The British Steel site in Scunthorpe faces disruption next week as scaffolders at the plant begin strike action in a dispute over pay.
The 50 plus scaffolders employed by Brand Energy, who are members of the construction union Unite, are responsible for the maintenance of over 500 scaffolding structures at the Scunthorpe site.
The dispute is over pay that began in 2019. The scaffolders are seeking to be paid in line with the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry (NAECI).
There is a difference of £2.00 an hour between their current pay rates and the established NAECI pay rates.
According to Unite since 2019, Brand Energy has refused to engage with the union over the pay dispute, leaving them with no option but to ballot for strike action.
The scaffolders involved delivered a resounding 100 per cent yes vote in favour of strike action.
Unite has called a total of six days of strikes over the coming weeks, with the first 48 hour strike beginning on Monday 25 January at 05:30.
Strikes will also take place on Monday 1 February until Wednesday 3 February and Monday 8 February until Wednesday 10 February.
Socially distanced picket lines
The scaffolders will be maintaining a strictly socially distanced picket line at the site, which is likely to cause disruption to the overall operation at British Steel, Unite said.
The dispute is made more complex as Brand Energy will lose the scaffolding contract on 15 February when it will transfer to Activo. If the matter is not resolved before the contract is transferred, Unite will begin balloting for fresh industrial action with Activo, once the contract transfers.
Unite regional officer John McIntyre said: “Our members have been left with no choice but to take strike action due to the refusal of Brand Energy to even engage with Unite on the pay issue.“There are clear pay rates established for this type of highly skilled work and Brand Energy are deliberately undermining them.“Our members play a crucial role maintaining safety on the British Steel site and deserve to be paid the correct rate for the job.“Strike action will inevitably cause considerable disruption across the site but this dispute is solely of Brand Energy’s making and even at this late stage strike action can be avoided, if Brand Energy agree to pay the correct rate.“If this matter is not resolved by the time Brand Energy loses the contract then it is only right and fair to inform the new contractor Activo that preparations for renewed industrial action will begin when they inherit the contract.”
The new site allows TRAD UK customers to raise quotes online and see all its products in one place.
TRAD UK, the new brand for the combined TRAD Hire & Sales and TRAD Safety Systems companies, has launched its new website for the trade – now with the full and extensive range of products and services available to customers across the UK.
Bringing all of the company’s products under one roof, the new website makes it easy for customers to view all the safety and scaffolding products for sale or hire and includes a new quoting service that allows customers to raise a quote online.
The quote then feeds directly into the relevant Super Depots that TRAD UK now operates around the UK, helping to deliver the great customer service that the TRAD Group prides itself on.
Customers will also have direct access to all depot managers and sales representative contacts across the company’s six depots.
“Having merged the two companies earlier in the year, this is a fantastic new site that showcases our vast range of products available for hire or sale,” commented Des Moore, TRAD Group CEO and NASC President 2017-19. “It also gives customers the opportunity to see how our services compare to other providers, demonstrating our significant capability across all scaffolding and access requirements for both the housebuilding and wider commercial construction industries.”
In addition to the online ordering portal, customers will be able to take advantage of a new information section, where all product user manuals and data sheets can be freely downloaded, and the site will also include health & safety guidance, and links to industry-standard advice and guidance. This makes the site a fantastic resource for everyone in the industry.
“It is fantastic to have our new website up and running,” said Colin Dobson, Managing Director at TRAD UK. “This new site is a clear and practical way for our customers to find exactly the equipment and products they need, and to get a quote for hire or sale, as well as accessing key resources to help them work safely and efficiently. Working closely with our depots around the country, the website will help us to operate a smooth search and sales operation for our customers, allowing them to avoid gimmicks and get on with the job efficiently and cost-effectively.”
Altrad has reached the landmark milestone of 11 years without a lost-time injury on a chemical site in Carrington, near Manchester.
