Following on from the introduction of the new User Guide and Component Capacity Manual for their revolutionary PLETTAC METRIX® System Scaffold, TRAD Hire & Sales are proud to announce the launch of the new User Guide for their ALTRIX® Temporary Roof System.
ALTRIX® is an all-aluminium modular temporary roofing and weather protection system, which utilises the slide sheet keder model. Using the proven sliding button system to retain the sheet tracking, this allows the roof sheets to be installed in complete safety from the supporting structure below.
Although ALTRIX® is designed to work particularly efficiently with PLETTAC METRIX® System Scaffold, it is not limited to this application. ALTRIX® can be used in conjunction with almost any scaffold type – systems or traditional tube & fittings.
ALTRIX® uses a heavy-duty 790mm deep structural beam ideal for demanding applications. The chords and vertical posts of the beams are manufactured from 48.3mm diameter alloy tube and, as they do not require special fittings, the beams are suitable for use in many normal scaffold applications, such as bridge sections.
ALTRIX® is more than just a roof, the 3.0m, 2.5m, 2.0m and 1.5m bay sizes, along with 2.0m brace frame centres, means that PLETTAC METRIX® steel decking can integrate seamlessly within an ALTRIX® structure.
This setup is ideal for creating large flushed deck birdcages and gantries while also allowing for temporary walkways to be created from eaves to ridge, aiding the safe erection and dismantling processes of a roof structure.
ALTRIX® is a complete solution, designed for practical application. Not only is ALTRIX® a temporary roof used by scaffolders, it is a scaffolders’ temporary roof.
ALTRIX® Temporary Roof System is exclusive to TRAD Hire & Sales, and is offered on both a Hire and Sale basis. They offer an unrivalled commitment to service, including extensive User Guides, Nationwide Training, Engineering and Design Support, Estimating Software, and a full on-site support service – their UK-wide network of depots have the resources and capabilities to meet every demand.
A new dynamic partnership between Waltham Forest Council and Dudley College of Technology will replace the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in National Construction College.
This exciting Leyton combination also sees scaffolding training provider Simian teaming up with both the Dudley establishment and the council, to meet the demands of traditional trades. It will, of course, provide the high-quality tuition required to meet the needs of an evolving industry.
The Council will lead on the digitisation of the Construction sector, as Dudley College delivers virtual reality and modern methods of construction. As the UK’s largest private provider of world-class training, Simian will ensure the East London centre continues to assist the industry to fill crucial skills gaps in the scaffolding sector. At the same time, it will innovatively develop tailor-made solutions for the industry as a whole.
Dudley College of Technology is one of 20 Outstanding FE Colleges in the UK, considered a national leader of training in modern methods of construction delivery. They are one of 16 institutions nationwide to be selected by the Department of Education, to develop a stage two proposal to create one of their flagship Institutes of Technology with a construction focus.
Waltham Forest is one of the NCC training sites, leased by CITB from the Council, to run construction skills training courses in the area. As part of CITB’s programme of reform, Vision 2020, CITB gave notice on the lease to end its contract and exit the site from July 2018. This was delivered on the understanding both parties would work together on the shared goal to find a new tenant-centre manager, to continue offering high-quality construction skills training.
Simon Hughes, Simian’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in the delivery of specialist scaffolding training in partnership with Dudley College, an organisation held in very high regard in the education world. It is our intention to place significant emphasis on the delivery of Scaffolding Apprenticeships at the Waltham Forest site, and to expand the existing training portfolio to include all CISRS scaffolding courses. We are confident this will play a significant part in addressing the construction industry skills shortage and meeting the Mayor of London’s objectives.”
Cllr Simon Miller, Waltham Forest’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and High Streets added: “We were delighted to welcome Dudley College of Technology to Waltham Forest. They presented an exciting programme of activity and transformation to current Centre activity and demonstrated a history of high-quality and innovative training delivery.
