London based MR Scaffolding Services Ltd are set to take part in a revolutionary project aimed at meeting new government requirements on vehicle pollution in the capital.
By using specially modified heavy-duty drones to deliver materials to sites both in and around London, the company will avoid breaking Ultra Low Emission Zone requirements introduced by the City’s Mayor aimed at improving air quality. From April 8th 2019, any HGV vehicle not carrying a low emission engine will be fined £100 each time it enters the zone. The move will ensure London has the world’s toughest standards on emissions.
Taking A Stand
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “The air in London is lethal and I will not stand by and do nothing. But the scale of our air quality challenge is so big that I need to go further. I want to expand the ULEZ from 2020 for heavy vehicles such as buses, coaches and lorries so that all of London will benefit from cleaner air. Then from 2021, I want to expand it up to the North and South Circular roads for light vehicles, including cars and vans. These measures will help improve the air that millions of Londoners breathe.“Now I urge the Government to step up and match my ambition to transform the appalling air we breathe. Ministers need to deliver a national vehicle scrappage fund, reform fiscal incentives like vehicle excise duty and pass a powerful new Clean Air Act to Act end the toxic smog in London once and for all.”
Jonathan Grigg, Professor of Paediatric and Environmental Medicine, Queen Mary University of London added: “The Mayor of London is to be congratulated in bringing forward the date of the ULEZ. Reducing diesel emissions in the congestion charge zone will reduce exposure to toxic soot particles and gases. To maximise the effectiveness of this initiative, the Government must now act to remove the current toxic fleet of diesel cars, vans and buses from all our roads”
The Cutting Edge
Sir Richard Branson / Shutterstock
As a company at the cutting edge of the industry MR Scaffolding has been working closely with British drone designers funded by Virgin Group founder and business magnate Sir Richard Branson, to help refine the technology together with specialist autonomous landing engineers at Space-X. The intelligent machines have been modified with Space-X safety and autonomous control technology to carry and auto-land heavier payloads safely, avoiding the need for large HGV vehicles to spend long periods of time in central London traffic. The £1.2million pilot scheme will begin in early April.
Firms in both the scaffolding and construction sectors along with many other interested parties will be watching the project carefully. Should it prove to be a success, more of the drones will be built to meet several potential long-term contracts.
Delivering Materials
John Trayfoot
John Trayfoot MR Scaffolding Services Managing Director recently met with Sir Richard and Elon on Necker Island to finalise the four drone contract, leased to the firm for a one-year trial period.
John told me: “As a company, we’re very proud to be the forerunners of what could be the way forward in terms of delivering materials in our big towns and cities. We believe this is the future, and thanks to the backing of Sir Richard and Space-X technology, we can all contribute to the environment and bring something new and innovative to the industry. We’re all very excited.“The drones will be monitored and controlled from a secure central point, they all meet and exceed all the necessary safety guidelines. The world is changing rapidly, and we need to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”
A government source told ScaffMag: “We welcome the new innovation once again showcasing British technology at its finest. We need to think of even more ingenious ways to combat the threat of pollution especially in densely populated areas like London.”
MR Scaffolding is a well-established family run business and provider of access solutions to the construction industry since 1974.
UPDATE: You might have already guessed, today is April Fools day!
Paisley-based construction business, The JR Group, has appointed three new Directors to the Board which will include a shareholding in the business for the promoted colleagues.
Andrew Dallas becomes Projects Director; John Murdoch has been appointed Construction Director, and Craig Whyte becomes Commercial Director. The trio will join Gary McGregor and John Horne on the Board from 2 April 2019.Gary McGregor, Managing Director, said, “We have ambitious growth plans and to fulfill them we need to be attracting the best talent. Andrew, John and Craig all have a very different skill set and we are delighted they have taken up our offer. Their experience will add depth to the Board.”The move comes as the company celebrates a planned rise in turnover and the launch of a new Commercial Property division which will further compliment the Group’s core services. There are also plans to diversify further in 2020 with the introduction of the Group’s first bespoke private housing project.Since Gary joined the business in 2016, Group turnover has risen from £6m to £16m. A projected £30m turnover is anticipated for the coming year. Originally a successful scaffolding and light access business, the company has grown to provide both construction and specialist building services throughout Scotland. John Horne, Director, added, “These appointments demonstrate our desire for sustained growth and we will look at future opportunities to strengthen the Board further as required. We are keen to position the Group as a market leader and provide a complete service to the construction industry. We are fortunate that the Group has secured a number of high profile projects recently, but we are always looking forward to pursuing new opportunities.”Based in Paisley, the company employs around 170 staff. Founded in 1995 by John Horne and his wife, Anne-Marie, the JR Group started as a scaffolding business and is now one of the largest in Scotland. It operates throughout Scotland and Northern England working on behalf of a number of the UK’s leading housebuilders, registered social landlords and private clients.
