Enigma Industrial Services is set to take part in a charity motorbike ride spanning a massive 984 miles.
The nationwide access service provider is asking for support for its employees and partners who are undertaking the ultimate endurance challenge. On the weekend of Saturday 27th June 2020, its fundraising team will ride motorbikes from Lands End, Cornwall to John O’ Groats, Scotland.
The firm is aiming to raise awareness and funds for Combat Stress, a Veterans Mental Health Charity who help former members of the armed forces and their families with invaluable support for issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression.
The “End to End Charity Motorbike Ride 2020” challenge will fully test the riders spirit, strength and stamina throughout the fundraising journey. Enigma has said their team would welcome support, donations and encouragement whilst travelling along the epic route. Enigma Industrial Services have recently signed the corporate covenant which is a public pledge demonstrating its support for the Armed Forces community. With the British Armed Forces Covenant setting out the relationship between the nation, the government and our Armed Forces.You can help raise funds for Combat Stress a Veterans Mental Health Charity and pledge a donation via this official Virgin Money Giving Event page.
CITB is developing a new online service featuring work experience opportunities on local construction sites, part of a drive to link candidates with employers.
The new service will feature on CITB’s one-stop-shop careers site Go Construct. With more than 2.5 million unique users visiting the site since its launch in September 2015, CITB is keen to help more construction employers tap into this reservoir of potential recruits.Construction companies are also being urged to add their apprenticeships vacancies to the three GB Governments’ national apprenticeships services so they can be offered to potential applicants using Go Construct.
Go Construct directs aspiring apprentices to find apprenticeships on the English, Scottish and Welsh Governments’ websites, but not all vacancies are posted there, with some employers using informal recruitment techniques such as word of mouth.
Sarah Beale, CITB Chief Executive, said: “Go Construct was built in response to industry telling us that an information portal for careers was needed. We’re now acting on further feedback from employers, to offer the millions of people who have visited the site the ability to see more and more vacancies through the three Governments’ national apprenticeships services.“We’ll also be developing a feature for work experience opportunities too, to increase the supply of potential industry recruits to employers. We’re determined to build on our high-quality information portal with a full signposting service to link construction employers with the workers they need.”
In January nearly 2,000 people clicked through from Go Construct to external vacancies sites such as the National Apprenticeship Service, up from 1,504 in January last year. CITB welcomes this progress and is committed to seeing it rise much further. Go Construct was developed after feedback from more than 400 construction employers, and guides visitors through the different trades, detailing likely salaries and qualifications required and providing help, support and information to employers, careers advisors to young people and their parents.
The website is one part of a framework of initiatives to attract new recruits and apprentices to industry, through schemes such as the Construction Skills Fund; to support employers to take them on, including SMEs, with increased grant funding; and to help learners gain the vital work experience they need to enter employment in industry with pilots like Brickwork Academy.
Our man Richard Trenchard interviews Lynn Way, the new and first-ever female NASC President.
Whichever way you look at things, there is still so much work to be done within the construction sector before anything like equality is achieved. Just look at the numbers if you don’t believe us.
Statistics from 2018 suggest just 20% of people employed in British construction are female. In engineering roles, this drops to 8.7% — fewer than any other country in Europe. Levelling the playing field will be no easy task. Sexism remains an issue that many brush under the carpet, but perhaps most insidious of all is the fact many women simply can’t picture themselves working in a stereotypically male sector.
Enter Lynn Way, a professional who is both an anomaly in terms of those numbers and a leading light when it comes to increasing engagement in construction among women.
“The turning point in my career was when we started working on larger contracts.”
Having just been made president of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation, NASC, the first time a woman has been given the post, her tenure could do plenty to inspire others to pursue careers in the industry.
“I first began working in the construction industry just after my brother started his new company, Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding back in 1996,” Way replies when we ask about the formative years of her career, explaining how she went full-time in 1998.
“The turning point in my career was when we started working on larger contracts. This is when I started going on site with Chris and started getting involved with the prelims and various meetings.
“I then progressed with achieving my accountancy and management qualifications that really helped me within my role in the company.”
