What does 2021 look like for the scaffolding industry?

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What does 2021 look like for the scaffolding industry?

To survive the challenges of this year, I believe we need to be creative and collaborative, says Des Moore, TRAD Group CEO and NASC President (2017-19)

I couldn’t have imagined, this time last year, that I would be writing about an industry that is challenged on every front. We were planning for the potential consequences of Brexit on the business, of course, and we already knew there was an issue with workforce numbers. But the pandemic has thrown a number of new obstacles in our path, which will make for a 2021 that will require all our best efforts to navigate.

Not all doom and gloom

First, it’s important to say that we face these challenges with positivity – there’s no other way to do business. Our enquiries are consistent with past years, although our own orders and those of our customers are definitely coming into the business more slowly. We have noticed that projects are taking longer to complete – partially because of lockdown and COVID-safe working rules affecting speed on site – and partly because there’s a delay in getting materials to site. This slow down is reflected across the construction industry, so where we deal with sub-contractors, we are seeing orders slowing down as it takes longer to get onto sites There are also restrictions in place on sites to comply with social distancing requirements, thereby limiting available labour on site. But most construction sites are still active, where they were not in the first lockdown in March 2020, and this is great news for the industry in general.

Preparing for a summer spike

As we move out of the current lockdown restrictions, the construction sector is widely expecting to see a spike in activity in May and June, with the exception of the London market, where a large number of projects seem to be stuck in a constant state of inertia. There is some nervousness about this, because expectations are that work will swing into action – but for that to happen, we need the workforce. We were already experiencing difficulties in getting skilled tradespeople for projects, and we were preparing for Brexit to have an impact on that – estimates are that, prior to the pandemic and the Brexit negotiations, 30% of the workforce in the construction industry was made up of EU labour, and that figure rose to around 50% in London and the South East. So whilst projects might be able to ramp up the work, will the workforce be there to get things done? And are businesses anticipating that need now and starting to do something about it?

Dealing with a toxic environment

I think 2021 brings us a pretty toxic combination of factors that will impact the sector:
  • Much higher costs for raw materials
  • Increased logistics costs – for shipping and haulage
  • Delayed delivery times
  • Pressure on recruiting skilled labour and general labourers
  • Rising wage costs
  • General resourcing issues
For smaller firms, there’s also the potential impact of the VAT Reverse Charge which comes into force on April 1st this year. For those companies who use these funds as additional working capital, there is suddenly going to be a drop in available cash, and this will have a knock-on effect on ordering and delivery. How we approach these multiple challenges will set us up for the future. Our priority has to be keeping our businesses running effectively. The TRAD Group restructured last year to increase efficiencies and ensure that we have a profitable and sustainable business in the long term. Other businesses may have to narrow their offering in order to survive, or diversify as part of their income stream becomes redundant.

Take the creative route

To survive the challenges of this year, I believe we need to be creative and collaborative. Looking for new ways to do things, working closely with customers, suppliers and even competitors to keep things moving. That means sharing best practice on productivity and making bold commitments that invest in the future of the sector. I think this is a good time for scaffolding companies to consider hiring equipment rather than buying, for example. Well-managed hire can save money and give smaller firms the flexibility they need to get on with the job. It’s also worth considering using PLETTAC METRIX system scaffolding for example, rather than traditional tube and fitting. Readers may be thinking: “Well, he would say that, given that’s part of his business offering.” And certainly, there are business opportunities for TRAD. But as a trader, there are many different systems for you to choose from – although I would strongly direct you to a ring system in particular. System scaffolding offers significant labour savings, because it requires a different mix of skillsets: a lower ratio of skilled workers required in a team, compared with traditional tube and fitting scaffolding. This allows firms to manage costs and take on semi-skilled labour, teamed with advanced scaffolders or Gold Card holders without compromising safety or the quality of scaffolding and service supplied.

What are we doing?

