SGB Wins Major Scaffold Contract Worth £13M

Daniel Norton
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SGB Wins Major Scaffold Contract Worth £13M

SGB Scaffolding is back on the scene after the announcement of a huge £13 million four-year deal with Countryside.

The once legendary industry giant SGB has today revealed details to ScaffMag on this significant new deal. The scaffold contract sees SGB appointed as the sole scaffolding provider to Countryside’s North West division. SGB which is part of the Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services group will now provide scaffolding services to Countryside.

SGB say the negotiations were led by SGB’s Business Development Manager, Jason Milner. “We are extremely proud and excited to be partnering Countryside on these schemes,” he said. “We currently have 23 live sites in progress with more set to follow, and this will make a great contribution to our planned growth strategy over the next 4 years.”

The Countryside work will be focussed on SGB’s Manchester depot, where General Manager Alan Arthur added: “We have proved to Countryside the we have the size, strength and capabilities that few other scaffolding providers, if any, can match, but which are essential to fulfil a major contract such as this.”

SGB Scaffolding
Pictured are members of the SGB team who helped secure the new £13 million contract. From left, they are General Manager Alan Arthur, Operations Manager John Woodcock, Senior Quantity Surveyor Elaine Morgan, and Business Development Manager Jason Milner.

SGB has told us they already have a well-established relationship with Countryside. In 2014 the company was chosen from a list of five scaffolding suppliers to be Countryside’s sole provider, under a two-year deal, which saw the volume of business grow to an annual order value of £3.5m

“This new deal is a result of all the hard work and commitment from the team in Manchester, with particular praise going to our site teams led by Operations Manager John Woodcock,” adds Jason Milner. “John and his teams have delivered some 3,400 units of scaffolding over the last five years, successfully meeting challenging build programs in a very fast-paced environment.”

SGB is now working with Countryside to extend the contract model to other areas of the UK. It has already secured contracts covering two new sites developed by Countryside’s Midlands office, with more set to follow.

Scaffolding Of The Future From Lynch

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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Scaffolding Of The Future From Lynch

Certified by Lloyds British and trending in the industry

Lynch Scaffolding SystemAn innovative approach to construction has resulted in a new and unique revolutionary Lynch scaffolding system. Working in combination with tube and fitting scaffolds, it’s been designed to meet all access requirements, saving valuable time on the whole process.

Streamlined For Better Productivity

This streamlined system can speed up and ease erection on base settings and revert back whenever required. The designers claim productivity can be improved by a full 100 per cent, saving massively on labour costs.

Innovation In Action

As a tool package it’s completely unique because according to the designers, it’s the only type of scaffolding to facilitate the attachment of transoms to ledgers before the attachment to the upright standards. This enables bay sections of transoms and ledgers to be stored or transported while remaining attached. It all makes for much greater stability in creating safer working platforms. Tests have already proven this is incredibly quick scaffolding to either erect or dismantle, reducing work time by 30 per cent over traditional scaffolding systems Lynch say. Lynch Scaffolding System

Smarter Safer Working For The Industry

In terms of advantages, bay sections can be attached complete or as individual components, and there are no height restrictions offering much greater stability overall to working platforms. Uneven ground isn’t a problem, and much smaller scaffolds can actually be both lifted and moved comfortably and easily. What’s more, connections of ledgers are more securely attached by couplers, not internal or external joints. Lynch Scaffolding System

Stocking For Success

The new Lynch system doesn’t require adjustable jack plates on ground surfaces. Also, the designers maintain there’s no need for re-stocking of materials and no need to buy costly uprights – tube and fitting scaffolding users can purchase a few bay sections to improve towers, mobiles and base settings. In fact, it would seem the makers have thought of everything. This thoughtful Lynch System is yet another example of the scaffolding of the future it would seem. The system is certified by Lloyds British BS EN 12811 BS EN 74 For more information vist www.lynchscaffoldingsystem.co.uk

Bircham Newton to Close After Major CITB Shake-Up

Daniel Norton
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Bircham Newton to Close After Major CITB Shake-Up

‘An end of an era’, Bircham Newton Construction College is set to close by 2019.

