JR Group charity gala raises £170,000 for Reverse Rett

One of Scotland’s leading construction and scaffolding businesses has raised £170,000 for the charity Reverse Rett after hosting a major fundraising gala to mark its 30th anniversary. The JR Group welcomed around 700 guests to its black-tie A December to Remember Charity Gala at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow, bringing together clients, partners and supporters from across the construction and scaffolding sector. The event focused on raising awareness and funds for Rett Syndrome, a rare neurological condition. The charity was chosen following the experience of a long-standing client and friend of the business, whose daughter lives with the condition. By the end of the evening, £170,000 had been raised through table donations, a live auction led by auctioneer Alex Fleming, and a silent auction featuring a range of high-value lots. One of the standout moments of the night saw a sculpture created by Sir Billy Connolly sell for £30,000. Several other auction items also achieved five-figure sums, including exclusive golf experiences with Graham Souness, Martin O’Neill and Alan Shearer. Guests were treated to a three-course meal, live music from The Ambassador Band, and a performance from Scottish DJ and broadcaster George Bowie. John Horne, founder and managing director of The JR Group, said the response had exceeded expectations. “The generosity shown at our 30th anniversary charity gala has been nothing short of overwhelming,” he said. “To raise £170,000 in one evening is truly remarkable and says a great deal about the people who came together to support this cause. “Every guest played a part in creating a night filled with compassion and hope. It was a powerful way to celebrate 30 years in business while supporting families living with Rett Syndrome.” All proceeds from the event will support Reverse Rett’s work in funding research, improving clinical care and raising awareness of the condition. Scott and Kate McMaster, parents of 12-year-old Kim, said the support from The JR Group and its wider network would have a lasting impact. “This level of support makes a real difference to families like ours,” they said. “Reverse Rett is a small charity, and the awareness raised alongside the funds will have a lasting impact across the Rett community.”

Norway joins IASA as international membership continues to grow

Norway has become the latest country to join the International Access and Scaffolding Association (IASA), following the Federation of Norwegian Industries’ decision to become a member of the global body The move brings Norsk Industri, which represents a broad range of companies across Norway’s construction and industrial sectors, into IASA’s growing international membership. IASA said the addition strengthens its European presence and supports closer alignment on safety, training and industry standards. IASA chairman Wayne Connolly said the federation’s values closely matched those of the organisation. “We are delighted to welcome the Federation of Norwegian Industries into the IASA family,” he said. “Their commitment to safety, innovation and professional excellence aligns perfectly with our mission.” Connolly added that Norway’s involvement would help build a stronger and more unified international voice for the scaffolding and access sector, supporting safer and more consistent working practices across borders Geir Gule, chairman of the Scaffolding Forum within the Federation of Norwegian Industries, said the organisation was keen to play an active role within IASA. “We are enthusiastic about joining IASA and look forward to supporting the organisation in reaching its goal of becoming the global voice of the scaffolding industry,” he said IASA said it expects to work closely with Norsk Industri on shared priorities, including training, the harmonisation of best practice and the promotion of safe working at height internationally

Peoples Safety Ltd showcases AT-PAC’s Ringlock versatility on Edinburgh theatre redevelopment

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Scaffmag expands into US market with SAIA partnership

Scaffmag is expanding into the United States through a strategic multi-year partnership with the Scaffold & Access Industry Association to produce SA Magazine from 2026.

The agreement marks Scaffmag’s first formal entry into the American market and will see the publisher deliver full editorial, design and production services for SAIA’s bi-monthly publication whilst the association retains ownership and strategic direction.

SA Magazine will relaunch with a modern design in both print and digital formats, featuring content focused on safety standards, regulatory updates, emerging technologies, training insights and international best practices across the scaffolding and access sector.

The partnership combines SAIA’s position as America’s leading scaffolding and access industry association with Scaffmag’s established international readership of more than 328,000 across Europe, 40,000-plus in North America, and growing audiences in Australia and New Zealand.

Mike Bredl, president of SAIA, said the collaboration positions SA Magazine as a leading international authority for scaffolding and access innovation.

“This relaunch reflects our commitment to elevating industry knowledge, expanding global connections, and providing meaningful value to our members and partners,” he said.

Daniel Norton, editor of Scaffmag, said: “This partnership represents an exciting opportunity to support SAIA and the American scaffolding industry whilst strengthening connections across the international access sector. We’re looking forward to working with SAIA to deliver a publication that serves the needs of scaffolding professionals on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Norton will take on the role of editor for SA Magazine as part of the agreement. Scaffmag Magazine will continue to publish as normal in the UK alongside the new venture.