The firms teams have been providing multiple discipline services on the site for its client LyondellBasell for over 20 years.
Altrad provides a range of services for LyondellBasell including scaffolding, insulation, painting, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and civil. Altrad said their service offering at the Carrington site has evolved over a 20-year period providing reduced interfaces and enhanced value for their client.
Jean Gadbois, LyondellBasell’s SVP Manufacturing Europe, Asia, International said: “Congratulations for this milestone – it is a significant achievement.”
Steve Finnegan, LyondellBasell’s Manager at the Carrington Site added, “At LyondellBasell, we have an intense global focus on the safety of all personnel working on our sites. This achievement of 11 years without a lost-time injury from our largest partner at the Carrington site is a truly remarkable achievement, particularly in light of the nature of work carried out. We will share this as an example of sustained Goal Zero operation to other LyondellBasell sites around the world.”
This impressive safety milestone reflects the dedication and commitment of our site teams, Altrad said.
Ambitious plans for the construction industry in North Wales have taken a step forward with the opening of an accredited training facility for scaffolders.
The new £2.1m training facility at Busnes@LlandrilloMenai’s Centre for Infrastructure, Skills and Technology (CIST) at Llangefni, Anglesey is supported by the Welsh Government Energy Island funding and enables the CIST Centre Llangefni to expand its portfolio of industry accredited commercial courses available in North Wales.
Previously those wishing to access accredited scaffolding training would have to travel to centres in the North of England or West Midlands, though now students learning the skill will begin their studies in North Wales for the first time in March.
The new CISRS accredited training provision at the CIST facility is a commercial partnership with scaffolding specialists Simian Risk Management Ltd and means employees can now stay in Wales for their training.
Dr Paul Bevan, Executive Director for Commercial Development, said: “The accreditation of the scaffolding centre at CIST is just the latest addition to an expanding portfolio of accredited training for the building and engineering industries.“As well industry training in scaffolding Busnes@LlandrilloMenai also has partnerships with ARC Academy Holdings Ltd, Delyn Safety, Leica Geosystems Ltd and others to deliver a comprehensive range of accredited courses that includes on-site safety, heavy plant training, site management and more.”
The completion of the new scaffolding centre follows the recent signing and publication of the North Wales Growth Deal. The deal includes plans for 14 transformational projects in the region that would create over 5,000 jobs, including the Glynllifon Rural Economy Hub, the Holyhead Gateway, developments at Trawsfynydd and Regional Land and Property Developments including Denbigh Hospital Site, Parc Bryn Cegin at Bangor and Bodelwyddan Strategic Site.
CITB and Busnes@LlandrilloMenai work closely together at the CIST Centre and to help meet skill shortages in the industry. CITB is currently funding many students completing scaffolding training at CIST to help meet those industry needs.
Steve Radley, Director of Strategy and Policy at CITB, said: “This investment will see a boost in construction in North Wales, and CITB will be supporting those who want to move into the industry so that it can meet the ambitious projects and the challenges ahead. With the amount of construction and development work in the pipeline, this centre will help to meet the increasing demand for skilled scaffolders.“We’re confident that training centres like this one, coupled with our plans for further investment in Wales, will contribute to a thriving construction sector in the country.”
This new scaffolding training centre will allow the CIST Centre along with partners Simian Risk Management Ltd and CITB to support the development of local skills that will support the realisation of these large infrastructure projects.
The plans called for in the growth deal would see new opportunities for scaffolding companies within North Wales, and more skilled workers needed to meet that demand.
The first batch of future scaffolders to study at CIST start on Monday 1 March, with a group of nine setting off on the first step of their new career.
HMRC has shared some little-known facts about Self Assessment ahead of the 31 January 2021 deadline.
Did you know almost 100,000 people filed their tax returns on 6 April 2020, which is the first day of the tax year?
With the 31 January 2021 deadline fast approaching, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) shares some little-known facts about Self Assessment tax returns.
