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.” JR Group charity gala raises £170,000 for Reverse Rett
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
Peoples Safety Ltd showcases AT-PAC’s Ringlock versatility on Edinburgh theatre redevelopment
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The Grand Old Lady gets a new lease of life
Despite operating continuously since 1906, the Grade A-listed theatre had reached the point where a comprehensive restoration project was unavoidable. The three-year refurbishment aims to preserve the building’s architectural character while finally delivering step-free access, enhanced backstage facilities and a raised fly tower capable of supporting modern productions. The King’s Theatre opened on 8 December 1906 with Cinderella, establishing a pantomime tradition that endures today. Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie laid the foundation stone, and architect J. D. Swanston designed the venue as a deliberate rival to the Royal Lyceum. Known locally as the “People’s Theatre”, it is recognised as Scotland’s oldest continuously operating theatre. In 2013, artist John Byrne added a distinctive ceiling mural inside the main dome, which has since become one of the building’s best-known features.
Building a scaffold inside a scaffold
A central element of the internal works is a full-height birdcage scaffold constructed inside the auditorium. AT-PAC’s Ringlock modular design proved critical here. The system’s standardised components allowed Peoples Safety to create a precisely aligned structure that could follow the auditorium’s irregular curves and varying geometries with far greater accuracy than conventional tube and fitting. The birdcage provides controlled access to Byrne’s painted dome while protecting the fragile Edwardian plasterwork below. Just as importantly, AT-PAC’s engineered connections enabled rapid assembly, allowing the team to build the structure efficiently and with reduced programme impact. One of the most demanding parts of the project is raising the fly tower by 4.5 metres. Peoples Safety originally constructed a 19-metre internal scaffold to support the removal of old rigging and steelwork. As the engineering plan evolved, this was extended to 24 metres to accommodate the new roof structure. This mid-project redesign demonstrated one of AT-PAC’s key advantages: the ability to modify, extend or reconfigure existing structures without dismantling large sections of scaffold. The modular system meant the team could respond to design changes quickly, maintaining safety and continuity while avoiding cost escalation.Making it fit where it should not
Heritage buildings rarely offer straightforward scaffold access, and the King’s Theatre is no exception. AT-PAC’s versatility enabled Peoples Safety to engineer bespoke solutions in the tightest corners of the building. External scaffolds wrap the theatre along Tarvit Street and around the front and rear façades. The 22-metre-high structure incorporates a fully boarded rubble chute and was adapted to allow site cabins to remain in place, an example of how the modular system can be shaped to suit site logistics. Internally, AT-PAC came into its own in the narrow Edwardian passageways. The compact components allowed the Peoples Safety team to erect lifting frames capable of guiding new steel stair sections through tight spaces with millimetre-level control. The system’s uniform geometry also ensured each configuration delivered the required stability, even in confined areas where tube and fitting would have been slower and more complex.
Overhead protection at scale
A 16-metre-high crash deck system, built using AT-PAC Ringlock components, has provided robust overhead protection throughout the auditorium works. The deck incorporates hard barriers and Monoflex sheeting and is designed to support multiple working levels. AT-PAC’s Ringlock load-bearing capacity meant the crash deck could handle the weight of trades working above, below and across its platforms without compromising heritage elements. “A permanent scaffold presence was maintained on site,” says John Peoples, MD of Peoples Safety Ltd. “Given the building’s age, layout and the various challenges encountered, we worked closely with fellow subcontractors to address issues and meet their operational requirements.” The company has developed strong working relationships with bricklaying, steelwork and specialist conservation teams, with scaffold alterations carried out efficiently as new requirements emerged. Peoples Safety has now completed around 90 per cent of the main scaffold package. The remaining work involves supporting final stone repairs and ongoing internal tasks as other contractors progress towards the planned Summer 2026 reopening.Why modular matters on heritage projects
The King’s Theatre project shows why AT-PAC’s Ringlock modular system is well-suited to heritage restoration. The system offers: • Flexibility to respond to unforeseen discoveries during strip-out • Fast modifications without extensive dismantling • Precision-engineered components that adapt to irregular geometry • High load capacity for multi-level internal work • Faster, cleaner assembly that reduces disruption inside historic spaces • Predictable, repeatable connections that simplify inspection and maintenance In historic structures where each phase reveals new challenges, modular scaffolding can save weeks of programme time and considerable labour costs. AT-PAC’s performance at the King’s Theatre demonstrates how the right engineered system supports both heritage protection and construction efficiency. For Peoples Safety, the project stands as a showcase of their ability to deliver large-scale, technically challenging access solutions. For AT-PAC, it is a high-profile example of a system designed for modern construction but proving its worth in the most traditional of environments.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
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
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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Councillor Leah Kirkpatrick, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, said the academy has been shaped around local industry needs. “This innovative training academy offers a real opportunity for local people to gain the skills and confidence needed to enter the construction industry,” she said. She noted that employers across the area continue to face shortages in key roles, particularly in scaffolding.

Brogan Group and Alimak strike global partnership
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For Alimak, the partnership adds further technical depth to its existing offer. The company already supplies a broad portfolio of hoists, mast climbers and transport platforms, backed by its connected management platform, My Alimak.
The system gives users real-time equipment diagnostics, asset tracking, BIM integration and safety tools to help maintain uptime across large fleets.
Cameron Reid, Sales Director at Alimak Group’s Construction Division, said the agreement formalises a long-standing relationship. “Alimak Group and CAS have a long history of working together,” he said.
“This agreement reflects our continued commitment to safe, efficient vertical access and outstanding customer service in high-rise construction.”
Both organisations say the partnership strengthens their ability to support large-scale projects, from towers to data centres, with a coordinated system that combines design expertise and global service capability.

