The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) has announced a series of new and updated training courses aimed at improving safety, technical standards, and compliance across the scaffolding sector.The news was revealed in the latest edition of Scaffolder Insider, NASC’s official magazine, which outlines the organisation’s ongoing evolution and commitment to raising industry standards.
All new courses from 2026 will undergo a strengthened Quality Assurance process, supported by both the CISRS Quality Assurance Committee and the NASC Training and Education Committee.
New and updated training programmes
Mobile Aluminium Towers
A new Mobile Aluminium Tower Training for Scaffolders course has been developed to give scaffolders a full understanding of Health and Safety legislation and best practice when working with prefabricated aluminium access towers.
It covers safe erection, alteration, and dismantling using both the Through-the-Trap (3T) and Advanced Guardrail (AGR) methods, both endorsed by the HSE. Delegates will also study tower stability, component inspection, and environmental hazards, including wind and unstable ground. The course is being piloted now, with a full rollout due in November 2025.
Advanced Scaffolding Inspection
The revised Advanced Scaffolding Inspection course, launching this November, incorporates updates from TG20, TG30, and current BS EN standards. It adds greater focus on digital inspection methods, photographic reporting, and the inspection of complex system scaffolds. Expanded practical exercises will help candidates improve real-world judgement and decision-making.
Fall Arrest Equipment Inspection
A new Fall Arrest Equipment Inspection course provides scaffolders and supervisors with essential knowledge to ensure fall protection systems meet SG4, SG16, and legal requirements. Delegates will learn to inspect and maintain harnesses, lanyards, and other safety gear, along with rescue planning and examples of self-rescue and assisted recovery. The course will be rolled out in November 2025 following pilot testing.
Installation and Testing of Scaffold Anchorage Systems
This course teaches safe installation and testing of scaffold anchors in line with BS 8539 and NASC guidance TG4, TG20, and TG30. It covers determining tie duties, performing pull tests, interpreting results, and applying best practice for anchor installation. Environmental considerations such as dust, vibration, and noise are also addressed. The course will launch in November 2025.
System Scaffolding Product Training Scheme
Launching in early 2026, the System Scaffolding Product Training Scheme will give scaffolders cross-brand proficiency in popular system types, including Cup, Wedge, Rosette, and Pocket systems. It aims to ensure consistent safety and competence across multiple scaffold manufacturers.
CISRS said the new suite of programmes reflects its ongoing commitment to training excellence and technical integrity. Each will go through the new Quality Assurance process before national delivery.
More details and local training centre information can be found at cisrs.org.uk/training-centres.
House-building in the UK is not expected to return to pre-pandemic levels until the end of the decade, according to the Construction Products Association (CPA).The trade body’s latest autumn forecast warns that the government is likely to fall 30% short of its pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes by 2029. The CPA said new-build housing output will not recover to 2022 levels until at least 2028, and to pre-pandemic levels until 2029 or 2030.
CPA chief executive Peter Caplehorn has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves urging the government to reinstate support for homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers.
“We recommend the Home Builders Federation’s idea for a replacement equity loan scheme for first-time buyers,” Mr Caplehorn said. “It would boost deposits and make new build mortgages more affordable. Developers would pay a fee for access to the scheme, while government would retain the equity share and potential returns.”
He also called for the creation of a “delivery authority” to oversee the retrofit of the UK’s existing housing stock. He urged ministers to prioritise repair and maintenance projects over new infrastructure schemes.
“In a tight budgetary environment, focusing on near-term repairs and maintenance offers quicker returns for taxpayers and provides a more immediate stimulus for the sector,” he added.
Growth forecasts downgraded
The CPA has downgraded its growth forecasts for the construction industry, cutting expected output from 1.9% to 1.1% this year and from 3.7% to 2.8% for 2026.
It blamed a sluggish summer for the decline in construction activity and said the recovery expected earlier in the year had failed to materialise. With tax rises expected in the 26 November budget, the CPA warned that many households and investors are delaying major spending decisions, further limiting demand.