The TRAD Group is looking at several ways to support our customers and the wider industry this year. To begin with, we have committed to at least 10% of our workforce being made up of apprentices, trainees and management scheme placements by the end of 2021. We believe in finding, supporting and developing talent so that people see scaffolding and access as a career, not just a ‘job’. We need to play an active role in building the workforce. By encouraging more people to join the business, and by promoting those people from within, based on their skills, talents and attitude, we can meet the challenges ahead of us and create a dedicated and skilled workforce for the future. It’s also important that we do everything we can to support our customers – something that’s always important to us, but needs reinforcing when times are tough. We have already made a significant investment in hire stock to enable customers to trade successfully and flexibly during periods of high prices. And, in preparation for demand later in the year, we have also increased our levels of sales stock so that our customers can be confident of getting the equipment they need when they need it. I firmly believe that by working together, supporting each other and having clear commitments for meeting these challenges that we can get through 2021 positively, minimising the potential damage to our businesses and the wider industry. This article was first published in the ScaffMag Magazine Issue 12

CITB publishes 2021/22 business plan

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CITB publishes 2021/22 business plan

Supporting employers’ core skills and training needs and tackling long-term people and skills challenges underpin CITB’s 2021/22 Business Plan.

Some £140 million of industry Levy will be invested in 2021/22 in funding for employers to train and in employer support and services. This investment of 94p out of every pound of Levy CITB receives will be targeted at industry’s priorities to ensure Levy in means skills out. The targeted investments in Careers, Training and Development, and Standards and Qualifications reflect input from employers on their priorities, including CITB’s Nations Councils for England, Scotland and Wales. There will be significant Levy investment in crucial areas like apprenticeship support, work placements, building bridges from Further Education into construction and direct funding to employers for training. Enhanced funding support will increasingly focus on the most in-demand skill areas required to deliver accelerated homebuilding and infrastructure and wider challenges such as boosting productivity, building safely post-Grenfell and Net Zero carbon emissions. This will include key trades and wider challenges such as leadership and management, digital skills and retrofitting. The Business Plan also closely aligns with the joint recovery plans with governments in all three nations, including the Construction Leadership Council’s recently published Industry Skills Plan. Next week, CITB will also publish Nations Plans for England, Scotland and Wales, agreed with Nations Councils. CITB chief executive Sarah Beale said: “This Business Plan is based on listening to the industry and investing in what it has told us is important to it. As promised, we’re targeting Levy at fewer initiatives to ensure industry funds work hard and tackle priority issues. The plan strikes the right balance between employers’ current needs and future skills challenges. “We will continue to work in partnership with industry to help attract talent and make it easier for new entrants to join, while giving employers the right support and access to training to upskill their people and retain vital skills. This work will put construction in a strong position to grow, improve productivity and become an inclusive, even-more-rewarding sector in which to develop a career.”

Careers

CITB will support changes to make securing a role in construction much more appealing and easier to access. Inspiring people from school age through STEM Ambassadors and skills competitions then providing engaging information about Careers through Go Construct, which will signpost to where to go next, be that training, one of the 4,200 taster experiences that we are working with employers to provide this year, or where to find a job. CITB will invest in and support onsite training hubs across England and Wales, providing 3,650 work experience places, delivering 2,500 new entrants ready to work onsite and join construction. CITB will be part of the delivery team providing an industry-wide Talent Management system to support early career opportunities in addition to the Construction Talent Retention Scheme. Together they will provide easy access to a range of opportunities and help employers to draw on a wider talent pool.

Training and Development

CITB reacted to the pandemic by ramping up e-learning so that training could be delivered wherever and whenever it was needed. This included a vital new Covid eCourse, and we will further develop this approach to e-learning this year. Apprenticeships will see a total investment of £79m in 21/22, to support the increase in quality and volume employers need. Of the 11,000 apprentices supported by CITB during the pandemic, by working closely with employers and learners, we ensured only 1.2% were lost to the industry. CITB will continue to provide the Health, Safety and Environment Test and Site Safety Plus courses, together taken by over 500,000 and 170,000 people respectively in 2019/20. We will work together with providers and support training through the National Construction College to help employers access the training they need, including specialist areas such as scaffolding and plant. CITB will also invest £1m in specialist skills which are vital to ensure those skills survive. Just four out of ten FE construction students currently go into an apprenticeship or a job in the sector construction, and CITB is determined to improve that. We are working with government, providers and employers in all three nations to address this, including helping to develop Construction Traineeships in England.

