UK Scaffolding Company Seal Biggest Ever Scaffolding Contract

Jo King
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UK Scaffolding Company Seal Biggest Ever Scaffolding Contract

Ground Breaking Scaffolding Contract Awarded To UK Company

A UK scaffolding company is celebrating following the award of a huge £500 million contract for work on the new proposed wall between the United States and Mexico. It’s thought President Trump targeted M R Scaffolding Services of London both because of their worldwide reputation for quality and safety, and a recommendation from British Prime Minister Theresa May.

M R Scaffolding Services seals biggest ever scaffolding contract
An Artist’s impression of the proposed scaffolding

Apart from boosting ‘the special relationship’, the contract will also create extra jobs for a large number of currently unemployed scaffolders in the industry.

The fact M R continually use the latest cutting edge technological developments to enhance safety, quality and efficiency was a key player in the contract offer. Working to the latest industry standards, they are innovators in the world of scaffolding. And now they’ve been rewarded with a ground breaking contract.

Established by John and Michael Trayfoot, today the business is run by sons John Jnr as Managing Director and Matthew alongside Frank Pickford as Contracts Director. He said: 

M R Scaffolding Services MD John Trayfoot

“The call came out of the blue, but we are naturally proud and delighted to have been offered such a contract by our friends and allies. Our team are looking forward to working closely with our American counterparts in order to help construct the wall as quickly and efficiently as possible. In the light of Brexit, this is great news for UK trade. We are a well-established family run business that has been providing access solutions to the construction industry  since 1974. It’s all just starting to sink in, but we can’t wait to get started.”

Managing Director John Trayfoot is due to fly out to America on Monday 3 April to meet with President Trump to sign the groundbreaking contract.

The success of the project thought to take two years, could open up the way for future trade agreements between both countries. Following the signing of the executive order President Trump tweeted: “Britain, a longtime US ally, is very special! Why not get them involved?”

US President Donald Trump

More than 500 US companies have submitted bids for the construction work. Those making the final short-list will asked to build a 30-foot long prototype of the actual wall in San Diego.  This is where the second largest Border Patrol sector is located. US Customs and Border Protection will select the finalists, with the goal of awarding the contract in May and starting work in June.

White House officials have previously stated the wall, stretching 1,000 miles must be 30 feet high, and look imposing from the Mexican side and aesthetically beautiful from the US Side.

M R will have full responsibility for the construction’s scaffolding requirements. Many fervent Trump supporters were heard to chant ‘build the wall’, at several events during last years election campaign. Polls suggest however, only 37 percent of Americans are in favour of building it.

To conform with health and safety requirements, a series of doors will be placed at strategic points along the wall. The whole project is estimated to cost more than $10billion.

BillSave Doubling Up Its Workforce

Grahame Anderson
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BillSave Doubling Up Its Workforce

BillSave UK based in Leicester is set to double its scaffolding division following several recent contract wins.

The company’s scaffolding division carried a staff of 10 people last year. Now, thanks to impressive contracts from two of the UK’s top house builders, a further four employees have been added to their team in the field. Six more positions will also become available increasing the workforce, and adding strength to the firm’s office-based staff. This will see new, experienced scaffolders working on sites involving 200 and 300 plot developments across both the East and West Midlands. Both long term contracts have multiple phases attached, so the future is certainly looking bright for those involved. Derek Marsden, operations manager at BillSaveUK, said: “Our scaffolding division has more than 30 years’ experience. Historically our work focussed on a handful of long-standing clients, but following the launch of BillSaveUK 18 months ago, word has spread about our capabilities. And now, thanks to our new contract wins we’re extremely excited about recruiting for a larger, full-time workforce.”

CISRS Complete CPD Pilot Courses

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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CISRS Complete CPD Pilot Courses

CISRS report positive feedback after completing CPD Pilot Courses.

