AT-PAC has expanded its marketing partnership with Petite Agency to cover parts of its European operation.
L-R Maddy Howe, Marketing & Brand Manager. Evie Trodden, Social Media Executive. Sophia Gowland, Director.
The scaffolding and access supplier said the Teesside agency will support activity across Germany, Sweden and the Benelux region, following its work with AT-PAC in the UK over the past year.
The appointment includes social media planning, content production and brand communications.
Petite Agency was founded in 2020 by director Sophia Gowland. The business works with construction, property and professional services clients, focusing on social media strategy, content and personal brand support.
AT-PAC said a recent content project in Sweden, focused on a large temporary weather protection structure, helped lead to the expanded agreement.
Andrew Boynton, AT-PAC’s Regional Director for Europe, said Petite Agency had helped the business communicate the scale of its work in the UK and would now support its European teams.
AT-PAC operates in more than 20 countries as part of umdasch Industrial Solutions. Its services include scaffold rental and sales, engineering, design and digital scaffold management software.
Scaffolding contractors across much of England are being urged to act on heat risk this week after the UK Health Security Agency issued red heat-health alerts for six regions.
The alerts cover London, the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, South East and South West. They begin at 1am on Wednesday 24 June and remain in place until 11pm on Thursday 25 June.
Amber alerts apply in the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Red is the highest level on the UKHSA’s heat-health alert scale. It means severe impacts are both likely and expected, including for people who would not usually be considered at high risk.
Temperatures are forecast to reach the high 30s, with some forecasts putting peaks close to 40C in parts of England during Wednesday and Thursday.
Heat is a workplace hazard
The Health and Safety Executive has reminded construction employers that heat must be assessed as a workplace hazard.
There is no legal maximum temperature for work. But employers still have duties under health and safety law to assess the risks to workers and take reasonable steps to control them.
That matters on scaffolding sites, where physically demanding work, direct sun, reflective surfaces, heavy clothing and PPE can all make heat stress more likely.
HSE says employers should consider practical controls including more frequent rest breaks, shaded welfare areas, free access to cool drinking water and earlier starts or later finishes where site arrangements allow.
John Rowe, HSE’s deputy director for technical support and engagement, said: “Last summer should have been a wake-up call for all employers.
“If we continue to experience hotter summers this could have a big impact on the workforce of this country, affecting everything from health of workers to productivity on construction sites.”
Supervisors need to spot the warning signs
Heat exhaustion can cause tiredness, weakness, dizziness, headaches, muscle cramps, nausea, heavy sweating and intense thirst.
Workers with these symptoms should be moved to a cooler place, given fluids and monitored.
Heatstroke is more serious. Signs can include confusion, poor coordination, rapid breathing, a fast heartbeat, hot skin that is not sweating and seizures.
Heatstroke is a medical emergency. Anyone suspected of having heatstroke should be cooled down while another person calls 999.
For scaffold contractors, the immediate issue is planning. Supervisors should check that welfare facilities are usable, water is readily available, break arrangements are realistic and workers know when to raise concerns.
NASC has launched a new TG4 User Guide and poster to support the safe installation and testing of scaffold anchor ties.
The two documents sit alongside TG4:25 Anchorage Systems for Scaffolding, which was issued in 2025 and sets out technical guidance on tie loads, anchor selection, proof testing and related work.
The new additions are aimed at bringing that information closer to the people responsible for ties on site, including scaffolders, supervisors and project teams.
James Attridge, chair of the NASC Technical Committee, said scaffold ties were central to the stability of many structures.
“Façade access and other scaffolding configurations are typically tall and narrow and therefore rely on secure attachment to a permanent building or structure to maintain stability,” he said.
“To achieve this, anchors are often installed into existing masonry or concrete structures to provide an effective means of tying.”
Pocket guide for scaffolders
The TG4 User Guide is an A6 booklet aimed at scaffolders who install and test drilled and cast-in anchors.
It covers the main factors involved in fixing anchors, including the checks and precautions needed to protect their integrity. NASC said it was designed as a pocket reference for those carrying out the work.
TG4:25 remains the main technical document. It covers the selection, installation and management of scaffolding anchorage systems, including preliminary testing where the suitability of an anchor in a base material is uncertain.
It also sets out proof-testing requirements. NASC says a sample of anchors must be tested on each project, with at least 5% selected at random and a minimum of 3 anchors tested in each separate area.
Poster for site awareness
An A2 TG4 poster has also been issued for use on site.
It states that anchor ties are needed to maintain scaffold stability and prevent structural failure or collapse. A QR code directs users to further NASC information.