Standards and Qualifications

A key focus from 2021 will be working closely with employers to agree the key knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to ensure they have a competent workforce to meet the challenges they face. We will collaborate with qualification providers and key government bodies in all three nations to ensure that the key standards and qualifications support employers to invest in competent workforces.  

NASC Donates £1,500 To TRAD Group’s 50K For 50 Years Charity Fund

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NASC Donates £1,500 To TRAD Group’s 50K For 50 Years Charity Fund

UK Scaffolding trade body the NASC has pledged its support for TRAD’s 50th-anniversary charity appeal.

TRAD Group (‘TRAD’), one of the UK’s leading scaffolding and access companies, is delighted that leading industry body, the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (‘NASC’) has donated £1,500 to its charity appeal. The generous donation from the confederation has enabled TRAD Group to hit their March target of £15k for their chosen charities and with more donations still to come, will succeed their £15k goal within the coming days, TRAD said. TRAD’s CEO, Des Moore, served as President of the NASC from 2017 to 2019 and spoke about the donation: “This is a generous donation from the NASC and much appreciated by everyone at TRAD and by the charities we have chosen to work with during our 50th anniversary year. Every penny will go towards these great causes and we are extremely grateful for the support shown from NASC as it has enabled us to hit our target earlier than expected; and it is such a great achievement that we have been able to hit our £15k goal for March” As part of its 50th year celebrations, TRAD has committed to raising £75,000 for three national charities: The Royal British Legion, MIND and the MS Society. These charities have all been chosen by the TRAD workforce, and represent a real cross-section of the charities that are in need of help at the moment, particularly given the reduction in general fundraising caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During March, TRAD has been involved with a targeted internal campaign, 50k’s for 50 years, where employees have been encouraged to walk, cycle or run 50k during the month. Many people took the challenge on board, with CEO Des Moore completing 300k during the month, and finishing with a 30 mile hike in one day on Saturday 26th March! Robin James, NASC Managing Director, said: “The NASC is pleased to support Trad Group’s 50k’s for 50 years fundraising challenge. I’m sure the money raised for the chosen charities will help make a huge difference for a wide range of people in need across the UK.”

Free home Covid testing kits available for all construction workers

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Free home Covid testing kits available for all construction workers

Firms within the construction industry can now order free Covid test kits for their workers to use at home.

Businesses can already order free rapid lateral flow kits to test their employees twice a week in the workplace. The new extension of the workplace testing regime will supply home test kits to companies with over 10 workers, where it is not possible to set up testing on-site due to a lack of space or because companies operate across multiple sites. From early April businesses will be able to order tests for their employees to collect from their workplace and use at home twice a week. Companies can register here before 12 April in order to access free tests until the end of June, even if they’re not yet open or are not able to start using the tests straight away. Construction workers can use the lateral flow tests at home to rapidly detect the virus in 30 minutes. Anyone testing positive can then take a more accurate PCR test. Matthew Fell, CBI Chief UK Policy Director, said: “Mass, rapid workplace testing is an essential pillar of the roadmap for reopening, alongside the vaccine rollout. Having the option for staff to test at home will enable more firms to embrace workplace testing, as not all employers will have the space or facilities to run testing programmes on their premises. The move to home testing reflects ongoing, high quality dialogue between business and government. We’d encourage as many firms as possible to register before the 12 April deadline, as part of their broader efforts to keep staff and customers safe.”

Company sentenced after labourer falls from height

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Company sentenced after labourer falls from height

A company has been sentenced after a worker fell through a skylight during the construction of a new farm building in Wimborne.

