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Connolly Scaffolding Ltd has agreed a further £3.5 million investment in TRAD UK’s Plettac Metrix system, reinforcing a partnership that has shaped both businesses for nearly a quarter of a century.The Stockport-based contractor first opened a trade account with TRAD UK in 2002, when the company was operating with two scaffolders and a single vehicle. The relationship has continued throughout Connolly’s expansion into one of the North West’s most active access providers.
Over recent years Connolly has invested £4.6 million in TRAD UK’s Plettac Metrix and Altrix systems. The shift to System Scaffold now underpins around 90 percent of its projects, the company said, driven by faster assembly, modular design, and improved safety outcomes.
Connolly says the technology has reduced labour hours and offered more consistent stability and efficiency across large and complex structures. The system has been deployed across a series of high-profile jobs, including:
Rylands Building, Manchester –A Grade II-listed landmark requiring sensitive access solutions in a busy urban environment.
Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol – Connolly designed bespoke pods fixed to the land chains to support essential maintenance work.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Barrington Road, Altrincham – A combined Altrix rolling and fixed roof system provided full weather protection.
Century Buildings, Manchester – Modular scaffolding allowed rapid assembly in a constrained city-centre location.
Haigh Hall, Wigan – A major Altrix roof installation requiring significant engineering to manage load transfer over hidden voids and underground services.
The new £3.5 million agreement will expand Connolly’s system scaffold fleet and support future projects across the UK.
Wayne Connolly and Colin Dobson
Wayne Connolly, Managing Director of Connolly Scaffolding Ltd, said the partnership has played a central role in the company’s growth.
“System Scaffold has allowed us to push boundaries, improve safety and achieve efficiencies that benefit both our clients and our teams. This latest investment reflects our commitment to innovation and our confidence in TRAD UK as a trusted partner for the future.”
Colin Dobson, Managing Director of TRAD UK, said both companies have grown together over the past two decades.
“The success of our relationship was strengthened with the introduction of Plettac Metrix into the UK marketplace and Connolly’s early adoption of the system. We now look forward to strengthening our partnership further and continuing our winning relationship for many years to come.”
Scaffmag understands the investment will support Connolly’s nationwide project pipeline and maintain TRAD UK’s position as a key systems supplier to the firm.
A German construction technology firm has launched an AI-powered voice assistant designed to help site teams cut paperwork and speed up reporting.Benetics, based in Munich, says its new app allows workers to speak naturally while on site. The software then transcribes what’s said, organises the information, and turns it into structured reports with photos, checklists, and due dates.
The company claims the tool can reduce admin time by up to 80 per cent and integrates with other software already used in construction.
“Our mission is simple — to make life easier for people on site,” said Tobias Haendler, Benetics’ chief marketing officer. “Workers don’t want to write reports at the end of the day. Now, they can just talk, and the AI does the rest.”
The system, built on OpenAI technology, recognises voice input even in noisy environments and can translate task lists into more than 30 languages. Benetics says the multilingual feature was added following customer feedback during testing.
The app has already been rolled out in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the United States. Its UK debut took place at London Build, with several firms now trialling it on live projects.
Haendler added that the company continues to test other large language models, including Google Gemini, to benchmark accuracy and performance for construction-specific use cases.
Businesses can trial the app for free, with full access priced at £20 per user per month.
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Around 60 scaffolders, painters, insulators, and supervisors at the Sullom Voe Terminal in the Shetland Islands have staged a 24-hour walkout in an escalating row over pay.The industrial action began at 6am on Monday, led by Unite members employed by contractor Altrad. It follows the rejection of several pay offers made as part of the annual pay review between terminal operator EnQuest and Altrad, one of the main contractors on site.
Union members turned down a series of proposals, including an initial offer of no pay rise, a one-off payment of £900, and a later offer capped at £1,250. Workers are demanding a lump sum of £2,500 instead.
