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Leading construction and scaffolding safety specialist SIMIAN has marked 20 years of trading since its establishment in November 2005.
The Warrington-based organisation has grown from a small team of industry experts to become one of the UK’s foremost training and consultancy organisations, now operating three core training centres and three satellite locations across the country. SIMIAN runs facilities in Warrington, the London Academy of Sustainable Construction (LASC), and SOMAX in Weston-Super-Mare, with additional satellite centres in Menai, Kent, and Letchworth. The company has broadened its offering beyond scaffolding in recent years, opening a dedicated roofing training centre at its Warrington headquarters. The move came in response to growing demand for specialist roofing training. Throughout its two decades in business, SIMIAN has stuck to a clear mission: raising standards, improving safety, and ensuring construction workers are skilled, confident, and compliant. The organisation works with businesses of all sizes across multiple sectors. Simon Hughes, managing director at SIMIAN, said: “Reaching 20 years in business is an incredible achievement and a proud moment for our entire team. From our very first day, our focus has been on ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient working practices for the UK construction industry. “Over the years, our team has grown, our training centres have expanded, and our services have evolved, but our commitment to excellence has never wavered. We look forward to continuing to support and develop the workforce for the next 20 years and beyond.”
The company started with a single training centre in Warrington and has since built a network of facilities serving different regions across the UK. This geographical spread has allowed SIMIAN to deliver training programmes to a much wider area.
SIMIAN’s services cover scaffolding safety, roofing work, and broader construction industry requirements, including both training delivery and consultancy work for construction businesses.
The company says it will continue developing its training and safety services for the construction sector, maintaining its position as a key provider of safety training and compliance support for UK construction businesses.
SIMIAN thanked its clients, delegates, partners, and team members for their support over the past 20 years, acknowledging that their collaboration has helped establish the company as a recognised name in construction safety and training.
Tom Shorten, CEO of HSS ProService Marketplace, said contractors want certainty and efficiency at a time when project margins are under pressure.
He said the partnership will give users a deeper fleet, a wider footprint and a simpler digital workflow. According to Shorten, the focus is on reducing phone calls, cutting administration and improving visibility of hire spend.
HSS ProService Marketplace is already one of Europe’s largest digital platforms for equipment hire. The company says closer collaboration with Speedy signals a wider shift towards online procurement models in the building services and maintenance sector.
Central Scaffolding & Rigging Services won Best Industrial Scaffolding Project of the Year. The company installed a suspended scaffold at a live operational wharf, where tidal movement and restricted access prevented any build from below.
Using Layher Allround, Flex Beam and tube-and-coupler systems, the team produced a balanced platform over open water. The design accounted for corrosion risks, tidal clearance and structural loading. Judges described it as a strong example of industrial planning and safe working near marine environments.
APS Industrial Services received Best Civil Scaffolding Project of the Year for its access system beneath the 1867 Merri Creek Bridge in Victoria. With no ability to fix into the bluestone structure or touch the waterway, APS developed a custom anchoring system mounted under the bridge deck.
The restricted location required rope access support and detailed environmental controls. Traffic above remained open throughout the works.
A freestanding scaffold supported by a 10-kPa suspended gantry deck allowed remedial works without touching the fragile brickwork. The design followed two years of planning with structural engineers.