The April ‘early birds’ are not the only ones to make HMRC’s list of Self Assessment facts; it is also 20 years since the tax authority introduced online tax returns. In 2001, 38,000 online tax returns were filed and this year, HMRC estimates around 11 million online tax returns – quite the increase and in line with the digitisation of the tax system.
HMRC’s 7 Self Assessment facts are:
96,519 people filed their tax return on 6 April 2020 (first day of the tax year)
it’s the 20th anniversary of Self Assessment internet filing, the service began on 3 July 2000 – with 38,000 individuals successfully sending their digital tax return by 31 January 2001
in January 2011, 3.4 million taxpayers completed a Self Assessment tax return online – this has increased to an estimated 5 million in January 2021
this year’s deadline (31 January 2021) is on a Sunday. The last time the deadline was on a Sunday was in 2016
last year, the busiest filing day was 31 January with 702,171 returns completed
the peak hour for filing last year was between 16:00 to 16:59 on 31 January when 56,969 customers filed
HMRC has increased the self-serve Time to Pay threshold to £30,000 to help Self Assessment customers spread the cost of their tax bill
Karl Khan, HMRC’s Interim Director General for Customer Services, said:
“It’s 20 years since Self Assessment online was introduced and it’s how the vast majority of customers complete their tax return these days. Fewer and fewer people are doing it on paper each year.
There’s still time for customers to complete their tax return before the deadline, and help and support is available on GOV.UK.“
HMRC expects more than 12.1 million people to complete a Self Assessment tax return. Figures released earlier this month revealed that 55% of customers have already filed their returns, with more than 6.2 million choosing to submit online (93% of all returns filed).
Once customers have completed their tax return, and know how much tax is owed, they can set up their own payment plan to help spread the cost of their tax liabilities.
They can use the self-serve Time to Pay facility to set up monthly direct debits online.
This year, in light of the additional pressures caused by COVID-19, HMRC has increased the self-serve Time to Pay threshold to £30,000 to help Self Assessment customers spread the cost of their tax bill. Interest will be applied to any outstanding balance from 1 February 2021.
To see if they’re eligible, customers can visit GOV.UK to find out more about paying through instalments.
The largest industry organisations and trade bodies including the NASC and the Scaffolding Association have supported a letter calling on the government to withdraw reverse charge VAT in construction.
The new planned tax changes will see subcontractors no longer charging VAT, instead the customer receiving construction services has to pay the VAT directly to the HMRC.
In the letter to chancellor Rishi Sunak, trade bodies warned that if the planned reverse charge VAT is implemented on the 1st March it will ‘restrict cash flow in a vital industry, especially to the smallest firms, at just about the worst time’.“The policy risks reversing what modest recovery the construction industry has made from the pandemic”, they said in the letter.
It will also limit the scope for protecting and creating jobs at a time when our country needs a strong construction sector the most.”
Chief executive of the Federation of Master Builders, Brian Berry said: “As set out in our previous letter, the on-going emergency support for the business community in response to COVID-19 has been very welcome. However, reverse charge VAT, especially if implemented at this time, risks negating these benefits. Indeed, the combination of the latest lockdown restrictions, together with on-going issues in accessing materials from the EU, means that the timing presently could not be worse.”
The introduction of reverse charge VAT has already been delayed twice. It was first due to come into force on 1st October 2019, but was postponed until 1 October 2020 to give businesses more time to prepare. More recently the deadline was then pushed back to 1 March 2021 due to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the economy.
Industry organisations and trade bodies say the new rules need to be withdrawn as a matter of urgency and hope the chancellor will use the forthcoming budget to make the change.