“As CITB withdraw from the National Construction Centre model it presents all parties to use this opportunity to create best practice and ensure we continue offering high-quality construction skills training that benefits not just our residents and the local economy, but the industry as a whole.
“It is our ambition for the newly launched Centre to deliver a wide range of training, which provides a complete overview of the Built Environment and Construction process and considers the changing future of work.
“With demand for quality homes across the borough and London increasing, our partnership with Dudley College will deliver a programme of training that tackles current skills shortages in the borough and across London, while providing insight and qualifications on the latest methods of delivery.”
The Centre’s proposed programme of activity aligns with the Mayor’s agenda, in identifying the need for a programme of activity which closes the gap between their ambitious housing targets, and the need for more skilled construction workers in London. The London Mayor’s Construction Academy (MCA) Scheme, aims to fulfill the Mayor’s pledge.
The Council, in partnership with Transport for London and a number of supporting partners, has submitted a bid to the GLA for Hub status to act as a coordinating function for the construction industry in the capital. This will strengthen the relationships, and improve coordination, between construction skills training providers and construction sector employers across the city.
Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, explained: “This new partnership will benefit learners from across East London. By promoting the use of virtual reality training courses, digital technology and modern methods of construction, the new centre will help realise the Mayor’s ambition to equip Londoners with the up-to-date skills employers need, and create the workforce capable of delivering more homes in the future.”
The Centre Management partnership already comes with MCA Kitemark status, enabling the Council and Dudley College of Technology to work collaboratively with the GLA on their construction training agenda.
Graham McPhail, CITB Head of Education & Training, summed up the plans by saying: “CITB is committed to supporting a robust, high-quality skills and training market.
“By stepping away from direct delivery, we remove any conflict of interest. This enables us to focus on building the right relationships with providers to secure the kind of provision British construction needs.”
The partnership will commence after the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) exit the Centre in January 2019.
Rose Scaffolding of Oldham has received a £250K loan in connection with the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to help further boost the North West economy.
As a young company trading since September, the financial boost has come from NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, managed by FW Capital and linked to the scheme charged with bolstering business and infrastructure in the region.
The firm was set up by brothers James and Charles Brierley and Chris Howson in April last year to provide scaffolding for major construction projects in the area. In a few short months, the enterprise has contracts amounting to £3m boasting well-known names including Redrow, Bellway Homes and McCarthy and Stone.
The money will be utilised to invest in cutting-edge kit while helping to create a number of new jobs including apprenticeships.
Director James Brierley said: “Despite our success, there was no real appetite from high street banks to provide investment. James Scott Accountants made the initial introduction to Paul Mak of Pomegranate Commercial Finance, who in turn referred the deal to Adam Husband of FW Capital.
“The funding has been used to buy high-quality materials from our German suppliers and bring in new staff including apprentices. The construction industry has an aging workforce and we want to address this by investing in training through quality apprenticeships to create opportunities for young people.
“We have 25 full time and aim to have 40 by the end of next year including around six more apprentices.
“In our plan, we’d forecasted to double our turnover but we are on target to treble it.”
There’s little doubt the sizeable loan is a confident and adventurous move brought about by both the changing needs of the industry and the plans of an impressive new enterprise. “A key factor in our decision was the strength of the management team who had invested a lot of their own cash initially to get the business off the ground, demonstrating commitment and belief in what they were doing,” added FW Capital investment executive Adam Husband.
Their strong track record in the sector was also crucial, having worked for a major scaffolding business prior to starting Rose Scaffolding. They have secured a huge amount of business in a short space of time and are working with key players in the construction industry. Rose Scaffolding is a really fantastic business and one that we are delighted to have supported.”
As a new company with an experienced team. Rose System Scaffolding has invested heavily in Layher All-Round scaffolding and is working closely with key stakeholders including Strikesoft, Simian Risk and Layher to provide a first class service at competitive rates.
Sue Barnard, Senior Manager at British Business Bank, said: “The North West continues to be a fast-growing market for construction. Rose Scaffolding is a relatively young company but it has managed to expand its client base and have influence over a number of major projects in the region.