Noble Francis, CPA’s economics director, warned that more construction firms are likely to go under if the government does not intervene.
“Construction has already lost more than 11,000 firms since early 2023,” he said. “Given current low levels of house-building and home improvement, we expect insolvencies to accelerate in 2026. A positive, time-limited stimulus for house-building demand is urgently needed—particularly for first-time buyers—before insolvencies further damage skills and capacity throughout the supply chain.”
Industry voices concern
CPA chair Adam Turk, who is also chief executive of insulation manufacturer Siderise, said the sector was bracing for worsening job losses and skills shortages unless action is taken.
“This is not scaremongering but an honest reflection of what is happening on the ground,” Mr Turk said. “We’ve already seen house-building collapse in London, and while we’re encouraged by recent government intervention there, that help is needed nationwide.”
He added that many firms had invested heavily in staff and resources since the 2024 election, anticipating a housing recovery. “Without a market boost, much of that investment could be in vain,” he warned.
One of the UK’s leading testing technology firms, Staht, has announced its largest ever distribution agreement after joining forces with Leach’s.The partnership will expand Staht’s reach across the scaffolding sector, opening new routes to market for its digital pull testing and proof loading products.
The deal follows Staht’s recent success at the NASC Scaffolding Excellence Awards in Manchester, where its t25 Digital Pull Tester won Product of the Year 2025.
Compact and cloud-connected, the t25 is designed to verify anchors and safety eyebolts up to 25 kN. The device replaces analogue gauges and paper-based reporting with a fully digital workflow that logs each test instantly for improved traceability, compliance and speed.
“This award is a milestone for the team and our customers,” said Staht Managing Director Rob Hirst, who collected the prize during the ceremony hosted by Clare Balding and Alex Jones.
“The t25 makes tie testing faster, clearer and properly documented, meaning safer scaffolds, fewer revisits and immediate proof of compliance on every job. We’re proud to see digital testing becoming the new standard in scaffolding.”Scaffex25 Manchester – (L-R) Alex Jones, Mike Tindall, Rob Hirst (Managing Director of Staht) Henryk Choluj (from Award Sponsors StepUp), Dan Beasley (Project Engineer at Staht) and Clare Balding.
The technology supports compliance with BS 8539, BS 7883, and NASC TG4, reinforcing Staht’s role in modernising safety verification across the industry. Each test is securely logged and tamper-proof, providing scaffolders with reliable, verifiable records of performance.
Hirst added that 2025 has been a breakthrough year for the business, highlighting both the Leach’s partnership and ongoing work with 360 Degrees Consultancy, which uses Staht’s t25 and t60 systems for high-precision testing.
“We’re on course to surpass the £1m mark in 2026,” he said. “To build on this momentum, we’ve grown our team to six, including a new marketing specialist to help share our story.”
David Bezant, Marketing Manager at Leach’s, said the partnership signals an exciting step for both companies.
“The t25 is revolutionising the market,” he said. “The response so far has been fantastic and it’s a true testament to the hard work Rob and his team have put into developing world-class, industry-leading products.”
Avontus Software has announced a series of free, live webinars in November designed to help contractors overcome the everyday challenges of tracking and managing scaffolds.
The sessions will focus on ScaffoldIQ™, Avontus’ cloud-based platform that connects scaffold field teams and office staff in real time, removing the guesswork that often comes with paper-based management systems.
When scaffold information is buried in paperwork and emails, deadlines can slip, crews can be delayed, and safety risks can increase. ScaffoldIQ centralises all scaffold data in one place, with each scaffold assigned a unique QR code. This allows teams in the field to instantly view its location, status, photos, and full history.
Participants will learn how ScaffoldIQ enables users to:
Track scaffold requests and progress from build to dismantle
Digitise inspections, handovers, and safety documentation, including RAMS
Use approval workflows for transparent, auditable records
Work offline in the field and sync when reconnected
Developed by the same team behind Avontus Designer® and Quantify®, ScaffoldIQ aims to reduce project delays, improve safety, and bring full visibility to scaffold operations.