Construction firm Cutler Bros. Ltd and its Director have been fined  almost £10,000 for the incident. Poole Magistrates’ Court heard that on 22nd February 2019, a self-employed labourer was working with another colleague to fit roof sheets to the newly constructed steel framed barn. While working from the roof of an existing, adjacent barn, the worker fell through a fragile skylight in the barn roof almost 4 meters to the floor below. He suffered head and facial injuries and was knocked unconscious. He spent nearly two weeks in hospital. An investigation by the HSE found that the work had not been properly planned. The method of work meant that workers had to work near to a fragile roof without having sufficient platforms and guard rails in place. The company Director was on site directing the work. Cutler Bros. Ltd of Wimborne, Dorset pleaded guilty to breaching the Work at Height Regulations 2005. They have been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,600. As a director of the company, Roger Martin Cutler pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974, and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,200. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Georgina Symons, said “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply using correct control measures and following safe working practices. “Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities/injuries in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well known.”

Former chairman donates £5,000 to TRAD Group’s 50K for 50 years charity fund

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Former chairman donates £5,000 to TRAD Group’s 50K for 50 years charity fund

Hayden Smith supports TRAD’s fundraising challenge as the company celebrates its 50th year in business.

TRAD Group (‘TRAD’), one of the UK’s leading scaffolding and access companies, has announced that its founder and former chairman, Hayden Smith has donated £5,000 to its 2021 fundraising campaign. The generous donation was welcomed by TRAD Group’s CEO, Des Moore, who worked with Hayden for over 25 years before the business was successfully acquired by the ALTRAD Group in 2013. “Hayden was not just an exceptional businessman, he was also a visionary who founded TRAD and grew it to be a leader in the UK scaffolding and access industry,” commented Des Moore. “He is still connected with many of us in the business and has been extremely supportive of our workforce and this charity endeavour in particular.” TRAD is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2021 and, as part of its celebrations, has committed to raising £75,000 during the year to be split between three national charities chosen by TRAD staff: The Royal British Legion, MIND and the MS Society. During March, TRAD teams have been taking on personal challenges, cycling running and walking over 50km’s each to raise money for the campaign. “I’m really pleased to be supporting TRAD’s charity initiative to celebrate its 50th year,” said Hayden Smith, who came to the TRAD offices to hand over a cheque to long-standing staff members Dickie Hackett and Paddy Ryan, who have approximately 80 years TRAD Service between them. “TRAD has always been a family business at its heart and I’m delighted to say that the family ethos remains at the heart of the business despite the amalgamation with ALTRAD in 2013, and it is great to see so many people committed to raising money for these outstanding good causes.”

Date set for NASC Awards & Ball 2021

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Date set for NASC Awards & Ball 2021

The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation have confirmed its annual awards and ball event will take place this November.

After the previous event was mothballed in 2020 due to the pandemic, the scaffolding trade body said that this year it will be holding such a spectacle that the real-life event will be the highlight for its member’s post-lockdown celebrations. The black-tie event will take place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport Wales on Friday 19 November. It will feature five-star dining and a range of fantastic after-dinner entertainment all set to a backdrop of vivid explosions of colour “to help us come out of the darkness”, the NASC said. The evening will also celebrate the expertise and innovation of its members through the NASC Awards, presented by one of the UK’s top comics, and once again include categories such as Project of the Year, Health & Safety, Apprentice of the Year and the NASC President’s award. NASC has said the event will also be compèred by a household TV personality for the first time ever. The NASC AGM will take place at the same venue earlier that day. Further details will be released closer to the date. Entry to the 2021 NASC Ball & Awards is priced at £145 + VAT per person. An early bird ticket offer of £135 + VAT is available if purchasing tickets before Monday 31 May. NASC members can book their tickets by filling out this form electronically and returning to Jamie McGuire via email.

World’s first safety helmet with Mips cradle solution unveiled

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World’s first safety helmet with Mips cradle solution unveiled

The Nexus Extreme Mips helmet is the first in the world to include the ‘ground-breaking’ Multi-directional Impact Protection System.