Skip forward to today and Way’s track record speaks for itself. Continuing to work at Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding as it grew from startup to major player, she would go on to occupy the position of South West & South Wales Regional Chair of the NASC.
Her recent President’s Report for the NASC Yearbook 2020 expands on how she was the first woman on the Council, and at that time was used to being the only female in the room. Times thankfully change, though, as do rooms.
“I walk on to a variety of sites now and people do not look surprised that you have walked in the room,” Way explains when our questions move to any negative experiences of gender within construction. “I can honestly say when I have attended site, people have been really accepting and respectful. I can only really remember one instance when a site foreman could not understand how a woman could be in charge of men.
“This was the only time in my career I can say I felt uncomfortable on site. I have had instances very early on in my career when it was assumed I was on-site to be Chris or Stephen’s secretary but after I attended sites more often people start to realise who I was and the position I was in.”
The responsibilities of the NASC president are far-reaching and complex. Way is clear on her desire to continue the work of her predecessor, Des Moore, who did much to encourage and improve representation of women in the industry.
It’s a noble idea and one that points to Way as a champion of improving access to careers within a vital sector of UK business.
And she’s also clear on the need to provide support and guidance to firms themselves — whether based on home turf or overseas, not least given ongoing uncertainty amid one of the most economically damaging political stalemates in the country’s history.
Safe hands indeed, and for the NASC at least the future looks bright.
This article was originally published in Issue 8 of the ScaffMag magazine, read the digital version here.
A digger driver who wrecked a newly completed Travelodge in Liverpool has been jailed.
John Manley, 36, caused a trail of destruction at the new Travelodge because he was owed £600 in wages. He drove the digger through the front doors of the hotel on 21 January 2019 and caused over £400,000 worth of damage.
Videos of the incident went viral online and showed colleagues asking Manley to stop as he shouted: “All you had to do was pay me.”
Manley was sentenced today (26 February) to five years and four months at Liverpool Crown Court for damaging property and being reckless as to whether life is endangered.
Judge David Aubrey QC said: “You were intent on maximum damage and you intended to leave a trail of destruction.”
The court heard Manley, who had an emotionally unstable personality disorder, had a number of issues in his life.
Prosecutor Trevor Parry-Jones said he effectively destroyed the ceiling, wiring and structure of the building after he drove through the front doors of the 71-bedroom hotel, where people were still carrying out work.
Two colleagues eventually managed to disconnect the fuel line to the vehicle, leaving one of them temporarily blinded after diesel sprayed into his face, and Manley jumped out of the vehicle and scaled a 10ft wire fence to flee the scene.
Mark Sharman, defending, said the father-of-two could not afford electricity or to buy food because he had not been paid, and therefore could not have his children, aged six and 11, to stay.
Manley was also disqualified from driving for four years and one month.
Rilmac Scaffolding has announced two new contracts which, between them, will provide three and a half years work for the expanding nationwide business.
The first of these projects is for Countryside Properties where Rilmac will be on The Colleys development in Grantham for around two years. The entire development will see over 300 timber-framed houses being built with a potential for further expansion. Rilmac Scaffolding began on-site in February 2020 and has already started well.The second project is for Vistry Homes (formerly Linden Homes and Bovis Homes) with Phase One of a total 120 plot development at Bracebridge Heath near Lincoln starting in April. Rilmac will be on-site at the Bracebridge Manor development for 18 months providing access scaffolding for the timber-framed housing build.“Housing is an important part of our business mix.” said Des Booth, Managing Director of Rilmac Scaffolding. “It complements our industrial and infrastructure work and we are proud to have landed these two long term projects.”Rilmac Scaffolding is also involved in many other long-term construction projects including: further housing developments in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, large scale student accommodation blocks, a football stadium and a cinema.