The free sessions titled “Your Site Without Guesswork: Real-Time Scaffold Management with ScaffoldIQ” will be held on:
The Scaffolding Association Australia (SAA) has revealed an impressive line-up of international speakers for its upcoming Scaff25 Annual Conference & Awards Night, set to take place on 14 November 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, Sydney.The event will bring together leading voices from across the global scaffolding and access industry to share insights on safety, innovation, and collaboration.
Four respected industry figures have been announced as keynote speakers for this year’s event:
Julio Black (AT-PAC) – “Built from the Ground Up: From Small Business Struggles to Global Strength.”
David Mackie (Safety Industry Expert) – “From Subcontractor to Partner: Meeting Tier 1 and Government Project Standards.”
David Crowley (SARNZ) – “The Journey to a Scaffolding Apprenticeship: From Unit Standards to Trade Pathways.”
Clive Dickin (NASC UK) – “The Evolution of the NASC: Past, Present and Future of Access and Scaffolding.”
“These speakers represent the very best of our global scaffolding community,” said Rob Thiess, SAA Chair. “Their expertise and experience will help shape conversations that are critical to the future of our industry, from training reform and safety to international cooperation.”
Conference highlights
Alongside the keynote presentations, Scaff25 will feature important updates from SAA’s leadership team, including progress on the new Mast Climber Guidelines, the Stop Scaffold Tampering Campaign, and the Best Practice Guidelines projects.
The event will conclude with the SAA Awards Night, celebrating Australia’s Best Scaffolding Projects of 2025.
Event details
Friday 14 November 2025
Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour, Sydney
Tickets available via Eventbrite
Manchester-based demolition contractor P.P. O’Connor has released an official statement following Friday’s partial collapse of a building surrounded by scaffolding in the city centre.The incident occurred at Alberton House, on St Mary’s Parsonage off Bridge Street, at around 2:00pm on Friday, 24 October, during planned demolition works.
In a statement shared on Monday, the company confirmed that the collapse followed an “unforeseen structural failure associated with a latent defect in the building” discovered a week earlier.
“On Friday 24th October at approximately 2.00 pm, we had a structural collapse at a site in Manchester, this follows encountering an unforeseen structural failure associated with a latent defect in the building one week ago,” the company said.
Contingency plans in place
According to P.P. O’Connor, demolition work had been halted on 17 October to allow independent structural engineers to assess the situation and develop contingency measures in case of further collapse.
“Demolition works then continued maintaining a strict exclusion zone in anticipation of such an event,” the statement continued.
“We are pleased to confirm that our contingency plans were observed and instigated at the time of the collapse and there have been no injuries to our workforce or members of the public. The resulting debris associated with the collapse was fully contained within the footprint of the site.”Credit: Manchester Evening News
Investigations ongoing
The company said it is now working closely with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Manchester City Council’s Building Control team to ensure the site remains safe as demolition continues.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), which represents the UK scaffolding industry, also urged caution following early reports linking the collapse to scaffolding.
“It is too early to comment if this incident is the result of a failure of the scaffolding,” NASC said in a statement to Scaffmag. “Scaffolding, when properly built and maintained, should not fail.”
No injuries were reported in the incident, which prompted a significant emergency response and temporary evacuations of nearby offices.
The building, a 1970s office block overlooking the River Irwell, was being demolished to make way for three new skyscrapers as part of a major redevelopment project.
P.P. O’Connor added that safety remains its “highest priority” and that the firm will continue to cooperate fully with authorities.
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A building in Manchester city centre has partially collapsed during demolition work, with scaffolding and debris seen falling into the nearby River Irwell.Emergency services were called to Alberton House, on St Mary’s Parsonage off Bridge Street, shortly after 2:50pm on Friday (24 October). The derelict office block, which was being demolished to make way for a major redevelopment, suffered a partial structural collapse.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) confirmed that one fire engine from Manchester Central attended the scene.