Working in partnership with Swedish helmet safety technology company, Mips, Centurion Safety Products has unveiled the next generation of above the neck safety technology: its cutting-edge Nexus Extreme Mips helmet. The ground-breaking helmet is the first in the world to incorporate the Mips Elevate (cradle solution) Multi-directional Impact Protection System into an industrial hard hat that incorporates a cradle and is designed to provide increased protection against rotational motion. Traditionally, hard hats have been designed to protect against linear impacts, however, the patented Mips technology was developed in recognition of the fact that the most common type of accident to occur on-site is a slip, trip or fall, which is much more likely to cause a rotational injury. Mips helmet technology is based on more than 25 years of research and is already popular in the sports market, however incorporating the Mips Elevate cradle solution with Centurion’s existing Nexus product line is the first time this patented technology has been applied to an industrial hard hat. The helmet’s launch is the product of more than three years’ work by Mips, with support from Centurion in the latter stages, studying data and industry accident statistics to develop a better understanding of the kinds of accidents occurring and the resultant head injuries. The Nexus Extreme Mips helmet The helmet has been designed to incorporate a four-layer cradle system, including the Mips Elevate cradle solution that builds in a low-friction layer that allows the head 10 – 15mm relative motion in all directions inside the helmet. This redirects harmful rotational motion that would otherwise be transferred to the head, potentially causing traumatic brain injury. Commenting on the launch, Centurion CEO Nick Hurt said: “Since we began operating in 1879, Centurion’s focus has been on continually pushing the boundaries for above-the-neck safety. Our products always go above and beyond conforming to safety industry standards, and that’s why partnering with Mips to bring their technology to market felt like such a natural fit.  “Working alongside Mips to bring the Nexus Extreme Mips to market has been an exceptionally exciting process for us and is just the latest step in our commitment to ensuring our safety products are market-leading. The risks associated with injuries caused by rotational impact need to be more widely understood across the safety market, and we’re delighted to be at the forefront of bringing that message to industry.” Max Strandwitz, Mips CEO added: “We are very proud to see the launch of the Centurion Nexus Extreme Mips. Centurion is the first British manufacturer to incorporate the Mips Safety System in a hard hat, and the first company globally to incorporate the Mips ‘cradle solution’ rotational impact protection system into their safety helmets. “After evaluating European industry accident statistics and also performing real accident testing, we found that for severe head injuries, the head is often exposed to tangential forces that could transfer rotational energies to the head. Employees that are exposed to risk when working, should make it a top priority to wear the best possible head protection and add protection against rotational motion to their safety helmets.”

Improved Pre-Qualification System Goes Live

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Improved Pre-Qualification System Goes Live

Major contractors are now adopting the Common Assessment Standard.

Build UK has announced that the new industry-wide pre-qualification (PQ) system is now fully up and running, simplifying a complex system for the benefit of everyone in the construction sector, they said. The organisation hope the rollout of the Common Assessment Standard will significantly reduce the duplication of time, effort and resources that are costing the sector up to £1 billion a year. Major contractors and clients – including Balfour Beatty, Costain, HS2, Mace, Multiplex and Skanska – have all adopted the Common Assessment Standard meaning that members of their supply chains will need to obtain just one certification to tender for work with them. This follows the recent implementation of a new data sharing solution, which enables contractors and clients to obtain key PQ data from any one of three Recognised Assessment Bodies: Achilles, CHAS or Constructionline. The Common Assessment Standard is an industry-agreed question set with two levels of certification – desktop and site-based – and companies can apply to any Recognised Assessment Body to get the appropriate level dependent upon their trade, size and requirements of their clients. Created by Build UK with the support of CECA, the Common Assessment Standard is endorsed by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), which is actively seeking its adoption throughout Government construction procurement, including the Construction Playbook. Jo Fautley, Deputy Chief Executive of Build UK, said: “We’re delighted that the new system is now fully up and running and already being used by major contractors and clients. It’s been a collaborative effort, involving companies across the whole sector, and the new system is a huge step towards more efficient working, which is more important than ever in the current challenging economic climate.” Neil Mant, Chair of the Interim Cross Industry Body, which has overseen the development of the new system, said: “The new PQ system is a huge step forward for construction. With a single Common Assessment Standard and data sharing now in place, we have not only eliminated a huge amount of costly duplication of effort but also raised the bar in assessing the competence of the supply chain. Supply chain companies will need certification from only one of the three Recognised Assessment Bodies, and contractors can continue to deal with the body they have an existing relationship with.” Andy Mitchell, Chair of the CLC, said: “The CLC is delighted to endorse the Common Assessment Standard which is set to transform the construction PQ process. It is a real and practical way of reducing bureaucracy and improving quality in the industry and it comes at just the right time. Companies will be able to demonstrate that they meet an agreed industry standard, and clients and contractors will be able to rely on the certification. The CLC will be encouraging the adoption of the Common Assessment Standard throughout public and private sector procurement.”