Mark Parkin leaves role as Strategic Director at the Scaffolding Association

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PERI systems boost efficiency on £200m Walsall waste facility

Specialist contractor Careys is using advanced formwork and scaffolding systems from PERI UK to construct the 40-metre reinforced concrete structure at the Walsall Energy Recovery Facility, replacing traditional methods with engineered solutions that deliver significant time and safety benefits. The project, being built for client Encyclis with main contractor Kanadevia Inova, required innovative approaches to two critical challenges: providing safe vertical access throughout the build and forming an 880mm thick ground slab. To solve the access issue, Careys deployed up to ten PERI UP Flex Stair Towers across the site at peak construction. The system scaffold uses a gravity lock mechanism that requires only a hammer to secure components, eliminating the time-consuming measurement and coupling work associated with traditional tube and fitting scaffolding. “Our PERI UP system is a system scaffold, which means everything has set lengths and heights. All you need is a hammer to lock the equipment securely,” explained Gilbert Kee, sales engineer at PERI UK. “This gravity lock system is incredibly easy to erect; you literally just drop the components in, strike it with a hammer, and it’s secure.” The system’s inherent levelness also removes the need for specialist inspectors to check every flight, saving considerable time. PERI UK provided full temporary works designs for the stair towers, transferring liability for structural stability from the contractor to the supplier. For the ground floor, the team used the BECOSTOP permanent stop end system to segment the massive 20m x 20m concrete slab into manageable pours. The bespoke solution arrives on site ready-made, eliminating the labour-intensive cutting and propping required with traditional timber and ply methods. “With our BECOSTOP system, erection is much quicker. Crucially, it’s left in position after the pour, unlike traditional methods where everything has to be removed,” said Kee. William Griffith, project engineer at Careys, highlighted the safety advantages: “Due to the reinforcement detailing and the reinforcement projecting so far past the stop ends there was also a safety benefit in the use of BECOSTOP due to not having operatives getting beneath the projecting reinforcement and in some cases into the reinforcement cage to strike a typical stop end in this scenario.” The structure, which extends from 6m below ground to 30m above, is now nearing structural completion. The concrete shell work for Careys lasted approximately 12 months. The project demonstrates how modern, engineered systems can deliver measurable improvements in speed, safety and quality over conventional construction methods on complex industrial builds.

Scaffolders among workers hit by alleged coordinated layoffs at Sellafield, says Unite

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Construction College Midlands partners with AT-PAC to expand system scaffolding training

Construction College Midlands has formed a new partnership with scaffolding manufacturer AT-PAC as part of a wider push to strengthen training provision across the region. The Birmingham-based college is the first in the Midlands to deliver the System Scaffolding Product Training Scheme for the AT-PAC Ringlock System. The move expands its portfolio at a time when demand for system scaffold skills is increasing across the sector. A pilot course ran in early November. Scaffolders trained on ringlock and rosette systems and completed the programme with a CISRS completion certificate and AT-PAC endorsement. The partnership also includes a significant equipment investment. AT-PAC has supplied £35,000 of Ringlock material, including loading towers, steel decks, bay braces and interlocking toe boards, allowing the college to run the course at full scale. Daniel Wood, Sales Director for AT-PAC UK, said the collaboration is intended to support local skills. “Partnering with Walsall College is about investing in the next generation of scaffolders. The industry recognises the shortage of skilled labour and with AT-PAC firmly rooted in the Midlands, we’re committed to supporting local talent and strengthening the future of our trade.” Jatinder Sharma CBE DL, Principal and Chief Executive of Walsall College, said the partnership ensures the college keeps pace with modern scaffolding practice. “This collaboration will ensure our scaffolding training remains cutting-edge and relevant, promoting efficiency, versatility and safety.  By working with AT-PAC, employers and their teams will gain new skills and confidence, which will strengthen relationships with their customers and suppliers.” The alliance marks the third year of sustained growth for Construction College Midlands. In 2023 it opened a new scaffolding facility and a Green Skills Sustainability Centre. In 2024 it added another scaffold rig and new courses in roofing and scaffolding. The AT-PAC programme continues that trajectory, adding system scaffolding training to its offer.

New Construction and Scaffolding Academy launched to tackle skills shortages in Northern Ireland

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Brogan Group and Alimak strike global partnership

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