Construction leaders unite against government plan to shorten apprenticeships
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.”
HSE launches major construction site safety inspections in Manchester
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.JR Scaffold honoured with Ministry of Defence Silver Award
Paisley-based JR Scaffold has been recognised among a select group of leading Scottish businesses to receive the prestigious Silver Award from the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).
The award, presented during the company’s 30th anniversary year, highlights JR Scaffold’s outstanding commitment to supporting members of the Armed Forces community, including Reservists, Veterans, service leavers, and their families.
Only 24 organisations across the Lowlands of Scotland received the honour this year. The awards ceremony took place at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in Coatbridge, where certificates were presented by Air Officer Scotland, Air Commodore Mark Northover, on behalf of the Defence Secretary. Evan Horne accepted the award on behalf of JR Scaffold.
The Silver Award is the second-highest level of recognition within the ERS and is given to organisations that go above and beyond in supporting Defence personnel. To qualify, companies must sign the Armed Forces Covenant and demonstrate a strong commitment to fair treatment and advocacy for those who serve.
Evan Horne said: “JR Scaffold is immensely proud to be recognised as a Silver Award ERS employer. It was fantastic to attend the ceremony and meet like-minded businesses who share our values and commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community.
“Building on our Bronze Award achievements, we’ll continue to champion our status as a Forces-friendly employer, supporting the recruitment of veterans and accommodating colleagues who serve as Reservists.”
The recognition further reinforces JR Scaffold’s reputation as a responsible and community-focused employer. As it celebrates three decades in business, the company says it remains dedicated to creating opportunities and providing flexibility for those who serve the country.
Brogan Group acquires Sunbelt Rentals UK hoist division
Brogan Group has announced the acquisition of Sunbelt Rentals UK’s hoist division in a deal that significantly expands its operations and fleet across the country.
The agreement includes Sunbelt’s entire hoist fleet, associated equipment, and three operational sites located in the Midlands, North East and North West. More than 100 Sunbelt hoist technicians and engineers will transfer to Brogan as part of the deal, increasing the group’s global workforce to over 1,000.
The acquisition adds more than 400 hoists to Brogan’s portfolio, taking its total to nearly 900 machines. The expansion gives Brogan a nationwide presence, allowing the company to serve key cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle, as well as Glasgow, Edinburgh and the wider Scottish market.
Already a major player in London and the South East, Brogan said the move cements its position as one of the UK’s largest providers of hoist and mast climber access solutions. It also strengthens its growing international footprint in Europe, North America, Ireland and the Middle East.
As part of the deal, Brogan has also entered into a trading agreement with Sunbelt Rentals UK. Under the agreement, Brogan will provide hoist and mast climber services exclusively to Sunbelt’s customers, while offering its own clients access to a wider range of complementary services from Sunbelt.
Phil Parker, CEO of Sunbelt Rentals UK, said the decision aligned with the company’s long-term strategy to drive innovation and customer value.
Brogan Group CEO, James Brogan, described the acquisition as a key step in the company’s growth plan. “It strengthens our ability to deliver access solutions at scale, offering clients premium equipment and service delivery,” he said. “It will also boost our skills base, enabling us to support major projects internationally.”
Scaffolding firm hits back at €9.2 million lawsuit claims
The CEO of Global Scaffolders UAB has defended the company’s labour practices after Sweden’s construction union Byggnads filed a €9.2 million lawsuit alleging wage underpayments and unpaid taxes.
Global Scaffolders UAB has rejected allegations made by Sweden’s construction union Byggnads, which has launched legal action seeking €9.2 million in damages for alleged wage and tax violations.
Byggnads claims the Lithuania-based scaffolding company failed to pay correct wages, overtime, and social contributions to employees working on Swedish construction projects.
The union says its investigation uncovered that workers were paid for only 40 hours, while they were working long hours, nine hours a day, six days a week.
The case, one of the largest of its kind in Sweden’s construction sector, was first reported by Industry Radar and Byggnadsarbetaren, the official magazine of the Swedish Building Workers’ Union.