German fall protection systems firm launches in UK

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German fall protection systems firm launches in UK

A German fall protection systems manufacturer has officially opened its UK subsidiary that promises the next generation of safety products to fit the sophisticated British construction market.

Leeds based Vivatec Safety Ltd also promise to deliver faster while leaving a smaller carbon footprint than their competitors due to more local materials sourcing and one-location design, manufacturing, and testing. The firm boasts they uniquely design, manufacture, and test all their products at their Germany factory using materials 100% sourced in Europe. The result of this they say is not just quality, but faster delivery due to not using Middle or Far East sourced materials. Vivatec Safety’s mission is to supply its ‘next generation’ of safety products. Supplying all types of work at height and site safety products like steel mesh barriers and safety net catch fans, the company is announcing one new product and a new key development of another for their UK launch.

New Products

The VT Push UP Post saves time and creates a safer environment. Unlike other barrier posts, it doesn’t require any drilling, site operatives simply extend it from floor to ceiling in under a minute. As well as quick erection, the VT Push UP Post creates the opportunity for full height edge protection to be securely attached all the way up. The post is compatible with many different barrier manufacturers and is fully BS EN 13374 Class A compliant. The VT Edge Protection range uniquely includes dedicated tether points on all components making the installation and dismantling much safer.

Greener

The company has challenged itself to become carbon neutral by 2025 and become not simply a construction, but environmental pioneer. All steel is at least 60% recycled. All materials are sourced from as local as possible to the company’s HQ in south-west Germany to minimise transportation.  The benefit of such an approach is not just a cleaner environment, but a faster turnaround for product design and delivery.
Oliver Gwinnell, the UK Managing Director of VivaTec Safety
Oliver Gwinnell, the UK Managing Director of VivaTec Safety said, “The British market is very demanding – customers want a good price, quality materials and service, and finally speed of delivery. Everybody can claim to be the biggest, the best, the fastest. We want to be smarter for our customers and kinder to the environment. “Constant innovation is the norm. We tick this box, with the likes of the VT Push Up Post but we want to do more differentiating ourselves from our competitors. In-house design, testing and production makes better products and provides a better, faster service and at the same time is better for the environment.” Gunnar Monheimius, VivaTec Safety GmBH Managing Director said, “I have worked with many UK construction companies over the years. It’s a very sophisticated market, ahead of the curve compared to other markets in many respects.  I think the British market is a perfect fit for an engineering company like VivaTec Safety, we all know what detailed, precision people the Germans are. “German engineering is renowned throughout the World for its precision and quality, VivaTec is no different. Our mission is to create the best through constant innovation and remaining steadfast to our commitment of 100% European sourced materials, design, manufacturing, never wavering, always delivering. BMW, Audi, Mercedes…these brands inspire us, and we want to be seen as the same sort of company in the safety equipment industry. But we aren’t the petrol or diesel variants of these amazing cars. We are the future-proof, latest technology, clean and green electric roadsters.” Gwinnell has spent two decades in fall arrest and prevention roles including Combisafe before joining Trad as National Sales Manager. Asked why VivaTec Safety were launching now in the middle of a pandemic, Gwinnell said, “VivaTec has a long-established pedigree across Europe – due to its products and its approach to the supply-chain, its staff and the environment. We are convinced the UK construction sector will grow stronger over the coming years and we want to be at the heart of it.”
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