Read the full letter here: https://builduk.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Joint-letter-to-Chancellor-14-January-2021.pdf
Following on from a previous featured piece, ‘The Robots are coming… and we are building them’. I was inspired to detail my own thoughts on paper. Now, if you have not read this article, I urge you to do so. The concerns of Simon Boyes were; if we are hindering the current and future generations of scaffolders to be creative thinkers. I completely agree with his concerns. As a scaffold designer, I could well be part of the problem.When I first began this trade, certification was not the defining attribute it is today. There were untrained (in construction college terms) who were incredible scaffolders and truly creative thinkers. Even if there was an Advanced card on-site, this did not determine rank. Rank was based on an unspoken agreement from construction merit.Now, this is not to say I do not believe in the construction colleges or their training and certification regimes, I do. I really do. I want more! However, it must be based on time served and construction merit. All too often now, new starts can begin as a labourer then depending on funds available to them or favourability from their employers can progress to an Advanced scaffolder essentially in a mere two years. Here is my issue. In the industry of delivering someone somewhere, does not matter who or where, as an industry we are to get you there safely. How can all this be delivered and absorbed within two years? Scaffolding is a vast industry, from assembling structures for new build properties – to front elevations on busy city centre streets – to enclosed space platforms within substations – to hangers off a rig in the middle of the sea.This Advanced status can be claimed by operatives who have only ever gone round housing plots, then effectively could secure a role of instructing a part two trained individuals who have spent their working life offshore developing their skills in how to construct that previously mentioned hanger amongst other structures. This is not to say I favour one style of scaffolding to the next, but they are very different. I have found the same concerns in reverse when an offshore operative was the chargehand on a housing site and the setting out procedure was ‘interesting’. Now, back to the creative thinking problem. In an industry where nepotism is all too obvious, I would like to remove the opportunity for the “who you know” and bring it back to “what you know”.In an industry so physically demanding as ours, it is great to see the progression in monetary terms so quick for our operatives. However, reaching the salary cap at effectively 20 years old and believing you know there is all to know is a concern. Until scaffolding labourers can ‘read’ a job and have all components laid out for their team for the next lift, I do not believe a part one course should be offered or a tool belt strapped around their waist. Understanding the process is so important in developing the creative mind of a scaffolder. Once individuals have the tool belt status it is clear, they do not like to continue labouring. However, by not enduring the process of not only supplying the components but also watching and learning, labourers themselves as well as us who allow these practices to happen, stymie the development of creative and understanding minds within the industry.Obviously, not just now with the current pandemic where operatives should remain within one squad to prevent transmission possibilities. However, something I found extremely beneficial in learning my trade, was being the labourer within many different squads. Offering the opportunity to learn from many different chargehands. Learning different possibilities and solutions to similar problems. A common belief within the industry is that giving the same problem to a range of scaffolders would bring a range of different structures. As long as they are safe and provide access to the required area then that is the fundamentals of what we are all trying to provide. I believe that this is extremely beneficial to the new era. Obviously, this is constrained where bespoke design is implemented. However, within “standard scaffolds” that are covered within TG20, where design input is not required then this is where creative thinking scaffolders need to be nurtured and developed so they can perform.So, delay the training, advance the learning and cultivate the creative minds of scaffolders of the future!
The TRAD Group has announced that it is launching a year of celebrations to mark its 50th year in business.
There are a host of events and commitments to mark the anniversary, the company has confirmed today. Scaffolding and construction contractors can get used to seeing the Group’s special 50th-anniversary logo, and to hearing about various charity events, as the Group has committed to raising a significant amount of money during the year.“Supporting charities is very important to us,” says Paige Matthews, Chief Financial Officer for the Group. “We have chosen three charities for our anniversary year – the Royal British Legion, MIND and the Multiple Sclerosis Society. These have been chosen by members of staff and we are looking forward to raising at least £25,000 for each charity during 2021.”With a culture of promoting from within and mentoring staff so that they can make the most of opportunities within the group, TRAD has a number of employees who have been with the company for many years. During the celebrations, there are plans to feature these long-serving employees, hearing their stories about earlier days and finding out what’s changed over the years.“As someone who is entering my own fourth decade with the Group, this is a significant milestone for me and for TRAD,” says Des Moore, CEO of TRAD Group and President of the NASC from 2017-2019. “It’s a very special company and we have fantastic staff who are committed to delivering the best products and service to the industry. I’m really looking forward not just to celebrating our successes, but using our sense of teamwork to raise a lot of money for our chosen charities.”