PHD Modular Access has retained their title as the Construction News Access and Scaffolding Specialist of the Year and also scooped Project of the year.
Image Credit: CN
At a plush ceremony held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday (27 March) over 750 attendees from the UK’s leading specialists firms and clients came together to celebrate the best in construction.
Uxbridge based PHD Modular Access was announced winners of the Access and Scaffolding Specialist 2019 category for the second year running. The company also picked up the Project of the Year (subcontract between £1m to £3m) award.
The firms work on the Elizabeth Tower, better known as Big Ben in London was highly commended as being innovative and paid tribute to the company for “setting the pace in what can be an incredibly tough sector”.Image credit: ScaffMag
While the Elizabeth Tower project took centre stage in 2018, the business also provided innovative solutions on high-profile jobs such as Harrow Square and Deptford Foundry both of which were adjacent to live rail lines and had restricted access.
The Construction News reported that the ‘judges said the firm demonstrated strong initiatives on sustainability. It was also employee-focused and displayed a strong commitment to nurturing the next generation through an impressive apprenticeship scheme. What is more, judges said the company’s all-round understanding of the sector stood out’.
Access & Scaffolding Specialists of the Year 2019 Finalists:
A Salford builder has been given a suspended sentenced for his cutting corners approach to health and safety.
Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard how, in July 2018, whilst carrying out repointing work at a house in Altrincham, Kenneth Morris allowed his employees to work on unguarded platforms six metres in height. The workers were also not provided with adequate protection from silica dust during the removal of mortar.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) began investigating after receiving information from members of the public. During the investigation, it was found that Kenneth Morris had made a deliberate decision not to provide the correct scaffolding or means of dust capture in order to save money. Mr Morris had also failed to insure his employees against any injury or ill health sustained during the course of their work.
Kenneth Morris, trading as K & M Pointing of Basten Close, Salford pleaded guilty to breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and breaches of the Employers Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969. He received a 26-week prison sentence suspended for two years, 180 hours community service and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs.
After the hearing HSE inspector Matt Greenly said: “HSE receives thousands of concerns from members of the public each year and we investigate those which show serious risk. Corners must not be cut when dealing with employees’ safety, such as working at height.”
The National Access & Scaffolding Confederation has strengthened its learning and skills capabilities through the appointment of a new training officer.
Henry Annafi brings a wealth of training, apprenticeship and stakeholder engagement expertise to the NASC team, having previously managed multiple high profile training initiatives for the public and private sector.
In his new role as NASC Training Officer, Henry will support members with any training issues they may have and also encourage more people to take up positions in the scaffolding industry.
In a NASC press release, Henry said: “I am excited to be joining the NASC and look forward to helping members reach their training objectives as well as engaging with jobseekers both directly and indirectly to bring more people into the industry.”
Writing on his Linkedin profile Henry wrote: ‘As the Training Officer for the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation, I support members in accessing additional funding opportunities and promoting the sector as a sector of choice with young people, highlighting the unique benefits and diverse opportunities that exist within scaffolding in particular and construction overall. The immensely rewarding career choices are not just for scaffolders, but for Supervisors, Managers, Estimators, Health and Safety Advisors, Surveyors, Designers, Trainers and much more.
‘As such, I will be working to ensure that schools, colleges, universities and careers professionals have the necessary information to help young people make more informed career choices. I also work with 3rd parties to address industry needs and raise the profile of the NASC as well as the benefits of working with its members.’
Robin James, NASC Managing Director, added: “I am really pleased to welcome Henry to the NASC. His role will see him working with the members, but also with third parties to address industry training needs and access additional funding opportunities.“He’ll also play a key role in promoting the industry as a worthwhile and rewarding career choice for people who are interested in becoming scaffolding operatives as well as those looking to take up a broad range of other roles, such as supervisors, estimators, health and safety advisors, surveyors, designers and trainers.”
