More than one in three UK tradespeople say their job is harming their mental health, with young workers among the least likely to seek support, according to new research by Trade Direct Insurance.
The survey found that 34% of tradespeople believe their work is damaging their mental wellbeing. Nearly one in five (19%) say their job is directly causing mental health problems.
The findings point to growing pressure across the skilled trades sector, where around 900,000 people are employed in the UK.
Younger workers appear particularly reluctant to speak openly. One in three (33%) tradespeople aged 18 to 24 said they do not want to talk about their mental health with others, while only a quarter (25%) said they feel comfortable discussing it with family.
A further 15% said they would like to seek help but do not know where to turn.
Financial pressure driving stress
The study found financial concerns to be the biggest source of stress for many tradespeople.
The most commonly reported pressures over the past year were:
Rising material costs (21%)
Cash flow worries (19%)
Having too much work (17%)
Securing new customers (17%)
Wider economic uncertainty (17%)
Patricia Gardiner, Sales and Marketing Director at Trade Direct Insurance, said tradespeople often face a combination of financial and operational pressures. “Tradespeople are managing customers, materials, cash flow and tight deadlines while also dealing with the physical demands of the job,” she said.
“When financial uncertainty and theft risks are added, it creates constant pressure that many simply push through.”
Theft concerns affecting scaffolders
Tool and van theft was identified as another major source of stress, with 14% of respondents saying it is a key concern.
For roofers and scaffolders, theft was reported as the number one worry. A single theft can prevent workers from operating and remove their income overnight.
The research also found that mental health pressures vary between trades. Joiners reported the highest levels of strain, with more than half (53%) saying their work is harming their mental health.
Bricklayers (47%), builders (42%) and landscapers (42%) also reported high levels of stress linked to their work.
The report suggests that the culture of independence within the trades may be contributing to the problem, with many workers reluctant to discuss mental health concerns despite mounting pressure.
NASC has warned the UK scaffolding and access sector could need around 40,000 roles filled, as it published its Skills Gap Report 2026 based on responses from full member companies.
The trade body said the report provides an evidence-based snapshot of workforce capacity across the sector. It found 56% of firms currently have at least one vacancy, with an average of 4.4 open roles per organisation. NASC said that equates to around 1,760 vacancies across its membership.
Recruitment demand is expected to rise further in 2026. NASC said 83% of member organisations expect to recruit during the year, with scaffolders representing the largest share of projected demand.
When the findings are extrapolated across the wider scaffolding and access sector, NASC estimates the industry could need around 40,000 roles filled, even before major new construction projects come fully online.
Clive Dickin, Group CEO of NASC and CISRS, said members were “already feeling the pressure”, adding that the industry was investing heavily in CISRS training, apprenticeships and professional development.
“But training takes time,” he said. “If the UK wants to deliver major infrastructure and construction projects, we also need short-term flexibility in migration policy so that experienced scaffolders from overseas can help bridge the gap while the domestic pipeline grows.”Clive Dickin, Group CEO of NASC and CISRS
The report also points to structural pressures on workforce growth. Around 7% of the current workforce is expected to retire within four years, which NASC said could remove more than 1,400 experienced workers from member companies alone.
Firms reported the greatest recruitment challenges in operational roles, including scaffolders and advanced scaffolders. Barriers included a lack of applicants, pay expectations and wider economic uncertainty.
NASC said the findings underline the need for coordinated action across industry, training providers and government to ensure workforce capacity keeps pace with the UK’s construction ambitions.
Read the full Skills Gap Report on the NASC website
Construction leaders have offered a mixed response to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, with industry bodies warning that the government missed an opportunity to introduce measures to support housebuilding and construction growth.
The chancellor used the statement to reaffirm the government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes during this Parliament. However, several industry groups said the announcement offered little in the way of new policy or immediate support for the sector.
Rising employment costs remain a concern
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) said the housing commitment was positive but warned that rising employment costs could affect the ability of firms to recruit and invest.
Steve Mulholland, chief executive of the CPA, said plant hire companies, which support construction projects across the country, are facing increasing pressure from tax and employment changes.
“With unemployment forecast to peak later this year, now is the moment to strengthen industries like construction that drive jobs, productivity and regional growth,” he said.
Mulholland noted that many plant hire companies are family-run businesses now dealing with higher employer national insurance contributions, rising wage costs and potential tax changes that could affect business succession.