Picket lines were formed outside the terminal early on Monday, as Unite confirmed further strike action is planned for 15 December, and 12 and 26 January if the dispute remains unresolved.
The walkout marks growing tension across the North Sea supply chain, as workers challenge stagnant pay offers against rising living costs and record oil and gas profits.
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Investigators in Hong Kong say contractors used unsafe scaffolding netting at the housing estate destroyed by last week’s deadly fire, and then tried to cover it up during inspections.
The death toll at Wang Fuk Court has now reached 151, with more than 40 people still unaccounted for. Police warn some remains may never be recovered because of the intensity of the blaze.
Cheaper netting was installed after typhoon damage
The Independent Commission Against Corruption says workers bought 2,300 rolls of low-grade netting that failed fire-safety standards after a summer typhoon damaged the scaffolding. To avoid detection, compliant mesh was later fitted only at the building bases, where inspectors usually check.
Seven of the 20 samples taken from higher, harder-to-reach areas failed fire-safety tests.
Officials admitted earlier assessments were wrong. Security secretary Chris Tang said previous samples were taken from sections untouched by the fire. Residents had warned the government about unsafe netting for more than a year.
Investigators also found flammable polystyrene foam boards on the towers, which helped flames spread across seven of the estate’s eight blocks.
Arrests as oversight comes under scrutiny
Police and anti-corruption officers have arrested 14 people, including engineering consultants, contractors and scaffolding subcontractors.
The Buildings Department has ordered all contractors working on external façades to carry out immediate checks on their netting and provide safety certificates within seven days. Officials say they have already inspected 359 sites across the city.
Campaigner and engineer Jason Poon says some contractors have started removing netting to avoid being caught. “You can see the netting being removed in Hong Kong because they are avoiding punishment,” he said.
Political tension grows
Authorities have warned the public not to use the tragedy to “fuel discontent”, invoking Hong Kong’s new national security law. Local reports say a man was arrested after calling for an independent inquiry.
Analysts say the government now faces serious pressure to show whether similar safety risks exist across other high-rise buildings.
The cost of restoring Manchester Town Hall has risen by a further £95m, with completion now pushed back to spring 2027. The Grade I-listed project was originally due to finish in summer 2024.Manchester City Council confirmed that the overall budget has increased to £524.8m. This is 59 per cent higher than the initial £330m allocation set when work began.
The council said the scheme had been affected by a “unique combination” of pressures. These include a shortage of specialist heritage labour, continued materials and labour cost inflation, and a series of subcontractor collapses.
Three unnamed subcontractors working on key packages have entered administration in the past six months. The council said the complexity of the 148-year-old building meant delays to one element of work often caused wider disruption across the programme.
Lendlease was appointed as main contractor in 2019. The job is now being delivered under the revived Bovis name after Lendlease’s UK construction arm was sold to Atlas Holdings.
Deputy council leader Garry Bridges said the project had “navigated a stream of challenges”. He acknowledged frustration over rising costs but argued that failing to intervene would have risked the building becoming “unusable and obsolete”.
The council reported last year that costs had already grown by nearly £100m due to hyperinflation, subcontractor claims and unexpected conservation work, including the presence of nesting falcons.
The latest funding increase will need approval from the council’s executive committee on 10 December. The additional money will be met through borrowing.
Bridges said the project was now on a “confident path” to completion in 2027 and would be ready for the 150th anniversary of the town hall’s original opening. He added that the restored building would serve the city “for the next 100 years”.
The CSCS Alliance has confirmed the appointment of Marion Marsland as its new Chair, marking a significant leadership change for the body representing 37 card schemes across construction.Marsland brings more than four decades of experience in the thermal insulation sector. Her background spans contracting, distribution and manufacturing, followed by long-standing trade association leadership at TICA. She is credited with strengthening apprenticeship pathways, enhancing competence frameworks and promoting the role of insulation in safety and energy efficiency.