A spokesperson said:“Crews were called to reports of scaffolding collapsing on a building being demolished. Nobody was injured and the incident has now been left with building control.”
Manchester City Council said its building control officers are attending the site to assess safety concerns, while police have cordoned off the surrounding area.
Witnesses describe “earthquake-like” shaking People working nearby reported feeling the ground shake as the structure came down.
Chloe Gallagher, who was standing close to the site, told the BBC:“There was an almighty crash — the dust clouds came rolling towards us. The ground shook and people in the building next door rushed to the windows to see what happened.”
Another witness, George Jones, owner of Cardinal House next door, said about 500 people were evacuated from neighbouring offices.
“It felt and sounded like an earthquake. People have left because they don’t feel safe. When I went outside it looked like all smoke.”
Several surrounding buildings were cleared as a precaution, and Bridge Street was temporarily closed while emergency services assessed the scene.
NASC urges caution
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) has issued a statement following reports that scaffolding was involved in the incident.
“It is too early to comment if this incident is the result of a failure of the scaffolding, and NASC urges caution in making statements about the cause of the incident until investigations are complete.Scaffolding, when properly built and maintained, should not fail.Our thoughts are with anyone who has been injured, affected or inconvenienced by this incident.”
Background
Alberton House, a 1970s office block overlooking the River Irwell, has stood empty for several years and was being demolished to make way for three new skyscrapers.
Greater Manchester Police and the Health and Safety Executive are expected to review the incident alongside Manchester City Council’s building control officers.
Benchmark Scaffolding has been recognised with the Silver Award in the Specialist Contractor of the Year category at the 2025 National Building and Construction Awards.The accolade highlights the company’s continued commitment to innovation, safety, collaboration, and technical excellence across some of the UK’s most complex and prestigious construction projects.
Benchmark’s award submission focused on its work at 38 St Mary’s Axe, delivered for Mace Interiors. The challenging refurbishment project required precision engineering, detailed planning, and close collaboration between multiple teams.
The company said the project’s success demonstrated not only engineering skill but also the strength of teamwork among Benchmark’s operatives, clients, and partners.
A statement from the firm praised the efforts of its site team: “Congratulations to the core site team for bringing such hard work and professionalism to the job every day.”
Benchmark also highlighted its ongoing focus on health, safety, and well-being across all operations. The firm’s ‘Bud’s Story’ initiative, led by Senior Contracts Manager Stuart Didd and his dog Bud, continues to raise awareness and encourage open conversations around mental health in the workplace.
The company said winning the Silver Award reinforces its position as a leading name in complex access, heritage restoration, and temporary works engineering.
More than 20 major construction bodies, including the NASC, have signed an open letter urging the Prime Minister to abandon plans that would cut apprenticeship training to just eight months.A powerful coalition of over 20 leading construction industry organisations, including the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC), has written to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, warning that proposed government reforms to apprenticeships could “spell disaster” for skills, safety, and competence in the sector.
The open letter, coordinated by the British Woodworking Federation (BWF), condemns Skills England’s proposal to shorten apprenticeships to as little as eight months and to replace comprehensive end-point assessments with lighter “sampling” checks.
Industry leaders say the plans would undermine confidence in training, weaken pathways into skilled work, and put the government’s own economic and housing targets at risk.
Helen Hewitt, chief executive of the BWF and lead signatory, said: “The government’s proposed apprenticeship reforms risk dismantling the foundations of competence and safety in our industry. By shortening the duration of apprenticeships and replacing rigorous, impartial assessments with lighter-touch alternatives, these changes threaten to dilute skills, undermine confidence, and create dangerous inconsistencies across the construction sector.”
The letter warns that the reforms run contrary to the principles of the Building Safety Act and Dame Judith Hackitt’s recommendations on competence-led training.
It also cautions that government-driven assessment plans could invalidate trusted industry schemes such as CSCS cards, while fuelling a “race to the bottom” among training providers competing to deliver the fastest completions.
