Recession is an opportunity in Wolf’s clothing

Simon Boyes
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Recession is an opportunity in Wolf’s clothing

There are more opportunities to grow your wealth during periods of world crisis and economic downturns than any other period in history. Simon Boyes asks the question… are you ready to take advantage of it?

2020 has hit the scaffolding industry like a dropped ledger! The construction industry has not yet felt the same force of the pandemic as the retail, tourism, and hospitality market, but the flow-on effect is forecast to hit the construction sector in late 2020 and into 2021.

Following this, some of the world’s leading business strategists are predicting that the period between September 2021 and September 2031 will see a business growth period on a scale none of us has ever experienced before.

The questions is… are we ready for it?

What we do today and the way we think about our approach to solving our customer’s problems is going to shape the way we live and how (or if) we come out the other side. 

If we don’t change our mindsets and our approach to what we do, we are going to be left behind. You can guarantee that our competition is already strategising on how to take full advantage of the upcoming opportunities.

During periods of financial discomfort, people are forced to think differently and find new ways to solve old problems.  Take the Global Financial Crisis in 2007 for example, college students who couldn’t get jobs or were working from their garage for minimum wage, changed the world forever by inventing platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Netflix. 

The same is going to happen coming out of the COVID-19 crisis.  Between September 2021 and September 2031, we are going to experience more innovation than society has ever seen before.

We have already seen some of the early impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, as businesses have been forced to pivot and change the way they operate to survive.  We have proven that businesses can operate just as efficiently working remotely as they can working from the same office. We have proven that a video call is just as effective as a face to face meeting. We have shown that it no longer matters where you live or the country you reside because we can all collaborate through the internet, so what comes next?

Are scaffolding companies going to shift from owning expensive offices and storage facilities to working from home? Or move from owning all their own equipment to cross hiring from another supplier? Or moving away from having their own staff to using labour contractors?  The next 18 months is going to change the way we live, work, and play forever.

The key to surviving such a period is to take a deep dive into our businesses to really understand the key metrics and what are the critical drivers to our success.  What overheads do we have that are luxuries that we can no longer afford?

Having an open and honest conversation between your team will help everyone understand the current economic situation and keep everyone’s vision aligned.  It is important for the site team to understand what is going on in the office and vice versa. 

For as long as scaffolders have been connecting tubes together, the site team has a perception that the guys in the office sit around all day doing nothing and the guys in the office think the guys on site can work harder and faster. But in today’s changing climate, it is more important than ever before to keep the entire team on the same page and working towards a common goal.

My advice to any senior leader or decision-maker of a scaffolding business is to be open with your team and make sure everyone understands what you are trying to achieve. Without buy-in and help, everyone is going to fall short of their goals.

We all need to stick together through this turbulent time and together as an industry we will make it out the other side and be stronger for having been through it.

This article was first published in the ScaffMag Magazine Issue 10

Contractors can now access Plettac Metrix and TRAD SafetyDeck from a single source

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Contractors can now access Plettac Metrix and TRAD SafetyDeck from a single source

TRAD UK, the new brand for the combined TRAD Hire & Sales and TRAD Safety Systems companies, is now able to offer a full suite of products for sale or hire across the UK.

Bringing all its proprietary systems together, TRAD UK can support scaffolding contractors to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ service, for example to housebuilding and developer customers. Being able to source all the key components from TRAD UK, contractors can save time and money, making them more competitive and improving service levels.

In particular, contractors can benefit from immediate access to PLETTAC METRIX and the TRAD SAFETYDECK.

Designed to make scaffolding erection safer and quicker, PLETTAC METRIX is a proprietary rosette scaffolding system that has, over the past six years, been used on a wide range of major residential and commercial construction projects in the UK and beyond. Being a true modular system, it’s particularly useful for the housebuilding and developer market, as well as heavy-duty industrial and civil projects.