“The investment will positively impact the firm’s future growth ambitions, in the form of new specialised equipment, the creation of skilled jobs and vocational training for school leavers. It is these individual components that will boost the North West’s economic prosperity in the future and we look forward to seeing their development.
Workers union ‘UNITE’ are demanding employers ensure their staff have toilet dignity in the workplace. It may seem a basic right to many, but thousands of workers from a range of industries are still not being provided with decent toilet facilities or provision in the 21st century. Adding to this is the fact employer restrictions are also making life a misery for people working long shifts.
Horrific Examples
Incredibly the worst examples include bank workers required to urinate in a bucket, no female toilets being provided on construction sites and bus drivers not being allowed a break for more than five hours at a time. In some cases, women on their period are being denied access to facilities. With this in mind back in September, the union launched a period dignity campaign, now being extended to sectors such as construction and passenger transport where there are additional challenges. Lorry drivers, warehouse staff and agricultural workers are all being affected.
One bank worker with serious health issues was informed their toilet was in a nearby shop which they were unable to reach in time. A female construction worker reported the women’s toilets were locked on her construction site and she had to ask male colleagues for the key, only to discover it was being used for storage. Another employee was told toilet breaks do not meet company “efficiencies” and were referred to occupational health. They were then informed toilet breaks should be taken during allotted lunch breaks. Fuel tank drivers who have to remain within sight of their vehicles at all times, are forced to urinate in bushes as no toilets are provided where they make deliveries. On many construction sites there are no female toilets – just unisex ones usually left in a disgusting condition.
Serious Health Implications
As was highlighted on the BBC’s Jeremy Vine Show, having to continually hold on to use a toilet has wide-ranging health implications including urinary tract infections, damage to the bladder and the bowel together with a build-up of toxins in the body.
The Law
The fact is, employers have a clear duty to provide decent toilets and washing facilities as part of the Welfare (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, with separate regulations applying to the construction industry. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) administers these regulations, and while it has the power to take legal action this rarely occurs.
Union Reaction
“It is simply disgraceful in 2018 tens of thousands of UK workers are denied toilet dignity at work”, said Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail. “The examples that Unite has revealed are simply staggering and it is clearly deeply humiliating for the workers who are being denied toilet dignity.
“Employers have got absolutely no excuse for ensuring toilet dignity and if they fail to do so they should be prosecuted by the HSE.
“Unite will not be passive on this issue, if workers are denied toilet dignity we will name and shame the guilty parties.”
World Toilet Day
World Toilet Day is about providing clean toilets in the developing world, UNITE believes however, a spotlight needs to be shone on the problems experienced by many UK workers on a daily basis.
Scaffolding and construction companies of all shapes and sizes need consistent support in terms of valuable business help. Running any business carries financial implications and problems from time to time. For starters, there’s the age old problem of ‘invoices’. And in many cases it would seem, ‘the cheque is still in the post’.
It’s a fact if everyone paid when they should life would be easier, but it often does not work like this in the real world. Those working in a finance department spend much of their time chasing up payment for a whole range of items and services. With this in mind, lots of companies employ financial experts to help with the problem.
The Expert Viewpoint
Paul Minaur, Managing Director of Minaur Corporate Finance Ltd, told us: “Many of our clients are frustrated by slow payments which tends to become a bigger problem the larger the client is. Immediately getting paid the majority of an invoice or application for payment, with a Factoring or Invoice Discounting facility, frees up cash flow, saves valuable time chasing payment and enables any additional work and investment to be made as soon as it is possible. It saves significant time and, in many cases, saves overdraft interest, bank charges and fees.”
Recent Research Is Key
Research points to the fact clients often do not pay within the agreed terms of contracts or have some contracts offering 30, 60 or even 90 days to pay. As an example, an online invoice factoring forum recently commented: “We have several invoice factoring clients who operate in the scaffolding industry. They have always found it difficult to find invoice factoring companies who want to lend to them because of the industry they operate in. However, as an industry scaffolders require cash flow finance because the house builders are slow to pay yet wages need paying weekly. On top of that funding for tubing is hard to come by and often has to be hired in at high rates or bought for cash which only compound the problem.”