With an estimated 250,000 additional workers needed to meet national housing and infrastructure goals, the coalition says construction employers will no longer trust apprenticeships if they are reduced to a fast-track model prioritising cost over capability.
A spokesperson for the NASC told Scaffmag: “The government’s intention is that this is clearly part of the focus on reducing the bureaucratic burdens it sees as slowing down building and hampering growth. While NASC applauds the focus on construction as a driver of growth, we are concerned that the impact of these reforms will be to weaken the vocational learning process across the sector. NASC (including CISRS) is against any reduction in quality. Consequently, the CISRS training programmes won’t change as a result of these changes. When it comes to scaffolding training, reducing quality means reducing safety, which NASC and its members refuse to accept.”
The spokesperson added, “NASC is concerned that these reforms, while well-intentioned, are watering down apprenticeships and may yet end up leading to a reduction in funding. As a construction sector supplier, we want a competent workforce working across all the systems the scaffolding and access sector delivers. This is why NASC has agreed to support the sector-wide letter calling for a rethink. That government policies often come with the risk of unintended consequences is widely recognised, but in this instance, the potential for these reforms to reduce industry competence makes them impossible to support.”
The letter concludes with a warning that, if implemented, the reforms would affect every apprenticeship delivered in England, with implications reaching far beyond construction.
“At a time when the country urgently needs more skilled workers, cutting corners on training is a short-sighted and dangerous path,” Hewitt added. “We strongly urge Skills England and the Government to listen to employers, training providers, and industry bodies before it’s too late.”
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is carrying out a series of unannounced inspections at construction sites across Manchester city centre this week.Twelve inspectors will visit sites this week to check how well health and safety risks are being managed, with a particular focus on asbestos, musculoskeletal disorders, noise, health surveillance, and dust.
The Manchester operation is part of 14,000 inspections planned across the UK during the current financial year, with around 8,000 specifically targeting health-related risks.
HSE Principal Inspector Kevin Jones said: “We’ll be checking that businesses have the right measures in place to ensure health risks are being managed and that workers are being kept safe. Manchester is home to some of the biggest construction projects in the country; however, sites of all sizes will be inspected.By its nature, construction is a high-hazard industry. It can be noisy and dusty, with people often working at height and around heavy machinery and vehicles.”
Focus on health risks
The construction sector continues to experience higher-than-average rates of musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, according to the HSE.
Previous inspections revealed that three-quarters of noisy workplaces lacked a proper understanding of how to maintain hearing protection. Workers in skilled trades also face increased risks of disturbing asbestos when working on properties built before 2000.
Jones added: “These inspections are really important in HSE’s mission to protect people at work. As well as checking on companies, we want to work with them, explaining what they should be doing to get everything right.We hope that our presence in the city next week will reassure both the public and those working in the industry that we will do all we can to ensure people go home safely at the end of the day.”
HSE said it expects to see “good control measures” in place and urged employers to keep worker health and safety at the top of their agenda.
Further guidance for employers on managing workplace risks is available on the HSE website.
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Chloe Gallagher, who was standing close to the site, told the BBC:“There was an almighty crash — the dust clouds came rolling towards us. The ground shook and people in the building next door rushed to the windows to see what happened.”
Another witness, George Jones, owner of Cardinal House next door, said about 500 people were evacuated from neighbouring offices.
“It felt and sounded like an earthquake. People have left because they don’t feel safe. When I went outside it looked like all smoke.”
Several surrounding buildings were cleared as a precaution, and Bridge Street was temporarily closed while emergency services assessed the scene.
Chloe Gallagher, who was standing close to the site, told the BBC:“There was an almighty crash — the dust clouds came rolling towards us. The ground shook and people in the building next door rushed to the windows to see what happened.”
Another witness, George Jones, owner of Cardinal House next door, said about 500 people were evacuated from neighbouring offices.
“It felt and sounded like an earthquake. People have left because they don’t feel safe. When I went outside it looked like all smoke.”
Several surrounding buildings were cleared as a precaution, and Bridge Street was temporarily closed while emergency services assessed the scene.