The system, which features a unique rosette fitting that can handle up to eight components at any one time, is significantly faster to erect than standard scaffolding – up to 50% faster, in fact – and can be used on all building types. Components are colour-coded for easy identification of size. With an allowable safe working load of 6.0 kN/m², depending on the general scaffold configuration, the galvanised steel decks are hooked directly onto the tubular support, and come complete with integral handles, wind-locking components and anti-tilting devices to ensure complete safety on site.

TRAD SAFETYDECK is a proprietary internal fall prevention and working platform system which is already in use with major homebuilding and scaffolding contractors. Able to take a load of up to 2.0 kN/m², it is a flexible and sustainable option that can be 6 to 8 times faster to install than traditional scaffolding birdcages, depending on configuration.  The system can easily be adapted to different room sizes and, unlike similar steel systems, the elastic nature of the manufacturing material further helps to prevent injuries from falls.

Contractors can take advantage of a complete access and safety package from a single TRAD UK location, whether they choose to invest or hire, from one location. Both systems can be used in tandem and used in conjunction with the TRADHATCH – a temporary floor access hatch developed to promote safe access and loading between floor levels – and the TRAD Internal Stair Unit, which provides quick and safe access in stairwells prior to the permanent staircase being installed.

Contractors can now access Plettac Matrix System and TRAD SafetyDeck from a single source
TRADHATCH

Available at all depots across the UK, these products reduce the time spent on installation, significantly improve safety and give housebuilding and development clients confidence in the contractor’s ability. For contractors, costs are lower, labour is reduced and jobs can be done faster and more efficiently every time.

“The fact that these products are now available for hire or sale from a single company is great news for the scaffolding market,” says Alan Slater, Head of Technical and Product Support at TRAD UK.

“We have a fantastic team of product and technical experts across all our depots who can offer bespoke options, dedicated installation training and more, to help scaffolding contractors offer the best possible services to their customers. Our aim is to produce inherently safe systems that keep costs down and make life on site easier, and we will continue to promote and develop our products alongside the industry to make sure we are always supplying the best.”

8 out of 10 subcontractors return to sites

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8 out of 10 subcontractors return to sites

Nearly 80% of subcontractors are now back on construction sites according to data from the construction industry’s biggest payer of ‘subbies’.

Hudson Contract shows 117,591 payments to freelance construction workers in August, compared to a peak of 149,067 in February and a trough of 80,625 in April. The data shows demand for labour has recovered to 79% of pre-lockdown capacity Hudson’s managing director Ian Anfield said “the bounce-back points to a V-shaped recovery for the construction industry. There is no shortage of work for highly skilled tradespeople, whether they are groundworkers, bricklayers, plasterers or plumbers. “Building sites are becoming more productive per head and the quality of work is improving because they only have the best lads working on them. “Building firms have been tightening up on surplus labour because their margins are being squeezed by main contractors asking for discounts, social distancing measures on-site and larger projects splitting into smaller schemes.” Anfield concluded the remaining proportion of people are choosing not to return to work as a result of state support schemes or seeking opportunities in other sectors. Overall, average weekly earnings for subcontractors slipped by 1.3% to £877 during the month of August, a similar drop to last year’s holiday season.

HSE Spot Inspections Target Bolton and Trafford

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HSE Spot Inspections Target Bolton and Trafford

Bolton and Trafford are the latest areas the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is specifically targeting with spot inspections to ensure workplaces are COVID-secure.