He warned that policies increasing the cost of employment and investment could make it harder to deliver major construction programmes if they are not balanced with support for industry growth.
Small builders call for stronger action
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) also criticised the statement, saying it failed to introduce measures needed to stimulate housebuilding.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said the government had missed an opportunity to support small and medium-sized builders.
“Today’s Spring Statement was a missed opportunity to deliver the decisive action the construction industry urgently needs,” he said.
“While the Chancellor focused on reiterating previous announcements, small builders were left waiting for the practical measures that would unlock growth, boost housebuilding, and drive progress on retrofitting the UK’s homes.”
Berry said commitments to support apprenticeships and employment were welcome but argued that the sector needs clearer policies and funding to translate ambition into jobs and skills.
Without stronger support for SMEs, he said, the government risks failing to deliver the homes the country needs.
Economic outlook adds uncertainty
Economic analysts have also highlighted broader uncertainty surrounding the outlook for construction.
Karl Horton, data services director at the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS), said the Office for Budget Responsibility’s downgrade in UK growth projections could affect investor confidence.
The OBR now forecasts GDP growth of around 1.1% in 2026.
Horton also warned that geopolitical tensions could influence construction costs, particularly following recent conflict in the Middle East.
“Prolonged unrest in the Middle East raises risks for input construction costs,” he said.
A rise in energy prices could increase transport and materials costs for contractors and subcontractors, placing upward pressure on tender prices and potentially delaying investment decisions.
NASC calls statement “anodyne”
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) said the statement provided stability but lacked significant policy direction.
Clive Dickin, group chief executive of NASC and CISRS, said the government’s decision to move to a single major fiscal event each year meant the Spring Statement contained few major policy announcements.
“This means that her statement yesterday was anodyne and lacked any major policy announcements or tax changes,” he said.
Dickin added that the statement failed to acknowledge how geopolitical tensions could quickly change the economic outlook.
He warned that conflict in the Middle East could affect inflation, borrowing costs and wider economic conditions, potentially making existing economic forecasts outdated.
Planning reform and housing delivery
Planning reform also remains a key issue for housebuilders.
Rico Wojtulewicz, director of policy and market insight at the National Federation of Builders (NFB), said changes to planning policy will take time to feed through into new development.
He said building 300,000 homes a year by 2030 may be achievable, but warned the government’s wider target of 1.5 million homes could be difficult to meet without stronger support for the sector.
For the scaffolding industry, housing and infrastructure projects remain major drivers of demand.
Industry leaders have already warned that thousands of additional scaffolders will be needed to support future construction activity, particularly if the government’s housing ambitions are to be realised.
Taken together, the industry reaction suggests cautious optimism but clear concern that the Spring Statement offered stability rather than the decisive measures many businesses were hoping for.
ScaffPlan has formed a strategic partnership with Leach’s, the UK’s largest supplier of scaffolding consumables and equipment, in a move designed to widen access to digital scaffold design tools across the industry.
The agreement brings together two established companies with a shared focus on improving safety, quality and standards within temporary works.
ScaffPlan’s platform provides intelligent 3D scaffold design software with built-in engineering tools, allowing contractors to plan, visualise and check scaffold structures before work begins on site.
Through the new partnership, Leach’s customers will have easier access to the software, linking digital planning with the supply of scaffolding materials and equipment.
Ben Beaumont, Director of ScaffPlan, said the collaboration builds on the strong reputation both companies hold within the sector.
“Leach’s are trusted by scaffolding contractors across the UK because they stand for quality and reliability – values we care deeply about at ScaffPlan,” he said.
“This partnership makes it easier for Leach’s customers to access powerful scaffold design and engineering software through a team they already know and trust. It’s a win for both businesses – and more importantly, a win for the industry.”
The companies say the partnership is intended to remove barriers that can prevent contractors from adopting digital design tools. By connecting software directly with a familiar supply partner, the aim is to give firms a practical way to trial and integrate digital planning into everyday operations.
Russell Tennent, General Manager of Leach’s, said the decision to partner with ScaffPlan reflects a shared approach to innovation and industry development.
“ScaffPlan is the right partner for us because of their commitment to innovation, quality and delivering tangible benefits to the scaffolding industry,” he said.