State of The Art Software
There is of course, state of the art software also available for scaffolding companies created to maximize profit and reduce administration overheads. The idea is so you can get on with running your business. It can take customer’s details, send quotes, estimates and invoices to clients – and even take payments. Some software is actually aimed at scaffolding companies.
The Personal Approach
With the more personal approach in mind, there are many financial companies out there who can provide invoice factoring or invoice discounting. This process provides funding to grow with your turnover instead of extending any overdraft you have. It allows you to unlock the capital trapped in unpaid invoices, freeing up monies for business expansion or for servicing debt repayments. It can help eliminate credit control totally and help your business to focus on what it does best. An invoice factoring facility can release up to 90 percent against the face value of outstanding invoices. To find the most appropriate Factoring provider from household names to private niche lenders, contact MCF, as help could be closer than you might think.
Specialist Independent Brokerage
Minaur Corporate Finance Ltd, MCF, have provided all manner of Scaffolding and Construction companies with a range of different finance facilities to support their businesses since 1999, and have won several awards from Funders for the services they provide.
“Clients approach us more and more, very frustrated by having used larger Brokerages or specific Funders,” added Paul, “They may not have given the full range of options due to limited products or lack of knowledge of the Scaffolding Market. We’d be very happy to talk to anyone about their specific requirements.”
Moving Forward Positively
For some scaffolding firms the invoicing problem is minimal, but for others, it can have a serious effect on the overall success of the business. It may be worth having a serious re-evaluation of your current system. In the fast-moving 21st century, any help scaffolding companies can get can be worth it’s weight in gold.
The message to all scaffolding companies is clear – Whether you are just starting out or a long-established organisation, make sure you have looked at all the options and carried out lots of research before committing.
Paul can be contacted at: [email protected]
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation have produced six new product guidance documents. This valuable go-to information has been compiled to help contractors ensure the equipment they source is up to current standards.
The Detail
Each PG note details purchasing best practice, so potential customers can match outlining standards in terms of both manufacturing and testing, to the products they want to purchase. This includes what to look for, what relevant information they should request, and what a test certificate looks like.
The PG notes are intended to be used in tandem with the NASC’s Code of Practice (CoP) compliant product list, which corresponds to the six PG product categories.
All products on this list have been UKAS (The United Kingdom Accreditation Service) accredited independent laboratory tested, over and above the testing and third-party approval standards of the manufacturer and supplier.
Important Guidance
“Currently, as matters stand, there is no authority or organisation in the UK that licences or approves scaffolding and access equipment, said NASC Managing Director, Robert James.
“And although, for example, system scaffolding, couplers and scaffold tube do have their own set of BS EN standards to which they should be manufactured, there is no independent UK third party approval scheme in place to audit or verify against and check that such products are being correctly manufactured and comply with these standards.
“Clearly this is not an ideal situation in an industry operating at height. It’s in everyone’s interests the products we purchase and use daily, fall under some form of independent external scrutiny and third-party minimum standards.
An Impressive Range
These trending documents are numbered PG1:18 to PG6:18, and cover a range of product categories including high tensile tube, timber boards, couplers, aluminum beams and system scaffolds. All technical specifications are included.
Robin added: “Through the publication of the new PG notes, contractors can ensure the products they hire or buy are safe and compliant to BS EN standards. This can either by achieved by selecting equipment on the NASC’s COP compliant product list, which includes products that have successfully passed rigorous independent testing, or by carrying out your own checks on products not on the list using the guidance and tips included in the PG documents.”
Future Expansion
The NASC CoP compliant product list will be expanded as required. PST units are due to be added in January 2019, and a corresponding PG note will follow shortly after. Providing such important literature will help continue to keep safety standards and values at the highest levels within the industry, as well as offering complete peace of mind for purchasers. It seems certain the guidelines will be welcomed within the scaffolding industry.