PERI UP has helped bring fans closer to the action at the London Stadium thanks to a successful collaboration.
In 2020, changes to the London Stadium seating were made to bring fans closer to the pitch and enhance the overall match-day experience. This involved the reconfiguration of the north and south lower tier stands, which saw a successful collaboration between PERI, Arena Group and scaffolding design engineers 48.3.
The requirement was a flexible seating solution that could be easily adapted to suit various event arrangements throughout the year. Event seating specialist, Arena Events Group were responsible for concept development and brought in PERI to deliver an efficient solution with reduced build times.
This will allow seating to be installed, retracted and removed to create space when required, facilitated by PERI UP’s quick erecting and dismantling operations.
Designed for flexibility
PERI told Scaffmag that around 66 tonnes of PERI UP equipment was delivered to site to buildbirdcage scaffolds which formed the seating foundation. Special requirements were also fulfilled by PERI’s Gunzburg factory within short timeframes.
These bespoke components were made to help Arena Group deliver the squared-off seating arrangement that was specified in all corners of the pitch, and to enable efficient use of space. This involved the creation of 1600 special 1.6m ledgers and bespoke angle connectors, so that adjacent stands could be joined at the required angles.
Business Development Manager for PERI UP, Charles Stratford commented: “This has been a great project to reinforce the relationship PERI have with Arena Group.
The ability to quickly develop bespoke components for complex projects such as this one is a strength of ours and something that Arena Group requires in this environment. I am sure the supporters will welcome the renewed seating arrangements and the enhanced pitchside atmosphere it will create.”
“We’re looking forward to continuing supporting Arena Group this year with flexible scaffolding solutions to meet the current requirements and guidelines in the events industry.”
Leach’s Scaffolder’s Day is back tomorrow and its the best one yet!
2020 was a tough year, but Leach’s know scaffolders are made of strong stuff. That’s why the company is entering 2021 with a renewed sense of optimism… oh, and it’s biggest and best Scaffolder’s Day yet.
Put the date in your calendar and join Leach’s on Thursday 14th January. This year they’ve really gone the extra mile, putting together some truly exceptional rewards and offers.
Special Scaffolder’s Day Offers for January
FREE BIG BEN Scaff Snacks (orders over £150*)
FREE BIG BEN Deluxe Heavy Blend Full-Zip Hoody plus Scaff Snacks (orders over £300*)
FREEBIG BEN Holdall Kit Bag plus Scaff Snacks, hoody and helmet (orders over £1000*)
*prices do not include VAT
Two new BIG BEN products featured this Scaffolder’s Day
To celebrate Scaffolder’s day this year, BIG BEN is launching two brand-new products to its range. The first, catering exclusively for scaffolders, is the all-new Scaff Snack. Scaff Snacks deliver the opportunity to indulge in our mouth-watering Nacho pack including Crisps, Salsa, Guacamole, Cheese and Jalapenos, rounded off with a thirst-quenching can of coke.
All of this is packaged in a handy BIG BEN reusable lunch cool bag, and Leach’s has even provided the cheese grater! All you need to do is heat until the cheese has melted and wait for those taste buds to burst. The perfect on-site snack for scaffolders.
The second new BIG BEN offering this year is a Deluxe Heavy Blend Full-Zip Hoody, a trendy addition to the ever-growing BIG BEN workwear range, and certain to be a big hit with scaffolders and tradespersons.
Sounds good doesn’t it? Join Leach’s this Scaffolder’s Day on Thursday 14th January 2021.
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