“Together, we share the same high standards for safety, reliability and customer service, providing solutions that make designing, quoting and managing scaffolding projects more efficient and precise.”
Beyond the commercial agreement, both companies say they plan to collaborate on wider industry initiatives. These include podcast content and sector engagement projects aimed at supporting knowledge sharing within the scaffolding community.
ScaffPlan and Leach’s are also both main sponsors of ScaffChamp 2026, where they will jointly support the event and celebrate excellence within the trade.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East is beginning to affect construction and safety training activity, with early disruption reported to training schedules in parts of the Gulf.
The regional crisis began on Saturday (28 February) following joint US and Israeli military strikes on Iran, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks across several Gulf states and escalating into a wider regional conflict.
Airspace closures, missile interceptions and heightened security measures have since disrupted aviation and business activity across the region, with major hubs such as Dubai experiencing severe flight disruption.
Industry training provider SIMIAN Skill International said authorities in parts of the Gulf had temporarily reduced public activity as security measures were introduced.
Ian Fyall, managing partner of the organisation, said the situation had already started to affect bookings and course delivery.
“Today and tomorrow are days off as they want crowds off the street,” he said. “Schools may reopen later in the week.”
He added that training bookings and schedules are already being affected.
“There will be disruption to bookings and schedules,” Fyall explained, although he said some essential sectors were continuing to operate.
Infrastructure connected to power and utilities remains active in order to maintain critical services, while other work activity has been temporarily paused in some areas.
The Middle East hosts a large international construction workforce, with training centres providing certification and safety courses required before workers can access major infrastructure, industrial and energy projects.
Any prolonged disruption to training delivery could create knock-on effects for workforce mobilisation and project scheduling across the region.
The wider economic impact of the conflict is already spreading beyond construction. Shipping routes through the Gulf have been disrupted and thousands of vessels are stalled as insurers, logistics companies and governments respond to the escalating security risks.
For now, industry sources say the impact on training appears limited to short-term scheduling issues.
However, with military activity continuing across several Gulf states and uncertainty around travel and logistics, construction companies and training providers are closely monitoring the situation.
Further disruption could emerge if the conflict continues to affect transport, workforce movement and business operations across the region.
Subcontractors across the UK and Ireland remain optimistic about the year ahead despite a tightening construction pipeline, according to a new annual report from Once For All, the business behind Constructionline.
The inaugural Construction Marketplace Health Index draws on data from Once For All’s Marketplace platform (formerly Constructionline) covering construction activity from the 2018–19 financial year through to 2024–25.
Once For All said its Marketplace tracks more than 10,000 projects and contract opportunities each year, with opportunities collectively valued at more than £219bn in 2025.
The index reports that total project value and volume fell to a seven-year low in 2024–25. However, a survey of 134 subcontractors found 63% described themselves as optimistic or very optimistic about the year ahead.
Fewer than one in five respondents said work was simply not available, pointing to continued confidence in parts of the supply chain even as competition increases.
New builds dominate as capital concentrates
The report suggests investment has been concentrating in new build activity. Over the seven-year period, new build projects accounted for more than £360bn, representing 74% of total construction value and 48% of all construction projects, the index said.
In the last two financial years, the average value of high-value projects increased by 16.75%, while mid and lower-value work fell back, including extensions down 29.29% and alterations/conversions down 0.66%. The index argues this points to capital being reserved for fewer, larger and more complex schemes.
Housing remained the largest single contributor by value, at £177.3bn across 13,666 projects, according to the index.
It also points to rising average project values in sectors including energy (+80.36%), industrial (+88.88%) and air transport (+87.80%) over the two most recent financial years, suggesting potential areas of opportunity for specialist subcontractors.
“Visibility” named top barrier to winning work
The report identifies “visibility” as the biggest obstacle to securing work. 34% of subcontractors surveyed said being noticed by the right contractors was their main challenge.
Once For All said digital tools are emerging as a response, with 28% of subcontractors reporting they are using technology platforms to access opportunities and improve efficiency.
Andy Preston, Head of Marketplace at Once For All, said: “What comes through clearly in the data is that subcontractor confidence has not disappeared, but the construction market around them has changed.”
Jonah Butterworth, Company Director at Lifetime Electrical Services, said: “The work is still there, but finding it and speaking to the right people is often the hardest part.”