Her appointment comes as Government and industry increase their focus on skills through the Construction Skills Mission Board, set up by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to drive the recruitment of an additional 100,000 workers per year by the end of this Parliament.
Speaking on her appointment, Marsland said the Alliance will place greater emphasis on the data held across more than two million cardholders. She said this insight will support industry bodies and Government in targeting training resources more effectively. She added that combining these datasets with CSCS Smart Check, the Alliance’s card-checking system, reinforces its position as the sector’s single point of contact for carding and competence.
Marsland succeeds Jay Parmar, Chief Executive of the Joint Industry Board and a member of the Industry Competence Committee, who served as Chair from 2021.
Parmar is recognised for strengthening collaboration between schemes, overseeing the rollout of CSCS Smart Check and sharpening the Alliance’s focus on competence and data. He said it had been “a privilege” to serve in the role and praised the sector’s unified progress in raising standards and improving safety.
The Alliance says Marsland will continue work to deepen collaboration across industry, support the national competence agenda and ensure the body remains central to improving skills and safety across the built environment.
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NASC says ScaffEx26 is on track to grow further, with early exhibitor demand already exceeding last year’s levels.
The trade body confirmed to Scaffmag that more stand space has been reserved at this stage compared with the run-up to ScaffEx 25, reflecting sustained interest from UK and overseas suppliers. The event will return to Manchester Central and is expected to build on the momentum created during last year’s showcase.
NASC plans to retain the core structure that has proved popular with contractors, manufacturers and training providers, including the main exhibition floor, technical conference and live demonstration zone.
The demonstration zone will return for ScaffEx26, with NASC planning to introduce additional safety-related demonstrations as part of the programme, like live rescue procedures and fault-finding activities.
Insiders say the organisers also intend to develop the conference programme, with work underway to refine topic areas and confirm speakers. NASC expects the sessions to cover regulatory updates, safety priorities and emerging technologies, alongside contributions from industry bodies and international representatives.
ScaffEx has quickly become one of the sector’s largest events globally, attracting visitors from across the UK, Europe and beyond. Discussions between NASC, manufacturers and international associations are continuing to shape the format for 2026, with the organisation aiming to strengthen the event’s technical, educational and networking value.
Further announcements on speakers, demonstrations, and the final floor plan are expected in the coming months.
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Tilbury Scaffolding has introduced a new fixing in honour of Alan Gale, a widely respected figure in the scaffolding supply sector whose career spanned several decades across the UK and Ireland.The Essex-based company developed the Gale Force Bolt as a practical tribute to Gale’s contribution to the trade. Colleagues describe him as steady, reliable and supportive, with a depth of industry knowledge built through years of work in sales, supply and logistics.
The late Alan Gale
Gale grew up in Collier Row in the London Borough of Havering and entered work young, taking early delivery jobs before moving into scaffolding supply. He built a reputation based on trust rather than title, forming strong working relationships and helping many younger workers find their footing in the industry.
A significant part of his career was spent in Ireland during the mid-1990s, where he worked weekly in Dublin and became known for his expertise in stock control, transport, and customer service. The connections he formed there remained throughout his life and extended his influence across the wider scaffolding community.
In later years, Gale joined Tilbury Scaffolding, where he played a steady role in developing the company’s sales operation. The business credits him with strengthening customer relationships, sharing valuable contacts and supporting colleagues with his calm, practical approach. Even during illness, he remained committed to the work and the people around him.
The Gale Force Bolt
The Gale Force Bolt is engineered specifically for everyday scaffolding applications, offering a practical upgrade over traditional market options. Its 21 mm hex head is fully compatible with standard scaffold spanners, eliminating the need for changing to a 19 mm socket—meaning one less thing to carry on site.
Designed for quick, reliable installation, the bolt requires no resin or rawl plugs and can be fixed directly into brick, concrete, timber, and other suitable solid substrates. The fixing can be used for single and double tie bars, shear ties and band & plates to name a few.
As the product tagline puts it: “No more extra socket in your pocket.”