The 50-year-old Bircham Newton base in Norfolk has been the must go-to training college for thousands of scaffolders over the years. Sources say the CITB management called a meeting and broke the news to staff yesterday. The news comes after the CITB training body laid out plans to streamline its business operations as part of a major shake-up was revealed. The CITB, which is funded by a levy on construction firms, will no longer carry out direct training. In future, the body will oversee training by external private sector training providers. A recent government review of the CITB found that although construction employers and trade associations voted for the industry levy to continue, there was heavy criticism of how it currently operates. Sarah Beale, Chief Executive of CITB, said: “Construction needs to modernise and CITB is no exception. We accept the challenges laid down by industry and Government and we will deliver a future-fit training body by adapting and updating our business model. “Some really tough decisions could be made under these proposals but I’m confident in our commitment to becoming a more representative, accountable and reliable ‘levy in, skills out’ organisation. We now have a clearly defined path, and we see a bright future for a modern, engaged CITB. We look forward to working with our industry and Government to build a better Britain.”  Job losses are rumored to be on the cards among the CITB’s 1,300 staff, but no official comment has been made available. CISRS Scheme Manager Dave Mosley said “It’s the end of an era and a great shame. CITB has played a huge role in establishing the CISRS scheme and Scaffolder training over the years. It’s a real blow to the scaffolding industry, although we are being assured by CITB/NCC that they will not pull out of training until there is alternative provision, I can only see this having a negative effect whilst the requirement for a skilled labour force continues to increase”.

Rilmac Scaffolding Highly Commended at Business Awards

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Rilmac Scaffolding Highly Commended at Business Awards

Lincolnshire based Rilmac Scaffolding have been Highly Commended in the Fastest Growing Business category at the annual Midlands Family Business Awards.

The announcement was made during the gala awards ceremony at the Derby Velodrome on Thursday 9th November. The Rilmac Group (comprising of Insulation, Asbestos Services, Fabrication and Scaffolding divisions) were also shortlisted to be a finalist in the prestigious Family Business of the Year Award. Paul Walker, Group Chairman and, second generation family member said, “there is a lot of hard work in putting together applications, creating suitable presentations, and preparing for the challenging interviews.  Whilst only a smaller team was responsible for the award entry, it is the effort and dedication of everyone at Rilmac Scaffolding that has been rewarded with the Highly Commended recognition.” Steve Baxter, Group MD, added. “This is a team endeavor and every employee at Rilmac Scaffolding has played a part in achieving this success.  Thank you to everyone for their positive involvement.  It is wonderful to see everyone’s hard work recognised in this way.” “As a Lincolnshire based business it was great to see how many fellow companies from the county had also been shortlisted this year.  The event further outlined  how successful and buoyant the Family Business community is across the Midlands. Every entry was of a very high standard and there were some fantastic business success stories told.” The Awards were expertly managed by The Wilson Group and included shortlisted finalists from as far afield as Worcester and Skegness.

CN Specialist 2018 Finalists Revealed

Daniel Norton
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CN Specialist 2018 Finalists Revealed

The Construction News Specialist Awards has announced it’s 2018 finalists.

Now in it’s fourteenth year, the Construction News Specialist Awards celebrates the outstanding achievements of the very best specialist contractors in the UK. Topping the list is the Access & Scaffolding Specialist Category that has been shortlisted to just eight companies.
  • Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding
  • Controlled Scaffolding
  • GKR Scaffolding
  • JECS Offshore Scaffolding
  • PHD Modular Access Services
  • Premier Technical Services Group
  • QFS Scaffolding
  • WellMax Scaffolding
The scaffolding sector has also been very well represented in other CN Specialists Awards categories. Claudia Ferguson of Interlink Scaffolding has been shortlisted for Apprentice of the Year, while GKR Scaffolding and TRAD Southern are in the running for a Health, Safety and Wellbeing Excellence Award. In addition, CN Specialist Awards double winners GKR Scaffolding are shortlisted for Innovation of the Year (Contractor), Specialist Contractor of the Year (turnover over £25m) and the Training Excellence Award. Project of the Year by a Specialist Contractor subcontract up to £1m category sees, Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding, Interlink Scaffolding and Modern Access all shortlisted. The judges will reconvene for the final stage of the judging process, where they will interview finalists face to face before weighing up their achievements and deciding on a winner. The awards take place on the 8th March 2018 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.  

AIS Training Becomes Fully Accredited CISRS Scaffolding Centre

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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AIS Training Becomes Fully Accredited CISRS Scaffolding Centre

AIS training has become fully accredited by the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme.

This means Scaffolders across North East England can get all the training they need in one place. Despite a national scaffolding skills shortage, there are currently no other scaffolding training centres across Tyneside, Wearside, Durham and Northumberland, and only a handful of centres across the North of England. Now, everything is set to change as the final piece in the scaffolding course portfolio of AIS is put firmly in place.