The release reflects a familiar site risk. Anchor ties can appear routine, but errors in anchor selection, drilling, installation or testing can affect the stability of the whole scaffold.
The new documents are available through the NASC website.
Scaffolding firms are being urged to review hot-weather controls as an amber heat-health alert remains in force across large parts of England.
The alert covers London, the South East, South West and East of England until 8pm on Tuesday 23 June. Yellow alerts are also in place for the East Midlands and West Midlands.
The warnings come as temperatures are expected to rise again over the weekend, with hot and humid conditions forecast across parts of the country.
For scaffold contractors, the issue is not simply comfort. Heavy physical work, direct sunlight, limited shade and PPE can quickly increase the risk of dehydration, fatigue and reduced concentration.
That matters on sites where workers are handling materials, climbing lifts or carrying out work at height.
Amber alert in force
The UK Health Security Agency said the amber alert reflects the likely effect of sustained high temperatures on health and social care services, particularly for people who are more vulnerable to heat.
The alerts are not a legal warning requiring sites to stop work. But they provide a clear signal for employers to reassess conditions and make sure controls are in place before temperatures peak.
The Health and Safety Executive says employers must assess temperature-related risks for outdoor workers and put suitable controls in place.
Its guidance includes moving work to cooler parts of the day where possible, providing more frequent rest breaks, making shade available, and ensuring workers have free access to cool drinking water.
The HSE also advises firms to make sure workers understand the early signs of heat stress, including loss of concentration, cramps, severe thirst and fainting.
No legal maximum temperature
The UK has no legal maximum working temperature for outdoor workers.
Employers are still required to protect workers from adverse weather and assess risks under general health and safety law. That places the responsibility on contractors to decide when conditions require changed working hours, additional breaks, altered tasks or extra supervision.
For scaffold firms, planning needs to go beyond a reminder to drink water.
Supervisors should consider which tasks involve the heaviest physical effort, which areas of the site have little shade, and whether workers can take genuine breaks away from direct sun and heat radiating from steel, concrete or plant.
PPE also needs attention. Required protection cannot be compromised, but firms should consider whether lighter and more breathable compliant options are available for hot conditions.
Research points to June risk
The alert comes as tradesman insurer Protectivity publishes research claiming that June contains 5 of the 10 calendar dates most likely to see temperatures reach 27°C or above during working hours.
The company’s analysis identified 20 June as the second highest-risk date in its dataset, behind 12 August.
Protectivity examined historical weather data across UK cities, counting days where temperatures reached 27°C or more for at least 2 hours between 6am and 6pm.
Its research placed St Albans at the top of its ranking with 47 days above that level. The City of London followed with 45 days, while Oxford and Cambridge recorded 37 each.
The figures are company analysis rather than an official heat-risk ranking. But they support the wider point that hot-weather planning cannot wait until July or August.
Chris Trotman, underwriting manager at Protectivity, said: “Five of the 10 most dangerous dates in our dataset fall in June, and yet June is often when sites are running at full capacity with no particular heat protocols in place.
“Self-employed tradespeople in particular, who make up the largest self-employed workforce of any sector in the UK, have no employer to mandate rest breaks or enforce a heat policy on their behalf.”
What scaffold firms should do
The most useful response is practical.
Firms should check forecasts before shifts begin, schedule demanding work for cooler parts of the day where possible, provide easy access to water and shaded rest areas, and make sure supervisors are watching for early signs of heat stress.
Workers returning from time away or new to physically demanding work may also need time to adjust to hotter conditions.
Hot weather does not automatically mean work must stop. But where temperatures, humidity, workload and PPE combine to affect a worker’s health or ability to work safely, firms need to act.
AT-PAC has opened a new branch in Darwin, Northern Territory, giving contractors in northern Australia local access to scaffold stock, rental equipment and technical support.
The company said the branch will support projects across oil and gas, mining, energy, infrastructure, defence and marine sectors.
The site is in Berrimah, around 15 minutes from Darwin city centre, according to AT-PAC Australia and Pacific.
AT-PAC said holding Ringlock system scaffold locally should reduce delivery times for customers working on remote and industrial sites across the Northern Territory and nearby regions.
The Darwin operation will provide scaffold sales and rental, alongside engineering input and project planning support.
For contractors, the practical benefit is having material closer to site. Northern Australia’s industrial projects can involve long transport distances, particularly where scaffold requirements change during a job.
AT-PAC said the branch will be staffed locally and backed by its wider Australian supply and engineering network.
Part of wider Australian growth
The Darwin opening follows AT-PAC’s recent expansion in Adelaide. The company has also operated branches in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Gladstone.
AT-PAC became part of Umdasch Industrial Solutions in 2025, following its earlier integration into the Umdasch Group.
