Shortage of scaffolders could last for years
A major survey of building firms by the CBI has found that shortages of scaffolders, bricklayers, carpenters and electrical engineers are suffocating growth in housebuilding and civil engineering projects.
The CBI now fears these shortages could last for ‘years’ as some of the most in-demand tradesmen, such as bricklayers, have been left off the post-Brexit Shortage Occupation List.With material supplies and transport issues both being worsened by the current HGV driver shortages, the CBI is calling on the government to get a grip on the situation.
Tony Danker, CBI Director-General, said: “Labour shortages are biting?right across? the economy. While the CBI and other economists still predict growth returning to pre-pandemic levels later this year, furlough ending is not the panacea some people think will magically fill labour supply gaps. These shortages are already affecting business operations and will have a negative impact on the UK’s economic recovery.” “Other European countries are also experiencing staffing shortages as their economies bounce back. In the UK, many overseas workers left during the pandemic affecting sectors including hospitality, logistics and food processing. And new immigration rules make replacing those who left more complex. “Building a more innovative economy – coupled with better training and education – can sustainably improve business performance, wages and living standards.? But transformation on this scale?requires planning?and takes time.? The Government’s ambition that the UK economy should become more high-skilled and productive is right. But implying that this can be achieved overnight is simply wrong. And a refusal to deploy temporary and targeted interventions to enable economic recovery is self-defeating. “Let’s be clear – employers back existing Government schemes to get people back into work. And businesses are already spending significant amounts on training, but that takes time to yield results, and some members suggest it could take two years rather than a couple of months for labour shortages to be fully eliminated. “Using existing levers at the UK’s control – like placing drivers, welders, butchers and bricklayers on the Shortage Occupation List – could make a real difference. The Government promised an immigration system that would focus on the skills we need rather than unrestrained access to overseas labour. Yet here we have obvious and short-term skilled need but a system that can’t seem to respond. “Great economies like great businesses can walk and chew gum. We need short-term fixes to spur recovery and long-term reforms to change our economic model.”HSE update guidance on driving and riding for work
The HSE, working in partnership with the Department for Transport (DfT), has published updated guidance on work-related road risk (WRRR) for employers and workers.
The gig economy and the increasing use of personal vehicles for work purposes – the so-called ‘grey fleet’ – has created some confusion over where responsibility for legal compliance lies, says the regulator. Driving for work is likely to be the most dangerous activity most workers will ever undertake.- Every week there are around 200 deaths and serious injuries involving people using the road for work
- It is estimated that 40,000 people working in occupations such as sales, deliveries or taxi-driving are involved in road traffic collisions every year
- Company car drivers in the UK are 49% more likely to be involved in traffic collisions, even after correcting for demographic variables and their relatively high mileages
- Countless other will suffer stress, anxiety and/or minor injuries from unreported incidents.
CITB is set to protect and increase training capacity for scaffolding
CITB has announced that scaffolding training will continue at its facility in Erith, Kent while also increasing capacity at Bircham Newton in Norfolk.
Speaking to Scaffmag the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) said in addition to creating increased capacity at the Bircham Newton, Norfolk-
This is to ensure employers’ access to
National Construction College (NCC) South, run by expert instructors, continues to provide high-quality training alongside CITB’s other colleges at Bircham Newton, Norfolk, and Inchinnan, near Glasgow.
The training board says supporting employers’ core skills and training needs and tackling long-term people and skills challenges underpin CITB’s 2021/22 Business Plan, published in March. And the CITB remains focused on supporting learners at the three NCC centres to continue delivering excellent training for construction employers.
Its new commitment comes after the CITB shelved plans earlier this year to sell off the NCC’s at Bircham Newton, Norfolk and Inchinnan after failing to find buyers.The CITB’s training update has been welcomed by industry body the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS).
David Mosley, CISRS Managing Director, said: “It’s great news that the scaffolding training facility at Erith is to be retained by CITB, whose expert instructors have provided training for London and South East employers for so long.
“The construction industry urgently needs new workers to ensure contracts are fulfilled and the industry can be more productive, so the retention of Erith provides much-needed continuity, reassurance and confirmation that CITB remains committed to training the next generation of scaffolders.”
Jackie Ducker, CITB Customer and Product Director, said: “Scaffolding has been identified as a priority skills need and training is in high demand.
“Employers in the South East and London can have the confidence that they can access the training they need through CITB, which will continue to support a dedicated high-quality training facility run by experts, for professionals, to benefit the region, industry, and wider economy.”
Scaffolding Association Welcomes Improved Mental Health Support
New research suggests that over a third of businesses have reported that employee mental health support has got better since the start of the pandemic.
A recent survey conducted by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) who work with millions of employers and employees every year to improve workplace relationships, found that over a third of British employers have seen their mental health support improve since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses were asked about whether they had seen a change to employee mental health and wellbeing support in their organisation:- over a third (36%) said it had got better
- nearly 1 in 10 (9%) said it had got worse
- half (50%) reported it as staying the same
- 6% of employers did not know
Advanced Scaffolding (SW) Ltd Wins Top Business Award
Advanced Scaffolding (SW) Ltd, have won a top business award that names them as ‘Best Employer’ in North Devon’s independent Business Action Awards 2021.