Delivering A World Class Course Package

The highly reputed trainer with a world class facility based in North Shields, but with branches in both Aberdeen and Grimsby, can now deliver a full package of courses. These range from basic level courses to apprenticeships, NVQs and advanced level scaffolding and inspection programmes. AIS has invested £1million into its scaffolding training provision in the past year, to create the very best in scaffolding tuition. Paul Attrill, head of training and education at AIS Training, said: “We are delighted to receive this approval from CISRS. “Recent reports show the construction sector is suffering huge skills shortages with scaffolding cited as a key area. Our scaffolding centre is tackling these shortages by providing high quality, industry approved training from basic through to the highest levels. We’ve delivered hundreds of commercial courses for businesses across the region and have also successfully trained 39 scaffolding apprentices with another 78 on our books. Scaffolding really is a phenomenal success story for AIS Training.”

Meeting The Demands Of Modern Construction

In an age where safety and efficiency is of paramount importance, there’s little doubt quality specialist training can meet the demands of modern construction. AIS Training’s reputation as a leading provider of scaffolding training across the North of England is growing rapidly. This can clearly be seen in the number of scaffolding companies approaching the company. From our state-of-the-art industrial training facilities throughout the UK, their courses are endorsed by the world’s leading trade associations including IRATA, OPITO, SPRAT, MCA, IOSH, ECITB, CompEx, GWO and RenewableUK. CISRS Accreditation Auditor, Trevor Donoghue said: “AIS Training has developed a fantastic facility for scaffolding skills here in the North East. The centre is now accredited to deliver the full suite of CISRS scaffolding courses from basic through to advanced qualifications and inspections. This is a fantastic asset for local companies, where they can get all the training they need to keep their teams safe and competent.”

The AIS Winning Initiative

Those working in the scaffolding and access platform industries can look forward to gaining the best possible experience thanks to the AIS initiative. They deliver world-class specialist training for the offshore oil and gas, wind energy and industrial sectors to thousands of delegates each year.

Generation UNI Roof makes history with Kew Gardens

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Generation UNI Roof makes history with Kew Gardens

Generation UK demonstrate why Generation UNI Roof is the Market leader in Temporary Roofing.

Generation UK were tasked to provide all access and Temporary Roof equipment for a project to bring the amazing Royal Botanic Kew Gardens Glasshouse back to its former glory!  Kew Gardens Temperate House opened in 1862 and to date is the largest surviving Victorian glasshouse in the world. To bring this incredible Grade I listed building back to its wonder it took over 4 years. The bulk of the project comprised of the removal and replacement of all of the original glass panes, as well as repair and maintenance of the steel frame. Working over such a long time frame meant that our client would be working all year round, whatever the weather. The Generation UNI Roof meant that work could continue all year and kept the project to its time-scales come rain or shine. The equipment formed three different structures. The most technically challenging being the 8000m2 all season Temporary Roof system; the UNI Roof spanned 50m over the central glasshouse. The roofing showcased its compatibility, versatility, weather protection and safe and quick erection; showing how the Generation UNI Roof is so much more than just a Temporary Roofing structure. The customer knew that such a large and important job needed the help of the company that supply’s the market leader in Temporary Roofing; The Generation UNI Roof. Generation Frimley worked closely with their client to provide over 700 tons of equipment, this was delivered directly to the site of Kew gardens using Generations large and reliable fleet. Interested in finding out more about the Generation UNI Roof?

10K Fine After Scaffolder Fell Three Meters

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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10K Fine After Scaffolder Fell Three Meters

A Scaffolding company has been fined after a worker fell three metres and lost consciousness.

Peterborough Magistrates’ Court heard how, in February 2016, a scaffolder of HI-Pro Scaffolding Ltd was dismantling a temporary roof scaffold when he fell about three metres through the temporary roof, onto the fixed roof below. The scaffolder was knocked unconscious, spent two days in hospital and suffered a broken thumb which required metal pins to be fitted. In total, he was off work for two months. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident found that Hi-Pro Scaffolding Ltd had not planned the work properly. There was a lack of communication and the employee was not trained or experienced in this type of scaffold. The company also failed to provide suitable personal protective equipment to prevent a fall. HI-Pro Scaffolding Ltd of Old Ford House, Old Ford Lane, Stonely, Kimbolton, has been fined £10,000 for breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and been ordered to pay costs of £3621.00. Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector John Berezansky said: “This case highlights the importance of following industry guidance to plan the safe erection and dismantling of scaffolding”.

The New Industrial Revolution Is Here With Industry 4.0

Grahame Anderson
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The New Industrial Revolution Is Here With Industry 4.0

A range of exciting collective technologies known as Industry 4.0 is set to launch the new industrial revolution.