The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity is throwing a challenge out to the construction industry to complete an epic 4 Peaks Challenge
They are the only charity that provides financial and emotional support to the construction community and their families who have suffered an injury, long term illness or just need some extra support and last year saw them deliver £1.13M of charitable services to support the wellbeing of our construction industry. The charity is hoping to raise a total of £300,000 from their 4 Peaks and On Yer Bike Challenge. They’re asking companies and individuals to scale four of the highest mountains in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. The challenge is to summit Ben Nevis (1,345m), Helvellyn (950m), Snowdon (1,085m) and Carrauntoohil (1,038m) all within a 48-hour window between 10-12 September 2020. But this story comes with a bit of a twist as the charity also has team members who are taking up the challenge and joining in the fun. Dubbed as the Peaky Climbers, Bill Hill, Charity CEO, Michelle Finnerty, Marketing Manager, Laura Anderson, Digital Marketing Executive and honorary Lighthouse team member, Laura’s dad, David Anderson will be leading the way in helping to raise much-needed funds for the charity. They are covering all their own expenses, so every penny donated will reach construction families in crisis. The first three peaks, Ben Nevis, Helvellyn and Snowdon will be completed on day one, with a dash to Holyhead to get the ferry over to Dublin ready for the next day where they will then tackle Carrauntoohil, the central peak of the MacGillycuddy’s Reeks, Irelands highest mountain range. Bill Hill, Charity CEO said, “I’m conscious that my head may have made a commitment that my body can’t keep! This event is team building at its absolute best and it’s something that we and everyone else will remember for the rest of our lives. It goes without saying that this is going to be a huge personal challenge for everyone involved, both physically and mentally. What will really motivate us is to see our fundraising amount increase, so we’re hoping to get lots of support. As a charity, it’s vital that we continue to deliver pro-active interventions for our construction workers in crisis and ensure that situations do not reach a life critical stage. Our mission is to ensure that no worker feels alone in a crisis, so please be generous with your sponsorship.” Alongside the 4 Peaks Challenge, the charity is also organising an ‘On Yer Bike’ cycling challenge, with cyclists covering 210 miles from Leitrim to Killarney in three days, taking in some spectacular scenery along the way. Both events will culminate in Killarney with a celebratory gala dinner to celebrate everyone’s achievements and compare notes on weary legs! If you’d like to sponsor the Lighthouse Club’s Peaky Climbers then visit their Justgiving PageOr if you feel you’re up for the challenge too, then we’d love you to join us. You can find out more information about both events here: 4 Peaks ChallengeOn Yer Bike Challenge
The CITB has confirmed that it has sold its Bircham Newton National Construction College in Norfolk.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) is set to sign terms of agreement with West Suffolk College based in Bury St Edmunds.
Up until 2018 It was the must-go-to campus for thousands of budding scaffolders for more than 50 years until the CITB pulled out of direct training as part of its reform programme, Vision 2020.
The sale will see the CITB and West Suffolk College enter a period of due diligence with a view to transferring the ownership of the National Construction College.
In a joint statement CITB chief executive, Sarah Beale, said: “The agreements mean that CITB and West Suffolk College will be working to secure the continuity of training provision for the construction industry in relation to both quality and quantity. They also mean that the north west Norfolk area would continue to host a major British training college. We are looking forward to working together to build and grow the training at Bircham Newton, which will benefit the construction industry, NCC and the local area.”
Dr Nikos Savvas, Principal of West Suffolk College, added: “West Suffolk College is delighted to be working with CITB on the acquisition of the National Construction College – Bircham Newton. We have a long history of working with employers to upskill and retrain their staff across a number of campuses and firmly believe that we can maintain, develop and build upon the industry-wide reputation of NCC as the home of construction training in the UK. We want to build on the experience and knowledge of the NCC team to make Bircham Newton a Centre of Excellence in UK.”
The National Construction College remains open for business and is taking bookings throughout 2020.
Nearly 30 school children have been injured after scaffolding collapsed at a Sydney school.
It has been reported that Year 12 students at Campbelltown Performing Arts School at Campbelltown, in Sydney’s south-west, were preparing for school photos when the temporary scaffold structure they were stood on, collapsed.
School staff immediately provided first aid and the emergency services were called, according to a Facebook post.