The index concludes that, as high-value opportunities shift towards fewer, larger projects, subcontractors may need to be more selective about which projects, regions and sectors are worth pursuing.
Denmark’s new Storstrøm Bridge is entering its final construction phase, with the 3.8km crossing set to become the country’s third-longest bridge when it opens to road traffic later this year.
The project forms part of a wider north–south transport corridor linking Scandinavia with Central Europe. Together with the Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link, it is designed to improve cross-border passenger and freight connections by both road and rail.
Formwork and access specialist Doka has been involved in the scheme since 2019, supporting several key stages of the build. Its scope has included solutions for the approach bridges on both sides, prefabricated onshore pierheads, cantilever structures linking precast bridge segments to the pylon, and the climbing formwork used during construction of the main tower.
At the centre of the structure is a 102m cable-stayed pylon, which transfers all structural forces into the foundations below. The pylon’s variable geometry, integrated recesses and casing pipes for stay cables presented significant technical challenges during construction, particularly under exposed coastal wind conditions.
Storstrøm Bridge
Aurelia Penza, Technical Manager at Itinera, said the project required a system capable of adapting to changing geometries while maintaining stability under high wind loads.
The final structural phase of the cable-stayed section was supported by a purpose-built working platform anchored to the pylon and erected in stages using load-bearing towers. Integrated stair towers provided access throughout the closing works.
The bridge is expected to open to road traffic in 2026, with rail services scheduled to follow.
For the wider access and temporary works sector, the project highlights the level of engineering coordination now required on large-scale European infrastructure schemes.
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Many scaffold firms worldwide are already using AI to analyse inspection records, flag anomalies, and reduce the administrative burden for site managers. It is one example among a growing number of examples.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping parts of construction, drafting reports, modelling structures, and predicting risk patterns. But beyond today’s tools sits a much bigger idea: Artificial General Intelligence.
AGI refers to a form of AI that can think and reason across tasks in the same way a human can. Unlike the systems we use today, which are trained for specific jobs, AGI would be capable of transferring knowledge from one field to another, solving unfamiliar problems and adapting without being retrained. In simple terms, current AI is a powerful assistant. AGI would be closer to a digital mind.
The idea is not new. Progress stalled for decades until machine learning shifted the approach from programmed rules to pattern recognition. Over the past decade, advances in neural networks and computing power have produced systems that can write, code, interpret images, and handle vast amounts of data.
AGI, however, remains theoretical. There is no confirmed timeline. Some believe it could emerge within a few decades. Others argue it may prove far more difficult than expected. What is certain is that AI capability is increasing quickly.
Which raises a serious question for our sector. If machines eventually reach human-level reasoning, will we still need scaffolding?
Buildings will still be built. Infrastructure will still need to be maintained. Façades will still require inspection. Gravity will not just disappear.
But consider what construction itself might look like if advanced intelligence systems enable fully autonomous robotics, large-scale off-site fabrication, self-assembling materials or high-capacity drones capable of replacing some forms of access.
Traditional site practices could shift significantly. In certain applications, conventional scaffolding might be reduced. Some activities could become automated or engineered out entirely.
That does not mean scaffolding disappears. It means its role evolves.
And to understand how, it helps to picture what AGI-assisted scaffolding could actually look like. Designs are stress-tested instantly against multiple standards. Real-time load data feeding predictive safety models. Commercial variations are identified automatically before the margin is lost. Competence verification is linked directly to the digital identity on-site.
These are not distant fantasies; the data infrastructure to support them is already being built. NASC and CISRS have invested heavily in digital foundations that future tools will rely on. Some firms are already using IoT monitoring to provide real-time visibility over temporary works.
Fall Prevention from Scaffolding Using Computer Vision and IoT-Based Monitoring
However, construction remains physical. The weather affects programmes. Materials behave unpredictably. Temporary works exist because environments are complex and imperfect.
Even in a highly automated future, buildings will need repair, modification, and inspection. Unexpected problems will still arise. Access will still be required. The future looks less like replacement and more like integration.
There are also hard limits to what intelligence systems can replace. Temporary works carry legal accountability. Someone signs off on a design. Someone carries responsibility if something fails. That element of professional judgment cannot simply be outsourced to software, and it is worth noting that regulation and liability frameworks are likely to resist full automation, even when the technology might, in theory, enable it.