Business Action Awards Judges said they were impressed with Advanced Scaffolding’s open approach to recruitment and its belief that “everybody deserves a chance to shine and achieve their potential”. The firm has taken on many young people who have grown and matured while working for the business since it was established in 1999 by Matt Bacon. Advanced Scaffolding is one of the largest scaffolding contractors in the area employing more than 50 people. The company has new build sites in the Exeter, Tiverton and Barnstaple areas. The business also benefits from nationwide contracts with Aldi supermarkets, Lloyds bank and Marks & Spencer, predominantly located in the South of England and Wales. The business aims to create a family atmosphere, having an open-door policy so everyone feels comfortable discussing their ideas, concerns or suggestions, the judges said. Speaking to AccessPoint about winning the award Gemma Bacon, the company’s Office Manager, said: “To be awarded the winners of ‘Best Employer’ was a huge honour. We have dedicated employees who have worked with us learning their trade from the ground up – from apprentices to SMSTS Advanced Scaffolders – a number of whom have been part of the team for almost 20 years. This reflects the teamwork and the family ethos that we strive for.”3t Energy Group expands in China
3t Energy Group is expanding its presence in China after winning several new contracts for its training and technology solutions with leading state-owned energy companies in the territory.
As part of the expansion, 3t Energy Group will move to larger premises within Tianjin’s Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) – the heart of the Chinese oil and gas industry. This additional space will allow 3t to create a state-of-the-art technology suite for demonstrations of the Group’s latest innovations in training technology such as virtual and augmented reality training, training management software, simulators and mobile apps. As well as a move to larger, improved premises, 3t Energy Group is recruiting an additional five personnel to support customers in the region and to build further new relationships across China. Since establishing its China base in 2018, 3t Energy Group has been working with some of the country’s largest oil and gas companies to drive continuous improvement and greater efficiencies. It recently won a clutch of new training contracts for its simulators and training and competency management software systems, as well as helping companies adopt internationally recognised training standards and accreditations. 3t Energy Group combines the expertise of advanced simulator developer and manufacturer, Drilling Systems with leading energy sector training provider, AIS Survivex, and software and training technology expert, 3t Transform. Paul Attrill, Vice President of China and MENA regions at 3t Energy Group, said: “Continued growth and new contract wins with leading state-owned enterprises such as CNOOC and COSL have bolstered confidence in China as a key region for 3t Energy Group. “Our move to new offices and our newly expanded team will help strengthen our position in China and enable us to continue supporting leading organisations with the development of workforce training, skills and competence to internationally recognised standards utilising the latest technology. “Our technology suite, in particular, will allow proper in-person demonstrations of some of our most cutting-edge technologies such as simulators, e-learning, virtual reality and integrated software, which together with traditional training methods, enhance the skills, knowledge and performance of energy sector personnel.”CSCS Industry Placement Card Launches for New Academic Year
The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has launched a new Industry Placement Card and a number of other partner schemes, in time for the new academic year.
Initially announced back in June, the card is for learners aged sixteen or above on qualification or training programmes requiring a minimum of 30 days’ work placement, which is intended to ultimately lead to a job in construction and the built environment. The card is designed to support learners transitioning from the classroom to the workplace and mirrors changes to educational policy in the UK, which have seen an increased focus on vocational education. This includes the introduction of the Traineeship Skills Development Programme and T Level qualifications, with these new pathways into construction involving a mixture of classroom learning and extensive on-the-job experience. Initially, the following four-card schemes will make the card available from September 1st, 2021:- The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS)
- The Electrotechnical Certification Scheme (ECS)
- The Engineering Services SKILLcard
- JIB Plumbing Mechanical Engineering Services (JIB PMES)
NASC publish new and updated guidance
Scaffolding trade body the NASC has today published two new guidance notes and updated another.
The new guidance titles published today are CG21:21 An Employer’s Guide to Right to Work Checks and TG25:21 Scaffold Tube Storage Racks. The NASC has also published updated guidance for TG16:21 Anchoring to the Ground. Their full members will receive free hard copies of the titles shortly. Guidance can also be downloaded for free via the Guidance page of the NASC website. Non-members of the NASC can also purchase the new and updated guidance via the NASC shop. CG21:21 gives contractors help and assistance when taking on new operatives and reflects the latest rules and regulations following Brexit changes which came into force on July 1 2021. Scaffold tube storage racks are a common feature of every scaffolding contractor’s yard and many long-term live sites. Whilst tube racks are usually constructed as basic birdcage-like structures, they generally support many tonnes of equipment, so their design needs special consideration. TG25:21 guidance note considers the design, use and maintenance of scaffold tube storage racks. Many free-standing scaffolding structures, such as access towers, major signboards, fences and enclosures, need to be anchored to the ground, primarily to resist wind forces. Whilst all structures requiring restraint via anchoring to the ground should be subject to a bespoke design produced by a competent engineer, TG16:21 considers different types of anchors available and typical indicative holding capacities, the possibility of disturbing underground services, the use of guys and scaffold tube restraint.Altrad eyes acquisition of French industrial maintenance firm Endel