CEO responds
In a statement posted on LinkedIn last week, Aurimas Jocaitis, CEO of Global Scaffolders UAB, said the company had become the focus of public attention due to “different interpretations of the actual circumstances.” “The same facts are viewed differently by our employees, managers, supervisory authorities and external partners,” he said. Jocaitis added that the publicity surrounding the dispute had already had serious consequences for the company. “We have lost customers, projects, and 80 jobs as a result, despite it being an ongoing conflict with no outcome to date,” he said. “This is particularly regrettable because our experience, track record, consistent positive outcomes from internal and external audits, local and international certifications, effective cooperation with all Swedish authorities, and contributions to projects across the country demonstrate that we are a valued and reliable partner in the Swedish construction sector.” He said Global Scaffolders “invests in employees, pays taxes on time and listens,” adding that the company has recently introduced small improvements based on staff feedback — such as providing breakfast during ferry journeys for travelling workers. “It is important to us how our colleagues feel not only during everyday work but also while travelling, away from their families,” he said.“A responsible employer”
Jocaitis said the company would take action if any legitimate shortcomings were identified. “If, over time, it becomes clear that in certain isolated incidents we objectively fail to meet expectations, we will correct this immediately,” he said. “We are a responsible employer, and we are here to create value for all stakeholders on both sides of the Baltic Sea.”Byggnads’ criticism
Byggnads maintains that Global Scaffolders has deliberately violated Swedish collective agreements and profited as a result. “This is a textbook example of a company that should be removed from our workplaces,” said Emil Persson, the union’s collective bargaining secretary. “They have deceived their employees and undercut legitimate companies that follow laws and regulations.” In response, Jocaitis said the company agrees that fair competition is essential. “Without question, all market participants must compete on equal terms, and we have always been open to discussing this,” he said.Brand Access renames HQ to honour scaffolding pioneer Daniel Palmer-Jones
Brand Access Solutions has paid tribute to one of the scaffolding industry’s true pioneers by renaming its Birmingham headquarters Daniel House, honouring Daniel Palmer-Jones, the man who helped shape modern scaffolding as we know it.
Palmer-Jones founded the Tubular Scaffolding Company in 1905, which became Scaffolding Great Britain (SGB) in 1919. Just a year before, he introduced the Universal Coupler, transforming the trade from timber and rope fixings to the tubular steel scaffolding systems that remain standard today.
“Renaming our home is more than symbolic – it’s a commitment to the pioneering spirit that started over 100 years ago and still drives us forward today,” the company said on LinkedIn.
From those early innovations, SGB went on to expand internationally and launch products that became industry benchmarks, including the CUPLOK system in 1976. After more than a century of evolution and mergers, SGB’s legacy now lives on through Brand Access Solutions, Brand Energy & Infrastructure Services, and Hünnebeck Formwork Solutions – all part of the BrandSafway group in the UK.
The company said the renaming of its Valepits Lane site reflects both its heritage and its ongoing commitment to innovation, safety, and excellence in access engineering.
“From the very beginning, innovation and excellence were at the heart of SGB – and those core values continue to shape everything we do,” the statement continued.
With Daniel House, Brand Access Solutions aims to keep the legacy of its founder alive, recognising over 100 years of scaffolding innovation while continuing to build for the future.
The company said the renaming of its Valepits Lane site reflects both its heritage and its ongoing commitment to innovation, safety, and excellence in access engineering.
“From the very beginning, innovation and excellence were at the heart of SGB – and those core values continue to shape everything we do,” the statement continued.
With Daniel House, Brand Access Solutions aims to keep the legacy of its founder alive, recognising over 100 years of scaffolding innovation while continuing to build for the future. Parking fines cost UK tradespeople more than £119m a year
New research reveals the ongoing struggle for tradespeople to find legal parking near job sites, forcing some to turn down work and absorb rising costs.
Tradespeople across the UK are paying a heavy price for parking difficulties, with fines and charges costing an estimated £119 million over the past year, according to new research from Direct Line Business Insurance.
The figures suggest that more than 2.3 million parking tickets were issued to tradespeople in the last 12 months, underlining the daily challenges they face working in congested towns and cities.
Four in five tradespeople (81%) said they struggle to find legal parking at least once a week, while three-quarters (75%) admitted they frequently can’t park close enough to their job site.
Almost half (48%) have even turned down jobs because they couldn’t park within sight of their vehicle, citing tool theft as a major concern.
The cost of parking adds further strain, with tradespeople paying an average of £443 per year out of pocket, with some spending as much as £6,000 annually to park while working.
Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) vary depending on the location and severity of the offence, typically ranging from £50 to £130 outside London, and up to £160 in the capital. Fines are often reduced by half if paid within 14 days.
The issue extends beyond fines, with nearly 3 in 10 tradespeople (28%) reporting that they’ve been clamped or towed while on a job.
Mark Summerville, Product Manager at Direct Line Business Insurance, said: “Parking or off-loading tools and equipment close to a job can often be a challenge for tradespeople, adding stress to their working day.
To avoid unnecessary fines and disruptions, it’s worth checking local restrictions before starting a job and asking customers about parking permits if available.”
Government strengthens Planning Bill with powers to fast-track major projects
The government has announced new measures to “break through planning barriers” by giving ministers expanded powers to intervene in major projects delayed or rejected by local councils.