Physical installation on live construction sites, in unpredictable environments, also remains a complex human task. Robotics may advance, but widespread deployment in chaotic real-world conditions is far from simple.
At the same time, experienced voices in the industry are warning that technology without a strong management culture solves very little. That tension matters. The strategic question is not whether scaffolding survives AGI. The question is whether scaffold firms are preparing for a construction environment where intelligent systems are embedded across procurement, compliance, safety, and commercial management.
If major contractors move towards AI-driven oversight and fully digitised compliance systems, firms still operating on fragmented paperwork will struggle to keep pace. The companies that thrive will likely be those that adopt digital tools carefully, improve operational visibility, and invest in people alongside technology.
AGI may one day transform industries in ways we cannot yet predict. But scaffolding exists because the built environment requires safe, temporary access to complex structures. As long as buildings are constructed, repaired, and maintained in the real world, that need does not disappear.
The future of scaffolding is unlikely to be replaced by intelligence. It is more likely to be reshaped by it.
And that process has already begun.
The International Access & Scaffolding Association has announced that the Taiwan Scaffold Development Association and the Korea Temporary Equipment & Engineering Association have joined as member organisations.
The move continues a period of steady expansion for IASA, which in recent months has added further international representation as it works to position itself as a unified voice for the scaffolding and access sector worldwide.
IASA said both TSDA and KTEA bring strong national representation and technical expertise, along with a shared focus on safety, training and professional standards. Their inclusion strengthens the association’s footprint in East Asia and broadens its platform for regulatory dialogue and knowledge exchange.
David Brown, Chairman of IASA, said the addition of the two bodies reinforces the organisation’s long-term direction.
“IASA is delighted to welcome both TSDA and KTEA to our international membership. Their involvement strengthens our global network and supports our mission to promote excellence, innovation and knowledge-sharing across the scaffolding and access sector.”
Lee Nam Soo, President of KTEA, said the Korean association looked forward to deeper international cooperation and technical exchange, aligned with global standards.
Peter Chen, Chairman of TSDA, described the membership as a milestone for Taiwan’s scaffolding sector and said closer collaboration through IASA would support continued improvement in expertise and quality.
IASA said the new members will take part in ongoing initiatives aimed at harmonising international training and competency frameworks, sharing best practice across borders and strengthening cooperation between contractors, suppliers and industry bodies.
With member organisations now spanning Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia, IASA’s expansion signals a broader effort to align standards and improve consistency in workforce competence across markets that operate under different regulatory systems.
The association has increasingly positioned itself not simply as a networking forum, but as a platform for long-term regulatory alignment and professional development across the global access and scaffolding industry.
Labour’s pledge to build 1.5 million new homes over the course of this Parliament is facing fresh pressure amid warnings of a shortage of scaffolders.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has said at least 6,000 new scaffolders are needed each month to meet projected housebuilding demand and replace retiring workers.
CISRS states that more than 68,000 valid cards are in circulation and estimates that around 120,000 people are involved in scaffolding erection in some capacity.
NASC chief executive Clive Dickin has said that attracting and retaining talent is a significant challenge, warning that around seven per cent of the skilled workforce is expected to retire by 2029.
Labour, led by Keir Starmer, has committed to delivering 300,000 homes a year. That level of output has not been achieved consistently for more than five decades.
Industry bodies say labour shortages remain a constraint across the construction industry. The Chartered Institute of Building has previously warned that skills gaps could slow the delivery of housing and infrastructure targets.
A government spokesperson said £625 million is being invested to attract and train the next generation of construction workers, including scaffolders, describing it as action to address years of underinvestment in skills.
Pressure is particularly acute in London. Under proposals developed by Housing Secretary Steve Reed and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, developers have been offered fast-tracked applications if they agree to reduce affordable housing provision on some schemes from 35 per cent to 20 per cent.
Labour’s national target includes 88,000 homes a year in the capital. However, recent industry figures indicate that private sector starts in London fell sharply last year, with just over 5,500 homes begun in 2025 and fewer than 20,000 expected to complete by year end.
Critics argue that output levels required to meet the 1.5 million homes target will depend not only on planning reform, but on whether the industry can recruit and retain enough skilled workers to keep pace.
For the scaffolding sector, the warning is clear. Without sustained investment in training, recruitment and retention, the supply chain may struggle to support the scale of housebuilding now being proposed.