Following a rise of COVID-19 cases in both Bolton and Trafford, they have been put into local lockdown measures. To ensure businesses in these areas are following the COVID-secure guidelines, HSE inspectors are calling and visiting businesses to carry out spot inspections. During the spot inspections, the HSE provides advice and guidance to manage risk and protect workers and visitors but, where some businesses are not managing this, we will take immediate action. This can range from the provision of specific advice, issuing enforcement notices, stopping certain work practices until they are made safe and, where businesses fail to comply, this could lead to prosecution. To support the understanding of the rise in coronavirus cases in the area, HSE is working alongside local public health authorities and the local councils. To be COVID-secure means businesses need to keep up to date with the latest guidance and put measures in place to manage the risk and protect workers and others. There are practical steps that businesses can take:
  • Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment
  • Develop increased cleaning, hand washing and hygiene procedures
  • Maintain 2m social distancing where possible
  • Where people cannot be 2m apart, manage transmission risk
Sally Nicholson, HSE Head of Operations, North West, said: “Becoming COVID-secure needs to be a priority for all businesses, especially in Bolton and Trafford. “As we have seen a rise in COVID-19 cases in these areas, it is essential workplaces take reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from coronavirus. This means making business adjustments to become COVID-secure. “We advise employers to work with their employees when implementing changes, to help increase confidence with workers, customers and the local community while reducing the risk of transmission. Simple steps can help save lives.” As inspections are ongoing, HSE has been utilising different ways to gather intelligence and reach out to businesses across Bolton and Trafford with a combination of site visits, phone calls and through collection of supporting visual evidence such as photos and video footage. All businesses are in scope for inspections, that means any size business in any sector can receive an unannounced inspection. Some of the common issues HSE inspectors are finding include: failing to provide arrangements for monitoring, supervising and maintaining social distancing, failing to introduce an adequate cleaning regime – particularly at busy times of the day – and providing access to welfare facilities to allow employees to frequently wash their hands with warm water and soap. Francine Cheney, HSE Head of Operations for Construction, said: “All businesses in Bolton and Trafford are in scope for spot checks which means businesses of any size, in any sector can receive an unannounced visit from us to ensure they are COVID-secure. “We want all workers to remain safe in the workplace and to continue to follow government guidelines travelling to and from work, back at home and socially as this can make a real impact in halting the spread of coronavirus. “By making sure that businesses have measures in place to manage the risks, we can benefit the health of the local community as well as support the local and national economy.” For more information on spot inspections, see https://www.hse.gov.uk

New Managing Director at TRAD Scaffolding

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New Managing Director at TRAD Scaffolding

TRAD Scaffolding Contractors, which celebrates its 50th birthday next year, has announced that its longstanding employee Peter McShane has been appointed as Managing Director.

“I am delighted to announce that Peter will be managing TRAD Scaffolding,” said Des Moore, CEO of the TRAD Group. “Peter has been with TRAD since 1993, having already had a great grounding in scaffolding working with his Dad and uncles since leaving school. He was a trainee when he started working with us and has worked his way up on the tools and into management positions, demonstrating his real dedication to the business.”

The new appointment comes as the TRAD Group responds to the Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on the business. Earlier this year, the Group announced the merger of TRAD Hire & Sales and TRAD Safety Systems to create a single company – TRAD UK.

Meanwhile, TRAD Scaffolding continues to build on its reputation within the industry, bringing in new efficiencies and working with proprietary scaffolding systems to ensure safe and cost-effective projects at all times.

The business has continued working during the pandemic, providing crucial support that allowed construction to continue where safe. This commitment has resulted in TRAD Scaffolding securing orders of in excess of £10m during the Covid-19 period alone and the company’s pipeline of work for the financial year ending August 2021 looks extremely promising.

“It has been undoubtedly a very difficult time over the last year or so with Brexit first and now Covid-19 having an enormous impact on the construction industry,” said Mr McShane.

“During this time however, it has been important to remain focused on our clients’ requirements and expectations and, just as importantly, our staff safety and welfare. I am very proud to be appointed as Managing Director, with the responsibility for looking after both our staff and our clients as we move into a very different future.”

This appointment, along with those recently made at TRAD UK, demonstrate the Group’s commitment to nurturing and supporting the talent and knowledge within the business to ensure continuity as it grows.

“It’s part of our culture to give opportunities to people within the business, rather than bringing people in from outside,” said Des Moore.