12 children have been rushed to a local hospital and more than 27 have been treated for injuries. The students aged between 16 and 18 were treated for leg, torso and head injuries at the scene.
Safety experts from WorkSafe NSW are currently investigating.
The collapse comes just months after the Australian scaffolding industry was put on notice after data revealed that nearly half of all construction sites in NSW had non-compliant scaffolding.
Inspectors discovered that 44 per cent of scaffolds had missing components, while 36 per cent of scaffolds had been altered by unlicensed workers or removed components.
An Australian scaffold business owner lost his family home in a devastating fire just before Christmas. Weeks later he died suddenly aged just 37.
Father of three Michael Claxton, the owner of Apex Scaffolding based in Adelaide, South Australia, suffered a fatal heart attack whilst on a business trip.
His family home was burnt to the ground in a freak accident just before Christmas. The immense loss of both Michael and the house has been made even heavier after the family learnt of an insurance policy loophole meant the home was not covered.
His wife, Marelka and three young children have been left with no money to rebuild.
She told local media, Michael lived for his children.
“He did everything for them… he’d bathe them, be the first to tuck them in,” she said.
She says the youngest children often still call out for their father.
Michael was just a small scaffold business owner and his family relied purely on his income to support the household.
In a bid to help the Claxton’s, Luke Woolam a family friend and a member of the Australian construction industry has set up a Go Fund Me page to help rebuild their home.
Over $50,000 of the $100,000 goal has already been raised to purchase materials needed, with all labour donated through friends from the construction industry.
“The aim is to put a roof over this family’s head in this time of grief and despair and get them back on their feet,” Woolman said. “They will never replace their husband and father, but a place to call home would be an amazing start.”
Donations to the Go Fund Me for the Claxton family can be made here
We shone the business spotlight on Enigma Industrial Services when we spoke to their Finance Director, Ian McDougall and Enigma’s Human Resources Director Geoff Hughes.
Eighty five years is a long time in business. Industries change beyond all recognition in a decade, let alone the best part of a century. Staying afloat is hard enough, remaining at the forefront of your sector is even more difficult.
Nevertheless, that’s what Enigma Industrial Services (EIS) Limited has done. Founded in 1935 as a supplier of industrial services to UK businesses, in the time between then and now it has grown to include divisions offering support to companies working across an array of specialisms including infrastructure, housing and industrial construction, energy and power, agrochemicals and food and beverage.
Over the years Enigma has acted as parent to a number of familiarly-named subsidiaries, including Mills Scaffolding, GKN Kwikform, Kwikform UK, FK Multi Services Ltd., Interserve Industrial Services Limited and — most recently — Enigma Industrial Services Limited.The breadth of the offering is indicative of ongoing growth, which is only ever possible when you actually deliver what has been promised to the customers you’re trying to serve.
“Over time our service offering has increased to support the demands and needs of our clients.We embed an ethical approach, high standards and excellent safety record, all of which go some way to explaining why our clients continue to work with us with returning clients acknowledging Enigma’s reputation as a trusted service provider,” Enigma’s Finance Director Ian McDougall replies when we ask what he believes sets the company apart from its competition.
“As one of the largest privately-owned access businesses in the UK, we provide nation-wide coverage across a range of diverse environments and our services can be delivered individually or as multi-disciplinary activities; we frequently quote across several sites,” he continues.
“This drives better quality, continuity and economies of scale.The breadth of our services affords comprehensive support to clients utilising one of the largest stockholdings of scaffolding and access equipment in the UK.”
Enigma at Sandhurst Military Academy
While all this may sound as though Enigma’s story has been a straightforward case of linear growth, the firm has faced its fair share of challenges. It also recently underwent a fundamental shift in its dynamic by way of a shift in leadership.
“In October 2018 the business was purchased from Interserve and taken under private ownership with a name change to Enigma Industrial Services Limited. This acquisition was led by CEO Glen Webley, owner and operator of the other related Enigma businesses, supported by his CFO Mahendra Vekariya”, McDougall explains.“The Industrial Services business continues to operate under the stewardship of Scott Hardie, Managing Director, who has been in post for seven years.”