Key Features
Delivers strong, consistent performance across multiple substrates such as concrete, brick, blockwork, and stone.
Designed to secure firmly without generating expansion pressure, protecting the base material.
Well-suited for fixing close to edges, where traditional anchors may cause cracking.
Can be easily removed and refitted, making it ideal for temporary setups or ongoing maintenance.
Threads cut and grip throughout the full length, ensuring reliable anchoring even in hollow or mixed-density materials.
Eliminates the need for precision marking—simply drill through the fixture and tighten.
Finished with a Zinc and Yellow coating to enhance corrosion protection.
Tilbury Scaffolding said the design reflects the qualities Gale was known for: reliability, consistency and straightforward performance on site.
The product is set to launch in 2026. A donation from every box sold will go to Saint Francis Hospice in recognition of the support provided to Gale and his family during his final year.
The company said the bolt is intended not just as a new fixing for the market but as a reminder of the individuals whose work supports the scaffolding supply chain. For many who knew him, the Gale Force Bolt represents the values Alan Gale brought to the industry and the legacy he leaves behind.
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This article has been updated as authorities confirm a revised death toll and launch a criminal and corruption inquiry.At least 128 people have died, and about 200 remain unaccounted for after a fire spread rapidly across bamboo scaffolding and flammable netting at the Wang Fuk Court estate in Hong Kong. Police have arrested three renovation company staff on suspicion of manslaughter as investigators begin a full probe into safety and fire compliance.s
caffmag previously reported on the fire when the death toll stood at 55. Authorities have now confirmed a significantly higher number of fatalities as rescue operations end and investigators begin entering the damaged towers.
Firefighters and emergency teams battled the blaze for 42 hours across seven of the estate’s eight high-rise blocks. Officials described it as the deadliest residential fire in Hong Kong for nearly eight decades.
The latest figures confirm 128 dead and 79 injured, including 12 firefighters. The extent of structural damage means many of the missing may only be located once full access is possible. The fire department said temperatures reached around 500C, causing repeated flare-ups even after sections were initially controlled.
Investigators say the fire began at a lower level before climbing bamboo scaffolding wrapped in construction mesh. The estate had been undergoing major renovation and was covered in flammable materials, including foam boards used to seal windows. These materials are believed to have accelerated vertical and lateral fire spread under windy conditions.
Police revealed that all eight towers’ fire-alarm systems were not functioning effectively at the time of the incident. Residents told local media that alarms had been disabled during renovation work, and several had previously raised concerns about the type of materials being installed.
Three staff from the renovation contractor, including two company directors and an engineering consultant, have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. Police have also opened a corruption inquiry into renovation approvals and procurement.
Authorities said 89 of the recovered bodies have not yet been identified. Sixteen bodies remain inside the buildings, and recovery teams will begin systematic searches once the structures are deemed safe to enter.
Hong Kong’s government has announced a full review of renovation safety standards, temporary works rules and the use of bamboo scaffolding on occupied buildings. Anger is rising across the city as questions mount over regulatory oversight and enforcement.
Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, contains nearly 2,000 apartments and housed about 4,600 residents, many of them elderly. With a large number of deaths still unconfirmed, the event is expected to reshape building-safety policy in one of the world’s most densely populated urban areas.
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The Autumn Budget has drawn strong criticism from scaffolding, construction and housebuilding leaders, who warn that a combination of higher wage costs, frozen tax thresholds and new tax rises on business owners will increase pressure across the sector during a period of already weak output and tight labour supply.Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed today a major package of tax increases alongside higher wage floors and new public-investment commitments. An early release of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s fiscal outlook shows weaker land supply, a deeper fall in new-build completions and continued pressure on rental supply.
NASC: “taxes, taxes and a bit more taxes”
Clive Dickin, chief executive of the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), said the Budget “feels like taxes, taxes and a bit more taxes”, warning that the extended freeze on income tax thresholds risks discouraging lower-rate workers from moving confidently from benefits into employment.