“We believe in investing in our people and giving everyone a chance to succeed. Many of our people have come through from the tools, and so they understand construction sites and the particular challenges they bring. We embrace diversity at TRAD and we don’t discriminate – the best people for the job are always there if you give them the chance.”

“Some would say being appointed Managing Director in such an uncertain period could be seen as unenviable,” commented Mr McShane. 

“But, as someone who has been supported, mentored and given the opportunity to progress through TRAD from an early age, I would say that it’s an honour to lead the company that I have grown up with and love into the next chapter of its great history.”

Contractors Fined for Death of Scaffolder

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Contractors Fined for Death of Scaffolder

Two contractors have been fined just £9,500 by the courts in Hong Kong for the death of a scaffolder.

On 27 December 2018 in the residential district of Yau Tong, the scaffolder was erecting bamboo scaffolding at the eighth floor level of the external wall of a residential building. The man fell to the first lift of the scaffold sustaining fatal injures. He later died the same day. The Hong Kong Standard reports that Wang Hong Construction Engineering Company and Ying Wu Scaffolding Engineering were each fined for six charges including failing to take adequate steps to prevent a person from falling, and failing to provide and maintain a safe plant and system of work. Both contractors were each handed a fine of HK$95,000 which equates to just around £9,500 here in the UK. The contractors were charged with violating the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations, and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Protection of Eyes) Regulations.

Trade body pals up with tech firm to raise UK safety standards

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Trade body pals up with tech firm to raise UK safety standards

The Scaffolding Association has joined forces with global technology company SafetyCulture enabling its member’s free access to iAuditor, SafetyCulture’s flagship workplace safety inspection app.

The Scaffolding Association hopes the partnership will raise safety standards in the UK construction industry by enabling scaffolding businesses to carry out essential risk assessments regularly and thoroughly.

SafetyCulture and the Scaffolding Association have digitised a list of checklist templates containing best practice protocols for high-risk construction environments. The trade body hopes these will empower its members to build a genuine safety culture from the ground up.

The Scaffolding Association boasts that its 465 member organisations will be able to access a growing list of best-practice templates at no cost, as an additional benefit to their membership.

It’s understood they will also have access to iAuditor’s full public library of 100,000 template checklists. Which includes access to templates for safety procedures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

iAuditor is the world’s largest safety checklist app. It has been designed to simplify the auditing process, making it easy for anyone to monitor and manage safety and quality from a mobile device. The technology provides visibility and insights to help raise safety and quality standards across construction sites.

In addition to providing checklists, as an inspection management software, iAuditor enables construction teams to collect consistent data, standardise operations, send reports, identify failed areas and get problems resolved.

More than 26,000 companies around the world are already using the iAuditor app, including leading businesses in the manufacturing, mining and aviation sectors, in addition to major construction companies.

Dan Joyce, General Manager EMEA, SafetyCulture said: “Top-down, infrequent audits no longer work; companies need better visibility of their sites and real-time data capture to tackle the additional challenges that COVID-19 brings. Empowering staff on the ground and equipping them with the right tools is the first step. 

“The Scaffolding Association is a natural partner for us, and our app will help employees of scaffolding companies to report and act on safety concerns in their workplace, in turn aiding companies to make better-informed safety decisions.”

Rob Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association, added: “We’re thrilled with this new partnership and pleased to be recommending iAuditor for undertaking risk assessments and inspections. Our ethos and commitment to safer workplaces aligns perfectly with the work SafetyCulture does.

Working with them to offer members access to the tools they need to manage workplace safety efficiently and effectively came at the ideal time. The app is simple to use and produces data and reporting facilities that will offer real benefits to our members. It will be a useful addition not only to those with well-established procedures and practices but also to those members who are looking to progress through our membership levels. ” 

SafetyCulture has also been helping businesses around the world to get safely back to business following COVID-19 lockdowns. Already, more than 75,000 people worldwide are using iAuditor to complete daily COVID-19 inspections. Fully up-to-date with the latest government protocols, the technology can help construction companies that temporarily shut down sites during the lockdown period, as they get back to work.

