for an apprentice.
National Apprenticeship Week is an annual week-long celebration of apprenticeships across England and Wales. Now in its fifteenth year, the event brings businesses and apprentices together and highlights the positive impact apprenticeships can have on individuals, businesses, and the economy.
This year’s theme, ‘Build the Future,’ is particularly relevant to the construction sector, with the industry facing some major challenges, including the need to recruit an additional 217,000 workers by 2025. This places greater emphasis on apprenticeships as one way the construction industry can secure a pipeline of future talent, but also highlights the need to tackle the many challenges faced when considering recruiting an apprentice.
Additionally, the challenges extend to recruiting new entrants in general, as CITB’s recent report, Rethinking Recruitment, encourages employers to consider alternative methods. A key part of this will be ensuring a fair recruitment process to widen the talent pool and bring in the new perspectives required to fill the skills gap.
With much of the industry relying on word-of-mouth methods to recruit, the toolkits include advice on writing apprenticeship adverts, interview guidance and links to additional resources on integrating Fairness, Inclusion and Respect principles, to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace.
With 70% of SMEs in construction being micro businesses with less than 10 employees, time was identified as a key factor in the design stages of the toolkits. Each section has clear, easy-to-follow headings meaning employers can scan and skip sections to find the information they want quickly.
Alan Wilson, Head of Apprenticeships & Careers Products at CITB, said: “Apprenticeships are vital to the construction industry, but it’s important to remember they can also be a fantastic addition to any business, in general. Hiring an apprentice can be a great way to pass on an important trade to the next generation, help your business grow, and even increase productivity.“For these reasons, it’s extremely important that all employers understand what an apprenticeship is and the different types available. The new toolkits are a brilliant support system, covering a huge amount of advice and tips that can often be a daunting and time-consuming task to figure out on your own.”
After launching EnviroHoard™, the UK’s first net zero carbon verified hoarding system in 2021, Panthera Group has now become the first business in the UK to secure a Green Business Loan for SMEs from HSBC bank.
The ‘Green Loan’ scheme was launched by HSBC bank on Monday 24th January to encourage businesses to become more sustainable and to help finance green activities to meet customer demands for environmentally products and services.
Panthera Group applied for the scheme to support its plans for scaling up its net zero carbon hoarding system, EnviroHoard™.
The company has been at the forefront of sustainability in the construction sector over the last few years; investing substantially in the development of EnviroHoard™ during the downturn of 2020.
Launched in 2021 the company has been on a programme of continuous development ever since; making a further carbon reduction in its low carbon concrete block during the year. Now, the loan supplied by HSBC will enable the company to speed up its growth plans for EnviroHoard™ across the UK.
The commitment to sustainability is further evidenced within Panthera’s own business operations which became carbon neutral in January 2021. Managing Director, Neal James, is also looking at improving these credentials even further;
“The HSBC loan will enable us to roll out EnviroHoard™ nationally and at much quicker speed. This will help even more contractors to reduce their projects’ carbon impact. The business is looking at electric trucks, sustainable heating systems and keeping an eye on hydrogen-powered vehicles for the plant fleet which will help towards our ultimate goal in eliminating the carbon footprint of the business.”
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