Securing Copies
Hard copies can be purchased via the NASC online shop – For more information please contact Simon Robinson, NASC Marketing Manager, via email at [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7822 7400
A scaffolding company has been sentenced for safety breaches after a worker was crushed by a forklift truck.
Leeds Magistrates Court heard how in October 2016, a Whiterose Scaffolding (Leeds) Ltd operative was using a forklift truck in the yard when the vehicle overturned, trapping him underneath it for some time.
The worker sustained serious life changing internal injuries. He now lives with constant chronic pain and has severe mobility issues.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the company had failed to provide training to their employees on the safe operations of forklift trucks, which would have included the importance of wearing seatbelts.
The company also failed to provide adequate supervision and monitoring of the forklift truck operators to ensure they were only operated by trained drivers and that safe driving techniques were followed.
Whiterose Scaffolding (Leeds) Ltd of Holbeck Lane, Leeds pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £54,270 and ordered to pay £8000 in costs.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Andrea Jones commented: “The employee’s injuries were life changing and could have been fatal. The impact has been devastating on him and his family. Other employees were put at risk as a result of the company allowing fork lift trucks to be used without the appropriate training and monitoring of drivers.
“Those in control of work have a responsibility to devise safe methods of working and to provide the necessary information, instruction and training to their workers in the safe system of working”.
The innovative Avontus software is now building on advanced technology to create a number of exceptional features and improvements.
There’s little doubt having a competitive edge in the scaffolding industry can be good for business. In fact, it can benefit everyone in terms of safety and efficiency. What’s more, it keeps everyone else on their toes as they search for new ways to deliver the latest technical innovations and practical, easy-to-use solutions to both companies and the public alike, as our digital age gathers pace.
In the latest release of Scaffold Designer and the companion Scaffold Viewer app, it’s possible to bring your vision into the real world with Augmented Reality (AR). Review your drawing with customers and crews as it rises from the page in full 3D – and with a final check at the job-site at actual scale, you can ensure your scaffold meets the customer’s needs before unloading the first base jack.
Avontus Vice President of Operations, Andrew Smith told us: “One of the biggest bottlenecks in making sure a job is done right the first time is ensuring designs are complete and accurate. Whether you’re a scaffold designer, salesperson, builder or customer, reviewing a scaffold in augmented reality, virtual reality, and interactive 3D is now possible with Scaffold Viewer. Easily upload your scaffold drawings from Scaffold Designer to Scaffold Viewer Cloud and review for free on Windows Desktop, iOS, Android, and Microsoft HoloLens.
“As always, customer feedback drives us to improve our products and make sure they work for everyone. That’s why in addition to AR Scaffold Designer now offers complete control of scaffolds for circular tanks. With our simple, flexible, and effective work-flow clients can take key requirements and automatically generate a circular scaffold to exact specifications.
“Also, structural components such as Slabs and Beams can now be identified and detailed, allowing complex work environments to be modeled with ease. Whether hanging a scaffold from a pipe rack or under a bridge, you can clearly communicate the proposed scaffold to your customers and crews, without needing an entire drawing package from an engineer.”
This all means anyone can visualise scaffold projects within minutes of hitting the screen. In essence, it’s preparing for any job the easy way. All you need do is import a plan, then drag and drop scaffolds wherever you want them. Scaffold Designer automatically creates a 3D model and a list of materials. From here all you have to do is build it.
The company maintains you don’t have to be a whiz kid or technically brilliant to use this cutting-edge software. And with their easy to understand guidance, it’s amazing what can be achieved in a short space of time. Taking your scaffolding drawings to new heights has never been easier.
The clear message from Avontus is why not Bring your vision into the real world with the newest update to Scaffold Designer? Raising the bar with the latest technology is set to revolutionise the whole industry.
For more information visit www.avontus.co.uk/scaffold-viewer
The annual CISRS Instructors Conference took place this week at NCC’s training facility in Bircham Newton, Norfolk.