TRAD UK Announces New Managing Director

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TRAD UK Announces New Managing Director

TRAD UK, the new brand for the combined TRAD Hire & Sales and TRAD Safety Systems companies, has announced that Colin Dobson has been appointed as Managing Director.

“I am very pleased to announce that Colin will be managing TRAD UK,” said Des Moore, CEO of the TRAD Group. “Colin is highly regarded in the industry, having worked with TRAD Hire & Sales for 22 years and been involved in the industry for more than 35 years. I know that he will be a safe pair of hands for the business as it consolidates and sets out its plans for the future.” The new appointment comes after a restructure that amalgamated TRAD Hire & Sales and TRAD Safety Systems, allowing the Group to offer a complete single-source supply for all scaffolding and safety systems hire and sales needs, resulting in a nationwide network that gives exceptional coverage and service. “I am proud and delighted to be appointed as Managing Director for the new business,” said Mr Dobson. “From my first day with TRAD, I could see that its strength was in its people. The success of TRAD Group has been driven not just by technical and product expertise, but by the strong and open relationships we build with our clients – and within the company itself. This is certainly the case for the people within the new TRAD UK company, who are combining their years of experience and knowledge to bring a broader, in-depth offering to the scaffolding and construction sectors.” “It is also fantastic to be working with an outstanding team – we have appointed Jim Gorman as Deputy Managing Director, whilst Stuart Quinn and Alex Ackers have been appointed as Regional Managers: Stuart will be covering our Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow depots, whilst Alex is responsible for the facilities in Stockport, Andover and London.” Bringing the two companies together means that customers across the UK will benefit from access to some of the most experienced scaffolding experts in the business. Everyone across all six UK depots – drivers, yard support, admin and leadership teams – have years of experience in the trade, helping to make sure that customers get what they need when they need it. And with such a strong brand name in the sector, along with the backing of the international Altrad Group, customers of all sizes can be confident that they’re getting the best. “Amalgamating two companies is certainly a challenge,” commented Mr Dobson. “As a hire and sales specialist, I’m learning a lot about the safety products side of the business and I’m excited about the opportunity that combining the businesses will bring to customers, staff, the Group and our shareholders. I expect the new business to have an immediate and positive impact on the industry, building on our reputation for excellence and delivering ever-better products and services to our customers.”

PASMA Revamps and Renames its Highest Qualification

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PASMA Revamps and Renames its Highest Qualification

PASMA has announced the relaunch of its training scheme for complex aluminium access towers, and with it comes a new name.