CISRS has run two fully-funded CPD refresher pilot courses at NCC Midlands in Birmingham during February and March. CISRS say, Both of the courses were delivered by lead Instructor Tony Barry which received very positive feedback from the course delegates. In a press release published this morning CISRS went on to report that, there was a wide range of age and experience amongst those attending the courses. One scaffolder had gained their card via “grandfather rights,” others who qualified over 20 years ago, and some who had completed their training only five years previously. The pilot courses were specifically designed to road test and fine-tune the course content. Tony Barry said: “I was a little uncertain as to how the course would go having both older more experienced Advanced Scaffolders mixed with younger scaffold card holders – but it actually worked well and created more discussion within the group. Other than the inspection module which required us to split the group into Basic and Advanced inspection (with another of our instructors supervising one of the groups), all other information passed on is relevant to both grades of cardholder.” Adding diversity of experience and opinion, Rob Nicholls (lead instructor at Safety and Access) and Neil Gray (lead instructor at LTC) both sat in on the first pilot in February – taking notes on the course from a delivery point of view, assessing content, analysing the length of some course areas and providing feedback on timings and other aspects of the CPD course content and application. After considering delegate feedback and comments along with the findings of Rob and Neil, the first course was very well received, with only a few tweaks needing to be made to Risk Assessment and Method Statements (RAMS), Manual Handling and Anchors/Ties sections. One of the delegates on the first pilot had initially asked if the course could have been completed in one day. However with the practical Scaffold Inspection and Mobile Aluminium Tower session and associated theory tests taking up around six hours alone, combined with the rest of the CPD/Refresher programme necessitated the full two days. The course covers a lot of ground with the pilot courses running from 8.30am to 4.30pm on both days. Following feedback from the first course, all relevant changes were implemented prior to the second course taking place – which was again very well received. All delegates were required to complete a course evaluation form which asked them to rate all aspects of the course including centre facilities, course content course materials, instructors etc. Other than one delegate rating the catering ‘Average’ all other aspects of the course were rated as ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good.’ Dave Mosley, CISRS Scheme Manager, and CISRS representative, Bob Whincap attended the second CPD course, to monitor the course in action. Mr. Mosley said: “The pilot schemes have proved to be a huge success and have given us the opportunity to fine tune the two-day course content before the July roll-out. “I asked the delegates if they felt that the course was beneficial and the group were very positive. Some had initially been sceptical due to comments made on social media and the internet about costs, duration and content. But having attended, they felt it was worthwhile and that they had been reminded of information they’d forgotten since they last attended a centre, whilst also being brought up to date on current industry guidance. They also enjoyed the opportunity to mix with other scaffolders from different companies”    Eligible delegates who took part in the pilot courses will receive their updated CISRS card with CPD, Inspection and Aluminium Tower module endorsements free of charge.  A pilot course for CISRS approved Instructors will take place at NCC Midlands on 24/25th April. CISRS are considering offering a few more funded pilot courses in May, to enable a final phase of fine tuning prior to the scheme going live 1st July, after which time all CISRS Scaffolder and Advanced cards can only be renewed by completing the CISRS two-day Scaffolder Refresher Course.

Scaffold Designs Come to Life With Virtual Reality

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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Scaffold Designs Come to Life With Virtual Reality

Scaffolding Software firm raises the bar with the launch of a virtual reality app

Ely, Cambridgeshire UK-based Avontus Software recently launched its new virtual reality app, Scaffold VR, which works in conjunction with its Scaffold Designer software. Scaffold VR provides a walk-through of Scaffold Designer-created designs, and it enables users to view and share these designs in 3D virtual environment. Co-workers and customers can use the app to view drawings on their office workstations as well as on their mobile devices in the field, providing an interactive experience that clearly demonstrates what a user is offering customers and that their requirements are met; while showing the scaffolders the scaffold they will build. Avontus’ Scaffold Designer enables users to create and print traditional 2D and 3D engineered drawings. With the free app, anyone with a Windows desktop, a smartphone or a tablet can view and rotate those 3D scaffold drawings. But with a smartphone and the Scaffold VR Cardboard Viewer, they can walk through and virtually experience the scaffolding from afar and up close in fine detail. This provides Scaffold VR users with the opportunity to catch mistakes before they become actual reality, which helps to ensure a scaffold is designed correctly and to avoid costly rework from delays and cost overruns. Once a bid is won and users are ready to finalize the scaffolding, they can virtually travel through the structure and identify potential hazards (such as obstructions), which helps them create a safe work plan. Users can thoroughly familiarize crews with the project, so that they can safely hit the ground running. Then, at the job site, crews can access 2D and 3D drawings on any mobile device, or inspect the job virtually through a smartphone and a VR viewer. Scaffold VR is already developing a following. “VR is a great application. I’m loving the VR,” tweeted Mark Parkin of Tiger Scaffolding in Whitby. Anyone using an iPhone or Android smartphone or tablet, or a Windows desktop can try Scaffold VR for free, just search for “Scaffold VR” in your app store, download and install it. The app comes with sample drawings that provide the 3D experience. However, the combination of Scaffold VR, a smartphone and the Scaffold VR Cardboard Viewer, enables an immersive virtual reality experience that creates a lasting impression. Along with the release of Scaffold VR, Avontus offers low-cost, custom cardboards with QR codes that point directly to the app on the Google Play and Apple App stores. Users can buy the cardboards through Amazon and ship directly to their customers who can then easily experience their scaffolds in virtual reality. Virtual reality adds a richer experience to scaffold designs and helps companies work more efficiently. Scaffold VR can change the way projects are planned, presented, and built.