This fourth industrial age however, could see more than 600,000 existing construction jobs automated by 2040, freeing up individuals for essential re-training, according to a report released from international consultancy and construction company, Mace. It’s all part of intensive research exploring how the construction industry will need to change in order to meet future 21st century challenges. Their findings also cited the need for a major re-skilling of the workforce, in order to meet the demands of this new technology. They also warn the industry will lose out on potential productivity benefits worth £25bn, if it fails to train a new generation of hi-tech savvy workers.

The Important Figures

It’s a fact output per worker has remained flat in construction in the past decade. Contrast this to a 30 per cent improvement in the service sector, and a booming 50 per cent increase in manufacturing.

Transforming Technology

The transformational technology making up Industry 4.0 is already available, and some businesses are already seeing the productivity benefits of using cloud computing and robotics. We can add to this, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles to help form a clear picture of where things are going. The whole way in which buildings are constructed will change, with quality of life, safety, industrial output, and the environment all being improved over time.
Avontus MR
Exploring scaffold designs with Avontus Virtual Reality

A Leadership View

Mark Reynolds, Mace’s Chief Executive, and skills lead on the Construction Leadership Council, said: “Everyone now acknowledges the current skills shortages need to be addressed. “Our latest report high-lights the opportunities the digital revolution can offer, how we can dramatically close the future skills gap and how we can meet the £25bn ‘productivity challenge’. “The recommendations we have laid out will go some way towards addressing these issues. The industry, our training bodies and government need to work together to take full advantage of everything that Industry 4.0 can offer.”

Recommendations For The Industry

Mace offered three invaluable recommendations including the introduction of the latest 3D printing technologies and virtual reality tools. Industrial training programmes, school construction clubs and various other courses could play a huge role in this. Making such tools attractive to students and industry recruits would pay dividends in the long run. Secondly, by commissioning large-scale sector-wide research and working with Government bodies like the ONS and CITB, the construction industry will be able to ensure its skills profile is changing to meet actual need. Thirdly, we need to completely revolutionise our traditional education programmes. Mace believes as they are, current apprenticeship and training reforms will not go far enough to prepare the workforce for Industry 4.0. An updating of the curriculum to reflect the modern methods of construction and off-site assembly is essential to this end.

Important Conclusions

It’s clear the industry must work not just with the government, but also with training and education providers to radically transform how workers are trained. This should also include those not just entering the industry, but individuals seeking a new career. For the whole area of construction Industry 4.0 is a fresh chance to catch up with our competitors and deliver transformational growth in productivity. For more information or to download a full copy of the report click here

NASC Announces Special Guest Speakers for AGM

Scaffmag Newsdesk
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NASC Announces Special Guest Speakers for AGM

Baroness Karren Brady & Dr Mohed Altrad added to speaker lineup at NASC AGM & Ball.

The trade association for the scaffolding industry the NASC, has announced two special guest speakers at the Annual General Meeting and Ball this year. Baroness Karren Brady, CBE is a well-known business woman, and now TV personality and columnist. Having built her career in the male dominated world of football, Karren is a champion for women in business, skills and diversity. Her appearance at the AGM hints at the NASC’s key objectives under the new President, Des Moore’s tenure. Like the wider construction industry, the scaffolding sector has a poor record in attracting women into both on an off site roles, and also faces challenges in attracting and retaining skilled young people. The evening event will also feature Dr Mohed Altrad, the Syrian-born French entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of the Altrad Group. Dr Altrad has faced many of the challenges and opportunities that the business owners in the NASC community frequently contend with. As a successful entrepreneur who has made a considerable investment in UK construction businesses, his appearance reflects the NASC’s commitment to helping its members of all sizes grow their businesses. The awards will be presented across both the AGM and Ball. Baroness Brady, who is currently appearing in the BBC One Series The Apprentice, will present the NASC’s Apprentice of the Year Award. While Dr Altrad will present the new Project of the Year Award.
Des Moore
Incoming NASC President and CEO of TRAD Group, Des Moore stated: “We are thrilled to host Karren Brady CBE and Dr Mohed Altrad at this year’s AGM and Ball. These speakers were selected to join us as their own stories resonate with the objectives of our trade body and with the journeys of many of our membership. We hope by sharing their collective wisdom it will challenge us all to make the most of our own lives, talents and businesses”. Registration is open for members of the NASC to attend the Annual General Meeting. NASC say, this year promises to be a great event with guest speakers and new awards to celebrate and recognize the achievements of their members. However, the Annual Ball sold out in record time so a waiting list is in place for any cancellations.
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