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The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) also criticised the statement, saying it failed to introduce measures needed to stimulate housebuilding.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said the government had missed an opportunity to support small and medium-sized builders.
“Today’s Spring Statement was a missed opportunity to deliver the decisive action the construction industry urgently needs,” he said.
“While the Chancellor focused on reiterating previous announcements, small builders were left waiting for the practical measures that would unlock growth, boost housebuilding, and drive progress on retrofitting the UK’s homes.”
Berry said commitments to support apprenticeships and employment were welcome but argued that the sector needs clearer policies and funding to translate ambition into jobs and skills.
Without stronger support for SMEs, he said, the government risks failing to deliver the homes the country needs.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) said the statement provided stability but lacked significant policy direction.
Clive Dickin, group chief executive of NASC and CISRS, said the government’s decision to move to a single major fiscal event each year meant the Spring Statement contained few major policy announcements.
“This means that her statement yesterday was anodyne and lacked any major policy announcements or tax changes,” he said.
Dickin added that the statement failed to acknowledge how geopolitical tensions could quickly change the economic outlook.
He warned that conflict in the Middle East could affect inflation, borrowing costs and wider economic conditions, potentially making existing economic forecasts outdated.
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) also criticised the statement, saying it failed to introduce measures needed to stimulate housebuilding.
Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said the government had missed an opportunity to support small and medium-sized builders.
“Today’s Spring Statement was a missed opportunity to deliver the decisive action the construction industry urgently needs,” he said.
“While the Chancellor focused on reiterating previous announcements, small builders were left waiting for the practical measures that would unlock growth, boost housebuilding, and drive progress on retrofitting the UK’s homes.”
Berry said commitments to support apprenticeships and employment were welcome but argued that the sector needs clearer policies and funding to translate ambition into jobs and skills.
Without stronger support for SMEs, he said, the government risks failing to deliver the homes the country needs.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) said the statement provided stability but lacked significant policy direction.
Clive Dickin, group chief executive of NASC and CISRS, said the government’s decision to move to a single major fiscal event each year meant the Spring Statement contained few major policy announcements.
“This means that her statement yesterday was anodyne and lacked any major policy announcements or tax changes,” he said.
Dickin added that the statement failed to acknowledge how geopolitical tensions could quickly change the economic outlook.
He warned that conflict in the Middle East could affect inflation, borrowing costs and wider economic conditions, potentially making existing economic forecasts outdated.
Ian Fyall, managing partner of the organisation, said the situation had already started to affect bookings and course delivery.
“Today and tomorrow are days off as they want crowds off the street,” he said. “Schools may reopen later in the week.”
He added that training bookings and schedules are already being affected.
“There will be disruption to bookings and schedules,” Fyall explained, although he said some essential sectors were continuing to operate.
Infrastructure connected to power and utilities remains active in order to maintain critical services, while other work activity has been temporarily paused in some areas.
The Middle East hosts a large international construction workforce, with training centres providing certification and safety courses required before workers can access major infrastructure, industrial and energy projects.
Any prolonged disruption to training delivery could create knock-on effects for workforce mobilisation and project scheduling across the region.
The wider economic impact of the conflict is already spreading beyond construction. Shipping routes through the Gulf have been disrupted and thousands of vessels are stalled as insurers, logistics companies and governments respond to the escalating security risks.
For now, industry sources say the impact on training appears limited to short-term scheduling issues.
However, with military activity continuing across several Gulf states and uncertainty around travel and logistics, construction companies and training providers are closely monitoring the situation.
Further disruption could emerge if the conflict continues to affect transport, workforce movement and business operations across the region. 
Ian Fyall, managing partner of the organisation, said the situation had already started to affect bookings and course delivery.
“Today and tomorrow are days off as they want crowds off the street,” he said. “Schools may reopen later in the week.”
He added that training bookings and schedules are already being affected.
“There will be disruption to bookings and schedules,” Fyall explained, although he said some essential sectors were continuing to operate.
Infrastructure connected to power and utilities remains active in order to maintain critical services, while other work activity has been temporarily paused in some areas.
The Middle East hosts a large international construction workforce, with training centres providing certification and safety courses required before workers can access major infrastructure, industrial and energy projects.
Any prolonged disruption to training delivery could create knock-on effects for workforce mobilisation and project scheduling across the region.