A scaffolding firm has been hit with a £30,000 fine for Health and Safety breaches which ‘could have caused a fatal accident’.
The Health and Safety breaches occurred last March whilst K-Lok Scaffolding was sub-contracted to erect scaffolding works on The Standard Chartered Bank in Castle Street, Jersey.
K-Lok pleaded guilty to two offenses which ‘could have caused a fatal accident’ after both a scaffold tube and a scaffolding spanner fell from a height on separate occasions narrowly missing passing pedestrians.
Details of the offenses were discussed by Crown Advocate Conrad Yates in The Royal Court last week.
The court heard that the erected scaffold consisted of nine lifts. On the first of Three incidents, a tube was dropped weighing 1.5kgs and fell over six meters to the ground landing in front of a pedestrian.
This was reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) by a nearby pedestrian.
Health and Safety investigators visited the project the next morning and K-Lok employees admitted to the event. Safe working systems were discussed including working during quieter periods, the closure of the pavement in Castle Street and putting a protection fan in place to provide protection from falling debris.
Later the same day another incident was reported where a spanner had fallen and landed within 10 feet of another pedestrian.
HSE was again informed and revisited the site where the employees of K-Lok denied any knowledge of falling materials and stated that a protection fan had already been put in place.
Advocate Yates stated ‘the pavement had been closed using a tape stretched between the scaffold, with a cone at both ends and an employee directing pedestrians.’
Upon investigation of these two incidents, it was found that one of K-Lok’s employees had lied to the HSE inspectors and had, in fact, dropped a spanner.
A third incident was also reported on March 15 and a stop order was placed on site. After looking into the third incident it was determined there were no failings on part of K-Lok.
Work was resumed on site to complete the project with stipulated instructions that ‘all works had to occur outside peak hours so there was less pedestrian activity.’
K-Lok owner and director Dale Campbell appeared before Commissioner Julian Clyde-Smith with Advocate Olaf Blakeley defending.
It was suggested the safety breaches warranted a fine of £35,000 and £3000 in prosecution costs. Advocate Blakeley argued that due to how serious the company had taken these incidents a fine of £20,000 would be more appropriate.
Jurats Robert Christensen and Collette Crill, Commissioner Clyde-Smith noted the area where the incidents occurred was ‘a very busy pedestrian thoroughfare’ and added ‘the breaches could have caused fatal injury, it was just luck no pedestrian was struck.’
K-Lok was fined £30,000 plus £3000 legal costs to be paid on 12 months.
Mark Coote, the co-founder of Surrey-based Formark Scaffolding is to box ex-professional footballer Brian Sparrow in a showdown to raise money for the Lily Foundation.
Currently in training for the April 11 bout, Mark ‘The Statesman’ Coote is putting in the hours at the gym and has even persuaded footballer turned fighter Leon McKenzie to show him some skills and help him get through three grueling rounds.
Speaking to The Caterham Independent Coote said: “Obviously there are a lot of people who would like to see me get a clump and hit the canvas but I am taking this very seriously and will be in good shape.”
“This is the charity’s seventh Fight Night and is one of its biggest fundraising events of the year.”
The Lily Foundation is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to fighting mitochondrial disease. Its mission is to support people whose lives are affected by the condition, raise awareness and fund research into its prevention, diagnosis and treatment. 10 million people in the UK suffer from diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction is believed to be involved, and every day in the UK a baby is born that will develop mitochondrial disease.
The Lily Foundation is fighting to change this, with its ultimate aim being to one day find a cure for mito.
“If I can help get to that day faster by putting on a pair of boxing gloves and hitting a very good friend of mine to raise money for more and better research then it’s not really a difficult decision,” added Coote.
To sponsor Mark go to https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-coote4
Lincolnshire based Caspian Access and Plant Hire Ltd becomes Caspian Group Ltd.
For over 30 years Caspian Access and Plant Hire Ltd have been one of the UK’s leading suppliers of scaffolding boards and related services.
Maintaining a loyal national and international client base, the company has announced its proud to ‘relaunch itself as Caspian Group Ltd.’
Operating across 4 sites in excess of 6 acres, Caspian has constantly evolved to meet industry needs, including the recent acquisition of John Brash and Co Ltd scaffold board production facilities.