He said the rise in the minimum wage would add cost pressure to scaffolding employers, particularly those bringing in new recruits and supporting them through essential entry-level training and qualifications. “This Budget leaves many unanswered questions,” he said.
Dickin welcomed the Government’s new Youth Employment Guarantee in principle, but said it lacks the detail needed for employers to plan. He added that NASC continues to press for greater flexibility in training bootcamps and remains focused on protecting the competency standards that underpin high-quality apprenticeships.
Dividend tax rise and EOT changes hit construction business owners
The Chancellor confirmed a rise of two percentage points on dividend, property and savings income from April 2026, pushing the ordinary dividend rate to 10.75 per cent and the upper rate to 35.75 per cent.
In a further move affecting construction SMEs, Reeves cut the Capital Gains Tax relief available on Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) sales from 100 per cent to 50 per cent with immediate effect. EOT transfers have become more common among contractors and specialist subcontractors as a succession route. The Treasury expects the measure to raise £3.5bn over six years.
Tax specialists say both changes will directly reduce post-tax income for directors and founders, especially in smaller scaffolding and construction firms where dividends form a central part of remuneration.
Labour cost increases draw sharp reaction
The National Living Wage will rise by 4.1 per cent to £12.71 an hour from April 2026, with further increases for younger workers and apprentices. Employment partner Philip Pepper described the rise as a “massive blow”, arguing that the combined effect of wage inflation, National Insurance adjustments and payroll compliance requirements will strain contractors’ budgets through 2026.
Engineering consultancy Sutcliffe said the Budget leaves firms being asked to deliver growth while absorbing sharply higher employment costs. Labour-intensive trades such as scaffolding are expected to feel the impact earlier and more acutely.
Buy-to-let sector under renewed pressure
Stuart Law, chief executive of Assetz Capital, said the Budget represents “another decisive step” in the decline of traditional buy-to-let. Higher taxes on property income, frozen thresholds and a tightening regulatory environment are expected to reduce landlord returns further.
The OBR forecasts continued rent increases as more small landlords exit the market. Law said renters should expect “sustained upward rent reviews” into the late 2020s as supply remains constrained.
New-build collapse highlights planning failures
The OBR analysis confirms a deeper drop in new-build completions than forecast earlier this year, with net additions expected to fall to around 215,000 in 2026–27. Law said the planning system remains slow, inconsistent and “risk-averse”, with under-resourced departments and political delays restricting the flow of development land.
He warned that even if demand strengthens, developers cannot accelerate delivery without a reliable supply of permissions.
Housing delivery forecast to rise, but industry doubts persist
The OBR expects housing delivery to exceed 300,000 net additions by 2029–30 as planning reforms take effect. Law said these projections depend on regulatory simplification for SME housebuilders, who remain constrained by fragmented requirements and slow decision-making.
“Smaller developers face delay after delay,” he said. “Without meaningful reform, these forecasts will not materialise.”
Construction labour shortages remain a structural barrier
The OBR highlights weak inward migration of skilled construction workers as a major constraint on output. Law said the workforce loss in recent years has become a “structural limit” that will restrict delivery even if planning reforms accelerate.
For scaffolding firms, tightening labour availability continues to push up day rates and slow project mobilisation.
Industry outlook
Construction leaders say the Budget increases financial pressure while leaving fundamental issues unresolved, including workforce shortages, delayed planning reform and uncertainty over the future of training pathways.
Scaffolding and access firms warn that higher labour costs, additional tax burdens and tight cashflow conditions risk suppressing investment and recruitment through 2026.
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Designed for quick, reliable installation, the bolt requires no resin or rawl plugs and can be fixed directly into brick, concrete, timber, and other suitable solid substrates. The fixing can be used for single and double tie bars, shear ties and band & plates to name a few.
As the product tagline puts it: “No more extra socket in your pocket.”
Key Features