Tufcoat launch world-first digitally printed shrink wrap for scaffolding projects.

Grahame Anderson
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Tufcoat launch world-first digitally printed shrink wrap for scaffolding projects.

A leading Plymouth supplier of shrink-wrap sheeting has completed a world first project. Using their latest product to market, Tufcoat Wraphix™ Printed Shrink-wrap, Tufcoat has broken new ground.

In combining digital printing with 300µm flame retardent scaffold shrink-wrap. Now, for the first time, contractors and subcontractors can have images and logos printed directly on to projects, whilst still benefiting from both weather protection and encapsulation.

The company worked with Westward Housing and JEM Scaffolding to weatherproof Plymouth House, ensuring 70 vulnerable people can remain in residence whilst the £1m refurbishment takes place. Due to excellent visibility both contractors and client saw this as the perfect opportunity to use the Printed Shrink-wrap promoting all of the various companies involved. The result was greater brand awareness, something shrink-wrap hasn’t been able to  achieve previously. Following the success of the project, Carlo Cinque of Westward Housing Group said: “The end result was actually better than we had imagined. We’ve had major contractors come to us since and ask about who supplied us with the printed wrap”.

The product  allows its customers  regular practicality and function,  but it’s also created using low-density polyethylene,  less harmful for the environment than PVC or mesh wrapping. By choosing Wraphix™, projects can be protected against adverse weather, provide environmental containment and display any marketing message on a single sheet.

Richard Barnes, Operations Director of Jem Scaffolding explained “I think the actual two weeks  they had to install was reduced down to about six days. So we put them under a great deal of pressure with a product that they hadn’t used regularly, and they really stole the show with what they produced in the end. We’ve had lots of comments from the media and through social media, so it’s worked well for us.”

Tufcoat’s innovative new product has also been installed on the prestigious Grosvenor House, a JW Marriott hotel in London. Marking a significant creative challenge from the previous project, their task was to recreate a photo-realistic representation of the building’s façade, using the same prime printed 300µm flame retardant shrink-wrap.

The firm encapsulated the 500 square metre scaffolding and hoist, and combined the building design used on the printed wrap with typical shrink-wrap. Because of this, Tufcoat were able to considerately minimise the impact of the works during renovations to some of the hotel’s 496 rooms and suites. A high level of the aesthetics was retained as a consequence. And of course, there was the added benefit of weather protection for the workforce in line with the clients brief.

Double win for GKR Scaffolding at CN Specialist Awards

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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Double win for GKR Scaffolding at CN Specialist Awards

GKR Scaffolding have been awarded the Construction News Access and Scaffolding Specialist of the year award for the second year running AND a Training Excellence award.

The London based firm that employs over 300 people, GKR Scaffolding Ltd last night (22 March) collected the awards at the glitzy Construction News (CN) Specialist Awards, held at the London’s Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane. In a fiercely contested category, GKR stood out from the competition with their vision to be the UK’s leading scaffolding firm, providing solutions at every stage of a project while also being seen as an exceptional employer providing a great place to work. CN reports that the past 12 months have been an outstanding period for the company, during which it has engaged in several high-profile projects. These include Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium in north London, on which GKR provided one of the largest scaffold staircases in Europe. Other stand out projects mentioned were a highly sensitive job at the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. GKR erected an accessible scaffold around the preserved vessel that had to protect it while demolition works were undertaken for a viewing gallery. Another GKR project mentioned that is currently under way at Wimbledon for the All England Lawn Tennis Club, which is overseeing extensive work to No 1 Court to deliver extra seating and a retractable roof. According to the Construction News judges, GKR also stood out in the areas of Health and Safety with its occupational health programme, the business is implementing safety-critical medicals for all operatives. These medicals are carried out in a specially adapted van by occupational health service providers on visits to the firm’s sites. GKR Scaffolding was also awarded with the Training Excellence accolade for it’s in-house training academy. The GKR Academy opened in 2014 – believed to be a first in the scaffolding sector – and last year saw its first graduation evening for trained supervisors. Its graduates have achieved qualifications in leadership and team skills accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management, while 12 new supervisors have already begun the first module for year two of Delivering Leadership and Management Skills. CN say that “GKR’s comprehensive set of achievements left judges in no doubt that the firm stood out as the outstanding access and scaffolding specialist in the market.”

SHS Integrated Services Ceases Trading

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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SHS Integrated Services Ceases Trading

Struggling SHS Group calls in the administrators after directors decide to cease trading with immediate effect.