More than 40 instructors from CISRS centres across the UK attended the one-day event. The latest scaffolder training news and updates were shared and discussed.
The conference was chaired by David Mosley, CISRS Scheme Manager, who gave a presentation covering updates to Pt1, Pt2 and Advanced courses, CPD and systems scaffolding.
According to a CISRS press release, Tony Barry of NCC Midlands and Access and Scaffolding Industry Training Organisation (ASITO) committee member also delivered an update on Trailblazer, the standard, end point assessment and external qualification assessment.
Martin Coyd of Mace Group and Rev. Kevin Fear from CITB co-presented a session on Building Mental Health which included a tool box talk that can now be delivered by the instructors, the press release said.
Martin, Operations Director – Health, Safety & Wellbeing, said: “Kevin and I were grateful for the opportunity to speak at the conference and given the platform to discuss the current mental health crisis and how the whole industry can work together with the Building Mental Health Framework to bring about change.
“If we all pull in the same direction, we can reach the everybody who works in construction and offer simple solutions and signpost people to existing sources of support. Together, we can make a real change.”
The conference also featured a breakout session where instructors provided their view on a range of topics including CISRS instructor qualification criteria, training centre capacity and training facility criteria.
Thomas Winters, Director at All Access Training, said: “As a new CISRS provider, this was my first Instructor conference and I really enjoyed it. It was good to get a chance to meet up with other providers for a meal and a few drinks the night before.
“The conference gave us the opportunity to put over our opinions directly to CISRS on what we think works and what we feel could be improved.”
Scaffolding software providers SMART Scaffolder have launched its 2019 SMART Estimator update.
SMART Scaffolder are constantly adding new functionality to their design, estimating and TG20:13 compliance software SMART Estimator.
Having asked their customers what they would most like developed, the new 2019 release now provides for estimating chimney stacks for the first time! Easily created as a realistic looking 3D model, the estimates produce accurate prices for labour and materials in an automatic quote together with professional-looking drawings, material lists and weights.
Commenting on the update Ian Chambers, Sales and Marketing Director at SMART Scaffolder, said: “we always listen to what our customers tell us and this year’s release really focuses on those most requested features. What’s really exciting is that we have even more requested new features that will appear over the next few months so that we are always delivering what scaffolders need most”.
The software firm says there are plenty of other improvements in the 2019 release, including the ability to import and estimate from site plans & Google satellite images, new pricing options, greater design flexibility and improved speed & usability.
According to the firm, when combined with the existing powerful functionality, the new features make SMART Estimator the most comprehensive estimating software scaffolders can buy.
To see more details, visit the SMART Scaffolder website.
Following on from the introduction of the new User Guide and Component Capacity Manual for their revolutionary PLETTAC METRIX® System Scaffold, TRAD Hire & Sales are proud to announce the launch of the new User Guide for their ALTRIX® Temporary Roof System.
ALTRIX® is an all-aluminium modular temporary roofing and weather protection system, which utilises the slide sheet keder model. Using the proven sliding button system to retain the sheet tracking, this allows the roof sheets to be installed in complete safety from the supporting structure below.
Although ALTRIX® is designed to work particularly efficiently with PLETTAC METRIX® System Scaffold, it is not limited to this application. ALTRIX® can be used in conjunction with almost any scaffold type – systems or traditional tube & fittings.
ALTRIX® uses a heavy-duty 790mm deep structural beam ideal for demanding applications. The chords and vertical posts of the beams are manufactured from 48.3mm diameter alloy tube and, as they do not require special fittings, the beams are suitable for use in many normal scaffold applications, such as bridge sections.
ALTRIX® is more than just a roof, the 3.0m, 2.5m, 2.0m and 1.5m bay sizes, along with 2.0m brace frame centres, means that PLETTAC METRIX® steel decking can integrate seamlessly within an ALTRIX® structure.