The company said its Australian branch network is intended to give industrial customers quicker access to equipment and technical support where major projects are taking place.
JR Scaffold Services has completed a specialist scaffold and temporary roof project at the B-listed Walton Building at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The Scottish contractor installed custom-designed double-gabled scaffolding on each side of the building before forming a temporary roof to support essential roof renovation works.
The project required a multi-stage plan due to the building’s location within a live hospital site. Roads around the work area had to remain open throughout to allow safe access for pedestrians, traffic, ambulances and deliveries.
The Walton Building is also within the Glasgow Central Conservation Area and sits above a historic tunnel system. As a result, the scaffold base had to be designed as a non-load bearing solution to keep weight off the areas above the tunnels.
Built from beams
The access design was produced by Gallery Access Solutions, with support from Coltart Earley Architecture.
The solution used the base as a foundation for the double-gabled scaffold, with the structure built off beams to deal with limited access around the building.
Once the scaffold was in place, the team installed a temporary roof that could be rolled over the Walton Building roof safely. Materials were moved up the structure using an electric palletiser, which helped raise materials part-way up the building.
JR Scaffold Services said Contracts Director John Jack led the project, supported by several experienced members of its scaffold team.
Lead contractor role
Evan Horne, Estimator for JR Scaffold Services, said the company had taken on a wider role than is usual for a scaffolding business.
“We were the lead contractor on this particular project, which is quite unusual for a scaffolding company,” he said.
“However, we took these new challenges in our stride, looking after aspects of the project such as construction phase plans, traffic management plans and providing assets including signage and welfare facilities for our trade contractors.
“We worked closely with the client and our partners, and, despite the unique and complex challenges of this particular project, we delivered the job on time and, most importantly safely.”
Training before site work
JR Scaffold Services also carried out project-specific training before the site works began.
The company recreated the designed scaffold solution at its own yard to help newer scaffolders understand the temporary roof arrangement before working on the live hospital site.
Some team members were also sent to other temporary roof projects, including work at St Fillan’s Church in Houston, to build further experience before the Glasgow project.
Owen Stoney, Temporary Roof Advisor for JR Scaffold Services, said: “Because of the size and complexity of this job, we thought it was important to provide familiarisation and awareness training for our whole team.
“We built the gabled scaffold in our new yard and replicated the structure they were going to be building on in Glasgow.
“This allowed our team to work with the materials before they went live on site, giving them an understanding and awareness of how the structure would come together.
“We worked closely with the architects and designers to ensure that everything was set up in a way that provided safe access for the work to take place, while also protecting those using the areas surrounding the site.”
The UK construction industry will need an average of 41,200 extra workers each year between 2026 and 2030 to meet expected demand, according to new figures from the Construction Industry Training Board.
CITB’s latest Construction Workforce Outlook predicts that construction activity will remain weak in 2026 before growth returns from 2027.
The annual report, published on 17 June, sets out expected construction demand over the next 5 years and the impact this could have on the industry’s workforce.
It forecasts UK construction output growth of -0.2% in 2026, before rising to 1.8% in 2027 and 2.8% in 2028. Growth is then expected to ease slightly, with forecasts of 2.3% in 2029 and 2.1% in 2030.
The strongest average annual growth over the period is expected in public new housing, at 3.6%. Infrastructure and private new housing are both forecast to grow by 2.5% a year on average.
Growth expected from 2027
The forecast supports recent market data from Glenigan, which also pointed to a recovery in construction starts from 2027 after a difficult start to 2026.
Glenigan’s forecast also said activity could be 13% higher than 2025 levels by the end of its forecast period, with stronger pipelines expected in housing, public sector work, civils and utilities.
Taken together, the 2 reports point to the same pressure point for contractors: workloads are expected to recover, but the industry may not have enough skilled workers ready when demand returns.
Recovery brings fresh labour pressure
For scaffolding and access contractors, that creates a familiar problem. A stronger market from 2027 would bring more tender opportunities, but it would also increase pressure on labour, training and supervision.
CITB estimates the UK construction workforce stood at 2,606,380 in 2025. It is forecast to rise to 2,681,800 by 2030.
But the report says growth alone does not tell the full story. The industry also needs to replace workers leaving construction and deal with regional and occupational gaps.
Across the 5-year period, CITB says the sector will need about 206,000 additional workers. That is equal to 1.6% of the 2025 workforce each year.
The forecast comes after a difficult period for construction, with short-term uncertainty and cost pressures continuing to affect activity.
CITB said the industry faces a difficult balance: dealing with current business pressures while making sure it has enough skilled workers to meet future demand.