According to an email that we have seen, which was sent to SHS employees announcing the decision last night (20 March), SHS Integrated Services Group has been facing financial difficulties for a while, mainly attributed to poorly performing contracts within its Cladding and Insulation divisions. In an attempt to save the business The Group had recently implemented measures to more accurately price contracts and to control site labour costs but the email went on to say, these measures would have taken time to implement and improve the performance of the business significantly. The Group’s management had also been exploring a number of options in order to secure the future of the Companies either via a re-finance or a sale of the business. However, these attempts had ultimately been unsuccessful. The directors have now taken the decision to cease trading with immediate effect. SHS anticipate that Administrators will be appointed over the group today, 21 March 2017 The Barry Vale of Glamorgan based SHS employs between 200 – 500 people it’s core services included Scaffold Access and Egress, Ventilation Installation, Industrial and HVAC Insulation together with a number of other additional capabilities such as Surface Protection and Coatings, Rope Access and Rescue Services. We have reached out to SHS for comment, but no further information has been received as yet.  

New MAX One-piece Plastic Brickguard in Production

Daniel Norton
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New MAX One-piece Plastic Brickguard in Production

Max Scaffold Products (MAX SP) adds a new wider One-piece Plastic Brickguard to its product line after production gets the green light.

The Oxfordshire based company behind the successfully popular MAX One-piece Plastic Brickguard is in the production phase of creating a new brick guard. The initial design will remain the same in principle to the original, however the new design will benefit from a wider dimension (1100mm). The new brickguard also features a traditional speedier hook type design, that works with tube and fitting and system scaffolding products like Haki.

A New Plastic Brickguard Available

According to MAX SP, The All New One-piece Plastic Brickguard is expected to be available from July this year.

The original MAX One-piece Brickguard was launched back in 2012, it was widely accepted within the industry as a revolutionary product, after it relieved the pain for many scaffolding firms from using the metal variant, which in short, was a total nightmare to install for scaffolders.

“The original brickguard will still be in production but this new brickguard will give the end user more choice when choosing their brickguard” says Peter Westlake of MAX Scaffold Products.

“The main difference between the two is the unique one-piece hook design which has a more traditional feel to it and being an ex-scaffolder I have to admit I like brickguard’s that just drop over the guardrail for speed.”

“All the other features are the same in principle if not in design. They stack vertically, the spacing domes provide stability, the toe board clip reduces the need for additional fixings and the hooks fit inside each other without tangling.” Peter added.

SMART Scaffolder launches an inspection app

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SMART Scaffolder launches an inspection app

Industry software company launches new mobile scaffold inspection app.

Dorset based software company, SMART Scaffolder has launched an app called SMART Inspector. The app which went live on the app store last week, is said to make scheduling, conducting and reporting on scaffold inspections simple and efficient, and can now be done on an Apple or Android phone or tablet. SMART Scaffolder Inspection app SMART Scaffolder say the SMART Inspector app enables the user to store all inspection records online which can be easily retrieved back at the office via a simple separate desktop console. This prevents the build up of unnecessary inspection paper copies and retyping out onto an office computer. A spokesperson for SMART Scaffolder said: “Carrying out an inspection couldn’t be simpler: just set up the site on the desktop console and then follow the steps on the app when you’re onsite. You can capture photos of any defects you find and you record the client’s signature on your phone.” “The desktop console makes it easy to bring up reports such as unsafe scaffolds, completed inspections, inspection history and, coming very soon, handover certificates and scaffolds on extra hire.” You can find out more about this new app and arrange a free trial by visiting SMART Scaffolder  

Scaffolder narrowly avoids jail after scaffold collapse

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Scaffolder narrowly avoids jail after scaffold collapse

A Wigan scaffolder has been sentenced after scaffolding collapsed at a retail site in Loggerheads, Staffordshire

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard how Mr Kinsley a scaffolder had been subcontracted to erect a scaffold, with debris netting attached along its full length, for roofing work on a Co-Op retail store. Mr Kinsley erected the scaffold with two of his employees, on 19 November 2015 but did not design the scaffold correctly or ensure it was tied to the building in any way. On 5 December 2015 the scaffold collapsed into a car park at the side of the store. Scaffolder, Scaffolding Collapse A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Mr Kinsley failed to properly design or erect the scaffold in a safe and appropriate manner and as a result put members of the public and workers at risk. Mark Kinsley of Little Lane, Pemberton, Wigan pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. He was fined £1400 and sentenced to 16 weeks in custody, suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay costs of £1648. Speaking after the hearing HSE inspector Katherine Blunt said: “This was a very serious incident and it is fortunate nobody was injured as a result of it. “The case highlights the importance of following industry guidance and in order to design and erect scaffolding in a safe manner, which does not raise risk to members of the public and workers using the scaffold.”
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