This setup is ideal for creating large flushed deck birdcages and gantries while also allowing for temporary walkways to be created from eaves to ridge, aiding the safe erection and dismantling processes of a roof structure.
ALTRIX® is a complete solution, designed for practical application. Not only is ALTRIX® a temporary roof used by scaffolders, it is a scaffolders’ temporary roof.
ALTRIX® Temporary Roof System is exclusive to TRAD Hire & Sales, and is offered on both a Hire and Sale basis. They offer an unrivalled commitment to service, including extensive User Guides, Nationwide Training, Engineering and Design Support, Estimating Software, and a full on-site support service – their UK-wide network of depots have the resources and capabilities to meet every demand.
Simon Hughes, Simian’s Managing Director, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in the delivery of specialist scaffolding training in partnership with Dudley College, an organisation held in very high regard in the education world. It is our intention to place significant emphasis on the delivery of Scaffolding Apprenticeships at the Waltham Forest site, and to expand the existing training portfolio to include all CISRS scaffolding courses. We are confident this will play a significant part in addressing the construction industry skills shortage and meeting the Mayor of London’s objectives.”
Cllr Simon Miller, Waltham Forest’s Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and High Streets added: “We were delighted to welcome Dudley College of Technology to Waltham Forest. They presented an exciting programme of activity and transformation to current Centre activity and demonstrated a history of high-quality and innovative training delivery.
“As CITB withdraw from the National Construction Centre model it presents all parties to use this opportunity to create best practice and ensure we continue offering high-quality construction skills training that benefits not just our residents and the local economy, but the industry as a whole.
“It is our ambition for the newly launched Centre to deliver a wide range of training, which provides a complete overview of the Built Environment and Construction process and considers the changing future of work.
“With demand for quality homes across the borough and London increasing, our partnership with Dudley College will deliver a programme of training that tackles current skills shortages in the borough and across London, while providing insight and qualifications on the latest methods of delivery.”
The Centre’s proposed programme of activity aligns with the Mayor’s agenda, in identifying the need for a programme of activity which closes the gap between their ambitious housing targets, and the need for more skilled construction workers in London. The London 
Graham McPhail, CITB Head of Education & Training, summed up the plans by saying: “CITB is committed to supporting a robust, high-quality skills and training market.
“By stepping away from direct delivery, we remove any conflict of interest. This enables us to focus on building the right relationships with providers to secure the kind of provision British construction needs.”
The partnership will commence after the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) exit the Centre in January 2019. 
“As always, customer feedback drives us to improve our products and make sure they work for everyone. That’s why in addition to AR Scaffold Designer now offers complete control of scaffolds for circular tanks. With our simple, flexible, and effective work-flow clients can take key requirements and automatically generate a circular scaffold to exact specifications.
“Also, structural components such as Slabs and Beams can now be identified and detailed, allowing complex work environments to be modeled with ease. Whether hanging a scaffold from a pipe rack or under a bridge, you can clearly communicate the proposed scaffold to your customers and crews, without needing an entire drawing package from an engineer.”
This all means anyone can visualise scaffold projects within minutes of hitting the screen. In essence, it’s preparing for any job the easy way. All you need do is import a plan, then drag and drop scaffolds wherever you want them. Scaffold Designer automatically creates a 3D model and a list of materials. From here all you have to do is build it.
The company maintains you don’t have to be a whiz kid or technically brilliant to use this cutting-edge software. And with their easy to understand guidance, it’s amazing what can be achieved in a short space of time. Taking your scaffolding drawings to new heights has never been easier.
The clear message from Avontus is why not Bring your vision into the real world with the newest update to Scaffold Designer? Raising the bar with the latest technology is set to revolutionise the whole industry.
For more information visit 
The software firm says there are plenty of other improvements in the 2019 release, including the ability to import and estimate from site plans & Google satellite images, new pricing options, greater design flexibility and improved speed & usability.
According to the firm, when combined with the existing powerful functionality, the new features make SMART Estimator the most comprehensive estimating software scaffolders can buy.
To see more details, visit the 