The wider economic impact of the conflict is already spreading beyond construction. Shipping routes through the Gulf have been disrupted and thousands of vessels are stalled as insurers, logistics companies and governments respond to the escalating security risks.
For now, industry sources say the impact on training appears limited to short-term scheduling issues.
However, with military activity continuing across several Gulf states and uncertainty around travel and logistics, construction companies and training providers are closely monitoring the situation.
Further disruption could emerge if the conflict continues to affect transport, workforce movement and business operations across the region. 
Which raises a serious question for our sector. If machines eventually reach human-level reasoning, will we still need scaffolding?
Buildings will still be built. Infrastructure will still need to be maintained. Façades will still require inspection. Gravity will not just disappear.
But consider what construction itself might look like if advanced intelligence systems enable fully autonomous robotics, large-scale off-site fabrication, self-assembling materials or high-capacity drones capable of replacing some forms of access.
Traditional site practices could shift significantly. In certain applications, conventional scaffolding might be reduced. Some activities could become automated or engineered out entirely.
That does not mean scaffolding disappears. It means its role evolves.
And to understand how, it helps to picture what AGI-assisted scaffolding could actually look like. Designs are stress-tested instantly against multiple standards. Real-time load data feeding predictive safety models. Commercial variations are identified automatically before the margin is lost. Competence verification is linked directly to the digital identity on-site.
These are not distant fantasies; the data infrastructure to support them is already being built. NASC and CISRS have invested heavily in digital foundations that future tools will rely on. Some firms are already using IoT monitoring to provide real-time visibility over temporary works.
At the same time, experienced voices in the industry are warning that technology without a strong management culture solves very little. That tension matters. The strategic question is not whether scaffolding survives AGI. The question is whether scaffold firms are preparing for a construction environment where intelligent systems are embedded across procurement, compliance, safety, and commercial management.
If major contractors move towards AI-driven oversight and fully digitised compliance systems, firms still operating on fragmented paperwork will struggle to keep pace. The companies that thrive will likely be those that adopt digital tools carefully, improve operational visibility, and invest in people alongside technology.
AGI may one day transform industries in ways we cannot yet predict. But scaffolding exists because the built environment requires safe, temporary access to complex structures. As long as buildings are constructed, repaired, and maintained in the real world, that need does not disappear.
The future of scaffolding is unlikely to be replaced by intelligence. It is more likely to be reshaped by it.
And that process has already begun.
Which raises a serious question for our sector. If machines eventually reach human-level reasoning, will we still need scaffolding?
Buildings will still be built. Infrastructure will still need to be maintained. Façades will still require inspection. Gravity will not just disappear.
But consider what construction itself might look like if advanced intelligence systems enable fully autonomous robotics, large-scale off-site fabrication, self-assembling materials or high-capacity drones capable of replacing some forms of access.
Traditional site practices could shift significantly. In certain applications, conventional scaffolding might be reduced. Some activities could become automated or engineered out entirely.
That does not mean scaffolding disappears. It means its role evolves.
And to understand how, it helps to picture what AGI-assisted scaffolding could actually look like. Designs are stress-tested instantly against multiple standards. Real-time load data feeding predictive safety models. Commercial variations are identified automatically before the margin is lost. Competence verification is linked directly to the digital identity on-site.
These are not distant fantasies; the data infrastructure to support them is already being built. NASC and CISRS have invested heavily in digital foundations that future tools will rely on. Some firms are already using IoT monitoring to provide real-time visibility over temporary works.
At the same time, experienced voices in the industry are warning that technology without a strong management culture solves very little. That tension matters. The strategic question is not whether scaffolding survives AGI. The question is whether scaffold firms are preparing for a construction environment where intelligent systems are embedded across procurement, compliance, safety, and commercial management.
If major contractors move towards AI-driven oversight and fully digitised compliance systems, firms still operating on fragmented paperwork will struggle to keep pace. The companies that thrive will likely be those that adopt digital tools carefully, improve operational visibility, and invest in people alongside technology.
AGI may one day transform industries in ways we cannot yet predict. But scaffolding exists because the built environment requires safe, temporary access to complex structures. As long as buildings are constructed, repaired, and maintained in the real world, that need does not disappear.
The future of scaffolding is unlikely to be replaced by intelligence. It is more likely to be reshaped by it.
And that process has already begun.