Training pipeline under strain
Tim Balcon, CITB chief executive, said the Outlook gives industry and government the evidence needed to plan for future skills demand.
“Our latest Construction Workforce Outlook highlights where construction skills demand is expected to grow, offering the evidence needed to guide workforce and skills planning in a period of significant opportunity and challenge,” he said.
“The construction industry is faced with balancing short-term business uncertainty while ensuring there are enough skilled workers to meet the expected demand for longer-term opportunities.
“Together, alongside government and industry stakeholders, we can ensure the construction industry is equipped to deliver for the UK’s future.”
The Outlook also links the workforce issue to wider delivery targets, including housing, infrastructure and retrofit work.
CITB said too few people are entering construction, too many experienced workers are leaving, and productivity gains have not been enough to close the gap.
The report follows recent government announcements on construction training, including a £600m investment package and wider support through youth employment and jobs schemes.
Mark Reynolds CBE, co-chair of the Construction Skills Mission Board, said the report gives employers a clearer view of the workforce needed across key trades and professions.
He said it showed “significant demand for new people to join our industry” and should give employers more confidence to recruit and train new entrants.
Mark Farmer, a member of the Construction Skills Mission Board and the Construction Leadership Council, said the industry still had to deal with weak trading conditions while preparing for future demand.
“The latest Construction Workforce Outlook published by CITB indicates that despite industry currently grappling with challenging economic conditions, longer-term needs to replenish and sustainably grow the workforce remain,” he said.
“Bridging the gap between current capacity to employ and train and the imperative to build a future ready workforce remains the central challenge.”
CITB has produced the Construction Workforce Outlook since 2006/07. The latest report includes UK-wide data, national and regional forecasts, an interactive tool and downloadable reports.
Tickets and tables for the 2026 Scaffolding Excellence Awards are now on sale, with the gala evening due to take place on Friday 11 September in Manchester.
The awards will be held as part of ScaffEx26, which returns to Manchester Central on 10 and 11 September.
The annual dinner brings together scaffolding contractors, suppliers, manufacturers, training providers and other industry figures for one of the main social events in the sector’s calendar.
This year’s ceremony will be hosted by comedian and broadcaster Dara Ó Briain, best known for Mock the Week, Blockbusters, Robot Wars and Stargazing Live.
The 2026 awards will use the same 9 categories as last year, covering projects, design, products, services, apprenticeships and long-term contribution to the scaffolding and access industry.
One change has been made for this year’s event. The Apprentice of the Year Award has been renamed the Wayne Connolly Apprentice of the Year Award, in memory of the former NASC president and CISRS chairman, who died in December 2025.
The move recognises Connolly’s long service to the sector, including his work around training and standards.
Judging will be chaired by Dr James MacFadden, senior responsible CSA engineer at Sellafield.
Dr MacFadden said the 2025 entries had shown a strong standard across project delivery, leadership and teamwork.
He said the awards were a way to recognise “hard work and professionalism that often goes unseen”.
He added that he was pleased to chair the judging panel again, with experts from across the industry involved in the process.
Tickets and tables are available now here, with organisers expecting demand to be high.
UK construction activity is expected to recover from 2027 after a difficult start to the year, according to Glenigan’s Summer 2026 Construction Forecast.
The report predicts underlying project starts, covering schemes under £100m, will fall by 1% in 2026 before rising by 11% in 2027 and a further 4% in 2028.
That would leave activity 13% higher than 2025 levels by the end of the forecast period.
Glenigan said the short-term picture remains weak, with investors and developers reassessing planned schemes following a volatile six months for the UK and global economy.
But the construction intelligence firm expects improving economic conditions, stronger public spending and renewed private investment to support a wider recovery from next year.
Allan Wilen, economics director at Glenigan, said the sector had faced “a turbulent few months”, with projects being reviewed and rescheduled.
He said activity was expected to strengthen from 2027 as confidence returns across private and public sector markets.
“There are some particularly exciting growth areas as Government funding is released and investor appetite starts to return to the market,” he said.
“Contractors will need to be quick off the mark as more favourable conditions are finally felt.”
Public sector work expected to rise
Education and health are forecast to be among the stronger areas of growth.
Education project starts are expected to rise by 8% in 2026, followed by 20% growth in 2027 and a further 5% in 2028.
Glenigan said school construction will continue to dominate, supported by clearer funding for rebuilding and refurbishment work across ageing education estates.
Health work is also forecast to recover. Starts are expected to rise by 9% this year, another 9% in 2027 and 14% in 2028.
The forecast points to increased capital funding, deferred NHS schemes and work linked to estate repairs, diagnostic hubs and community care facilities.