For those who complete the challenging programme – they’ll be known as Access Tower Specialists and they can build all types of towers, including bespoke structures designed to meet the needs of a site, however tall, wide or awkward it may be, PASMA has said. It’s the highest qualification available for access towers, aimed at those with considerable experience under their belts. They’re already trained on all standard configuration towers – i.e. those that come in a kit with an instruction manual – but the Access Tower Specialist course takes them to the next level, quite literally. Those who pass all the theory and practical assessments are qualified to use prefabricated aluminium components in surprisingly complex configurations that can go to much greater heights than standard towers. The structures they build allow others to work safely at height in sectors such as construction and the built environment, maintenance, facilities management and aerospace. Their service is known as ‘hire & assembly’ and it covers equipment rental, consultation, specification, design, assembly and dismantling. Working closely with tower manufacturers, they can:
  • Plan the build
  • Select safe equipment
  • Follow design drawings
  • Assemble and dismantle
  • Make engineer-approved alterations
  • Tie structures into buildings
  • Inspect towers
  • Collate all paperwork
  • Conduct safe handovers
Although they’re competent on all standard configuration towers – mobile access towers, cantilever towers, towers on bridges, tower on stairways, large deck towers and linked towers – it’s bespoke structures that truly showcase their abilities. These towers can go tall and wide, around, over and under obstacles, give access to multiple levels or stairwells, provide large (and mobile) deck areas, squeeze into tight spaces and be adapted as requirements evolve. Doing all of this with lightweight, prefabricated aluminium components is a specialist skill that is not taught anywhere else. In a press release the Chair of PASMA’s Hire & Assembly Committee and owner of STS Access, Pete Harley said: “For too many years, complex towers were something you learned on the job. There was no one checking that the knowledge being handed down was correct, consistent or comprehensive and there was no way for workers to prove their competence. The Access Tower Specialist course from PASMA, the recognised subject matter experts, has changed all that.” “Nowadays, when an experienced tower operative is ready to learn the advanced skills they need to work with bespoke structures safely, there’s a formal training programme for that, and they’ll get an Access Tower Specialist PASMA card at the end of it. I’ve seen what a huge help this has been to safety professionals and site managers who need a reliable way to check the competence of workers on their projects.” The relaunched course comes as more and more businesses are recognising that aluminium towers are a safe, convenient, cost-effective and environmentally-friendly access solution that’s more flexible than they first thought. It will be delivered by PASMA at the Test & Research Centre in Cambridgeshire, a dedicated facility for work at height testing and training. PASMA recently invested close to £1M in purchasing and equipping this facility, with a key requirement being a 25-metre clear headroom where tall, complex tower structures can be built. The training scheme is just one of the developments led by PASMA and its members in recent years that have driven up standards and provided a means of identifying skilled and competent workers in the hire & assembly sector. You can verify workers’ competence by asking to see their PASMA card. If it covers level ‘S’ (for Access Tower Specialist) or ‘R’ (for Professional Tower Rigger, as they were formerly known), they are qualified to work with any type of tower, including bespoke structures. With the first course under the new name taking place later this year, anyone interested in qualifying as an Access Tower Specialist should contact PASMA on +44 (0)345 230 4041 or [email protected] to book a place.

Scaffolding firm donates £10K to children’s charity

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Scaffolding firm donates £10K to children’s charity

A Brentwood based scaffolding firm has donated an impressive £10,000 to children’s charity Taylor Made Dreams.

Family-run Proplant Scaffolding Ltd has said, “it’s an honour” to have been able to donate the funds to the charity. Established in 2014, Taylor Made Dreams is a charity that helps kids who have life-limiting illnesses fulfil their dreams. It’s CEO Suzi Mitchell “deserves a knighthood,” said Proplant Scaffolding on twitter. The charity’s main aim is to assist in the creation of a unique ‘Bucket List’, which is ‘Taylor-Made’ to meet the specific needs and desires of an individual child. Jordan Marsh, Director of Proplant Scaffolding Ltd said: “We were introduced to them back at the start of 2020 and when we found out that they were looking for continued funding and donations we couldn’t say no. What they do is truly remarkable! They help children with life-limiting disabilities to fulfil bucket list things they might like to do, places they might like to go and meet people they might like to meet.” Shaun Fennessey, Director of Proplant Scaffolding said: “When we met Suzie and heard about her story and why she set up TMD, we knew there and then we would like to help out by giving whatever we could afford to give.” Jordan Marsh concluded: “You hear so much about the big-name charities in the news and everything they do, but you never hear about the smaller ones like TMD and the struggle they go through working tirelessly to raise vital funding in order for these kids to fulfil their bucket list choices. This could be something massive like heading to Disney World for a weekend with family or just something so small and humbling like a child asking for some new lego. All of it is funded by charity donations.” “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to make this charity donation, and we will continue to help and support TMD in any way we can for the foreseeable future.” Its understood Proplant had planned to make the donation earlier in the year, however, the coronavirus lockdown prevented the presentation to take place until recently.
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