“With almost 1,000 staff across a national footprint that includes 14 separate locations across the country, it is easy to see why the operation was such an attractive proposition for Enigma. A management board of 11 that collectively has more than 250 years of experience in the sectors the business operates, the company has grown by servicing clients and providing access and industrial solutions across the whole of the UK.
“Any acquisition of this scale involves an additional workload for many people within the business but the response from every member of staff has been fantastic. Their enthusiasm and commitment has been a huge factor in a very positive 2019 with the retention of all our existing customers, suppliers and people which have been added to in our first year as Enigma.”
Enigma-IS recognises the increased focus on Corporate & Social Responsibility (CSR) as a great example of how the business continues to change.CSR is now viewed as near-essential to make sure customers keep coming back and it remains imperative that Enigma-IS retains the flexibility to respond accordingly.
Given the growing environmental concerns within construction and the tariffs now placed on impact, gentrification and displacement, it remains incumbent on companies like Enigma to consider why displacement matters and to diagnose the impact of our business outputs.
“We recognise the importance of CSR to our business, our people and the local communities where we work, so our aims are simple,” says Enigma’s Human Resources Director Geoff Hughes.
“We endeavour to create jobs for local people to maximise their knowledge and skills whilst providing them with greater access to employment opportunities. Large parts of our business see colleagues linked to working rule agreements where pay is invariably well above the national minimum wage levels.”
The conversation moves to support offered to young people from diverse backgrounds in a bid to help them penetrate and impact on the sector. Hughes quotes more than 90 apprentices currently working across Enigma’s portfolio, each linked to a core business value. These include boosting the numbers of women employed within the construction sector, opening up opportunities for all, working closely with local businesses and developing a broad range of policies to promote, improve and safeguard staff welfare. Environmental outcomes remain a major area of focus.
Enigma Industrial Services at Glasgow Airport
“Our policies and practices ensure efficient use of resources by minimising waste, reducing energy and fuel consumption in the provision of services, implementing effective and improved environmental performances using our accredited ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management System, and to measure, respond and report our carbon foot print,” he says.
“Where possible we always align with our client’s initiatives which retain, protect, enhance and promote the character of the local area’s natural environment for the benefit of local people.
McDougall adds: “Implementing, managing and auditing our environmental systems and processes sit alongside our unwavering commitment to Health & Safety. The initiatives we have completed thus serve to further enhance our B2C relationships as well as positively impacting our sales pipeline.”
With such progressive initiatives, it’s clear that Enigma has already secured a solid footing for further growth and development, as is proven when we quiz the pair on what projects are about to get underway or have already begun.
In addition to the Access business growing organically through contracts in Scotland, North West England and the Midlands, Hughes cites some impressive specifics.
“We are currently working very closely with a number of large industrial players, notably EDF Power at Hinkley Point C for the provision of scaffolding services which is a major opportunity for us as a business,” he says.
“Combined with our growing scope of works on Sellafield and elsewhere across the nuclear sector, 2020 looks like being another exciting year for Enigma-IS.”
This article was originally published in Issue 8 of the ScaffMag magazine, read the digital version here.
“Housing is an important part of our business mix.” said Des Booth, Managing Director of Rilmac Scaffolding. “It complements our industrial and infrastructure work and we are proud to have landed these two long term projects.”
Rilmac Scaffolding is also involved in many other long-term construction projects including: further housing developments in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, large scale student accommodation blocks, a football stadium and a cinema. 
Alongside the 4 Peaks Challenge, the charity is also organising an ‘On Yer Bike’ cycling challenge, with cyclists covering 210 miles from Leitrim to Killarney in three days, taking in some spectacular scenery along the way.
Both events will culminate in Killarney with a celebratory gala dinner to celebrate everyone’s achievements and compare notes on weary legs!
If you’d like to sponsor the Lighthouse Club’s Peaky Climbers then visit their Justgiving Page
Or if you feel you’re up for the challenge too, then we’d love you to join us. You can find out more information about both events here:
4 Peaks Challenge On Yer Bike Challenge 