Civils and utilities provide further support
Hinkley Point C – Credit: EDF Energy
Civil engineering activity is expected to remain flat in 2026 before rising by 15% in 2027.
Glenigan said water, energy and transport work should support the sector over the forecast period.
Water investment is expected to increase following Ofwat’s approval of £104bn of upgrades and repairs between 2025 and 2030.
Electricity networks, renewables, offshore wind and nuclear projects, including Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, are also expected to support demand.
Transport infrastructure is forecast to strengthen from next year, helped by funding for road maintenance, rail upgrades, HS2 and the TransPennine Route.
Offices and industrial work show mixed picture
Office starts are expected to rise by 21% in 2026, making the sector one of the stronger performers this year.
Glenigan said demand is being driven by high-quality, energy-efficient office space, flexible working requirements and data centre development linked to artificial intelligence.
However, office activity is forecast to fall by 11% in 2027 after recent growth, before returning to a 4% rise in 2028.
Industrial work is expected to fall by 9% this year, before rising by 16% in 2027 and 5% in 2028.
Demand for logistics space, business investment and planning policy changes are expected to support the recovery.
Housebuilding tipped for 2027 recovery
Private and social housebuilding are both expected to finish 2026 in negative territory.
Private housing starts are forecast to fall by 5% this year, while social housing is expected to fall by 3%.
Glenigan expects private housing to rebound by 13% in 2027 and 5% in 2028, supported by lower borrowing costs, better consumer confidence and planning reform.
Social housing starts are forecast to rise by 8% in 2027 and 4% in 2028.
The report said higher Government funding, changes to the Social Housing Rent Cap and faster Building Safety Regulator approvals should help more schemes move forward.
Retail and leisure still under pressure
Retail construction is forecast to rise by 1% in 2026, followed by 10% growth in 2027 and a 4% fall in 2028.
Glenigan said supermarket work is expected to remain the largest part of retail activity.
Hotel and leisure starts are forecast to fall by 12% this year, before rising by 11% in 2027 and slipping by 1% in 2028.
The sector has been hit by cost pressure, weaker margins and uncertainty affecting travel and hospitality investment.
Glenigan said a recovering economy and lower business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure could help operators bring forward delayed schemes.
For scaffolding and access contractors, the forecast points to a market that may remain uneven through the rest of 2026, before stronger tender pipelines begin to appear in 2027.
Midland Scaffolding Services has helped deliver an unusual event project after building a 270 sq m scaffold projection screen for Arc Project’s 24-hour treadmill race in north London.
The structure formed part of Arc Project 4, known as The Treadmill Factory, which saw 50 teams compete on manual treadmills inside a former World War Two tank factory.
The event, staged on Saturday 30 May, brought together running, music, lighting and projection inside the industrial venue.
For MSS, the brief was to create the main projection screen at the rear of the event space.
30 metres wide
The scaffold screen measured 30 metres wide and 9 metres high.
MSS said it believes the structure could be one of the largest projection screens built using scaffolding and monarflex, although that claim has not been independently verified.
The project was structurally calculated by Chris at Apex Scaffold Design and designed by MSS contracts director Ben Ekins.
A 6-strong MSS team erected the structure in a single day using Cuplock system scaffold, complete with a Cuplock staircase.
Superclad Monarflex was then cut to the frame, pulled tight and finished smooth to give the projection team a clean surface for video mapping.
The screen had to be ready quickly so the lighting and projection teams could begin setting up the visual content for the event.
Factory race
Arc Project 4 was a 24-hour indoor treadmill relay, with runners competing from 10 am on Saturday until 10 am on Sunday.
The format saw teams of 4 rotate across the event, with each team using a manual treadmill and aiming to cover the greatest distance over the 24-hour period.
The race environment changed throughout the event, with lighting, darkness, heat, sound and DJ sets used to create a demanding setting for the runners.
The scaffold screen became a major part of that environment, carrying projected imagery throughout the race and turning the factory wall into a visual backdrop for the event.
Ben Ekins also took part in the race the morning after overseeing the scaffold design, joining the runners on one of the treadmills.
Different use for scaffolding
MSS said the project showed how scaffolding skills can be used beyond conventional construction work.
The company said event structures, creative installations and temporary production spaces all need the same planning, speed and attention to detail seen on building sites.
In a statement, MSS said: “When James, Sonni and Hamish needed someone to help make their vision structurally possible, we wanted to deliver.
“Scaffolding is structure, possibility and problem solving. It can be the backbone behind experiences people talk about long after the event has finished.”
The company added that the AP4 project was “something different” for the team and showed how temporary scaffold structures can support large-scale creative events as well as construction projects.