With the firm’s recent expansion, ‘it is an ideal time for a change of name, to better and more fully encompass these developments’, a Caspian spokesperson said.
Neil Garrison, Caspian’s Managing Director, explained: “The change of name to Caspian Group Ltd highlights our business development ambitions at what is a very exciting time for the company. Solidifying our position as the UK’s market leader in its field. It not only prepares us for future growth but also illustrates to our longstanding and potential clients that we will be enhancing the excellent quality of service already enjoyed.”
As a global business with strong local roots, Caspian Group Ltd looks forward to further innovative expansion, whilst maintaining the standards and ethics it has been proud to embody for over three decades.
Vantage Event Structures picked up TWO awards at the Milton Keynes Achievement Awards 2019.
Held last week at the MK Arena, over 700 guests attended the business awards to watch and listen to presenter Faye Carruthers announce the nominees across fourteen categories, which celebrated business excellence in the city.
The Buckinghamshire based event scaffolding business was in full celebration after not only winning the Design and Creativity Award category but also Vantage MD Matt Bowler picked up Entrepreneur of the Year.
Judges commented that Matt was a “truly outstanding entrepreneur” for his ability to diversify in the face of a recession and create not just one but two outstanding businesses in MK Scaffolding and Vantage Event Structures.
Team Vantage, collecting the Design & Creativity Award 2019
The judges chose Vantage as winners of the Design and Creativity category for the company’s ability “to demonstrate how well they can translate a concept or idea and transform it into a reality.”
Established in 2011 Vantage Event Structures has worked on many prestigious projects that include the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Queen’s Dimond Jubilee and the Royal Wedding.
The NASC has updated and amended its contractual guidance notes focused on the hiring of hoists and contract clauses.
CG5:19 Contractual Issues Relating to the Hiring of Hoists and CG12:19 Contract Clauses were reviewed and amended by the NASC Contracts Committee as part of the NASC’s ongoing efforts to ensure all reference materials remain up-to-date and fit-for-purpose.
The newly updated documents are available to purchase or download free here.
The NASC has said a new guidance note – CG20:19 A Guide to Monitoring and Chasing Debt – is currently being finalised and will be published in the summer. The new 12-page document will provide assistance with the control and collection of debts.
David Brown, Chair of the NASC Contracts Committee, said: “By updating CG5:19 and introducing the new guidance note CG20:19 we believe that we are providing our members with high-quality guidance that will assist them in their day to day activities.”
Robin James, NASC Managing Director, added: “We are pleased to have updated two further CG notes and adding another commercially beneficial title in the coming months.“The confederation looks to review all published materials every five years, bringing them up to date with legislation and the evolving requirement of scaffolding contractors as required.”
Henry Annafi brings a wealth of training, apprenticeship and stakeholder engagement expertise to the NASC team, having previously managed multiple high profile training initiatives for the public and private sector.
In his new role as NASC Training Officer, Henry will support members with any training issues they may have and also encourage more people to take up positions in the scaffolding industry.
In a NASC press release, Henry said: “I am excited to be joining the NASC and look forward to helping members reach their training objectives as well as engaging with jobseekers both directly and indirectly to bring more people into the industry.”
Writing on his Linkedin profile Henry wrote: ‘As the Training Officer for the National Access & Scaffolding Confederation, I support members in accessing additional funding opportunities and promoting the sector as a sector of choice with young people, highlighting the unique benefits and diverse opportunities that exist within scaffolding in particular and construction overall. The immensely rewarding career choices are not just for scaffolders, but for Supervisors, Managers, Estimators, Health and Safety Advisors, Surveyors, Designers, Trainers and much more.
‘As such, I will be working to ensure that schools, colleges, universities and careers professionals have the necessary information to help young people make more informed career choices. I also work with 3rd parties to address industry needs and raise the profile of the NASC as well as the benefits of working with its members.’
Robin James, NASC Managing Director, added: “I am really pleased to welcome Henry to the NASC. His role will see him working with the members, but also with third parties to address industry training needs and access additional funding opportunities.
“He’ll also play a key role in promoting the industry as a worthwhile and rewarding career choice for people who are interested in becoming scaffolding operatives as well as those looking to take up a broad range of other roles, such as supervisors, estimators, health and safety advisors, surveyors, designers and trainers.” 