The reforms form part of a strengthened Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which ministers say will help “unshackle Britain” from red tape holding back housing, energy, and water developments.
If approved, the amendments would allow the Housing Secretary to issue “holding directions” to prevent councils from rejecting major schemes while government intervention is considered. This would reverse current rules that limit such action to approved projects.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said, “Sluggish planning has real-world consequences. Every new house blocked deprives a family of a home. Every infrastructure project that gets delayed blocks someone from a much-needed job. This will now end.”
Officials estimate the reforms could boost the UK economy by £7.5bn over the next decade, supporting thousands of new homes and infrastructure projects.
Key changes proposed
- Faster approval for water schemes: Private developers will be able to bring forward nationally significant reservoir projects to speed up supply resilience efforts.
- More onshore wind power: The bill could unlock around 3GW of renewable energy capacity, worth up to £2bn in investment.
- Planning permission protection: Permissions will no longer expire while projects are tied up in lengthy judicial reviews.
- Streamlined environmental checks: Natural England’s role will be narrowed to focus only on high-risk or high-impact cases.
ScaffFloat innovation takes floating access to new depths in Africa
ScaffFloat has once again pushed the boundaries of marine access engineering with a bespoke hoistable pontoon system designed to support pile maintenance on a major jetty project in Africa.
Developed and built at the company’s facility in Cornwall, the self-propelled pontoons deliver safe, efficient, and fully enclosed access around more than 100 piles spread across nearly a kilometre of open water.
The system was designed to meet a critical challenge, providing engineers with 360-degree access above the waterline, while allowing rapid relocation between pile positions to maintain project momentum.
Each of the two 8m x 3m units can be hoisted and secured on either side of a pile, with staging boards spanning the gap to create a stable, full-enclosure work platform. Once maintenance is complete, the entire assembly can be lowered, repositioned, and re-hoisted onto the next pile in just a few hours.
The firm says this repeatable, modular method is transforming how offshore maintenance operations are delivered, cutting downtime and improving safety for crews working in exposed marine environments.
Before deployment, the system underwent a rigorous verification process in Cornwall. This included a Category 3 structural check by Richter, an inclination test verified by a marine surveyor in Falmouth Harbour, and a full trial build under simulated load conditions. The testing confirmed both the system’s stability and its suitability for repeated lifting operations.
Once verified, ScaffFloat packed the complete access system, including both pontoons and all ancillary equipment, into a single 40-foot shipping container for global shipment. A specialist team was deployed to Africa to oversee assembly, conduct final sea trials, and deliver hands-on training for the client’s engineers.
“This project really highlights what’s possible with modular design and proper engineering,” said ScaffFloat Managing Director, Toby Budd. “It’s about solving real-world access problems safely and efficiently — wherever they are.”
ScaffFloat continues to provide remote support as the project progresses, marking another milestone for the company’s expanding portfolio of international marine and infrastructure projects.
A short video showcasing the system in action is available here.
Before deployment, the system underwent a rigorous verification process in Cornwall. This included a Category 3 structural check by Richter, an inclination test verified by a marine surveyor in Falmouth Harbour, and a full trial build under simulated load conditions. The testing confirmed both the system’s stability and its suitability for repeated lifting operations.
Once verified, ScaffFloat packed the complete access system, including both pontoons and all ancillary equipment, into a single 40-foot shipping container for global shipment. A specialist team was deployed to Africa to oversee assembly, conduct final sea trials, and deliver hands-on training for the client’s engineers.
“This project really highlights what’s possible with modular design and proper engineering,” said ScaffFloat Managing Director, Toby Budd. “It’s about solving real-world access problems safely and efficiently — wherever they are.”
ScaffFloat continues to provide remote support as the project progresses, marking another milestone for the company’s expanding portfolio of international marine and infrastructure projects.
A short video showcasing the system in action is available here. CISRS appoints academic leader to steer quality and standards
The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) has appointed Professor David Wooff JP as the first chair of its newly established Quality Assurance Committee (QAC).
Professor Wooff, Director of Apprenticeship Quality and Regulation at BPP Education Group, brings more than 30 years of experience in education and quality regulation. He has worked with national bodies including the Office for Students (OfS), the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
He also serves as lead external examiner for access courses accredited by the University of Ulster, vice-chair of the Frank Field Education Trust, and a governor of the Royal Humane Society.
The QAC has been created as part of CISRS’s modernisation plans to strengthen its approach to quality, oversight and continuous improvement across all training and certification. The committee will advise the CISRS Board on training standards, assessment practices and centre accreditation to ensure alignment with industry and regulatory expectations.
Wayne Connolly, Chair of the CISRS Board, said: “The creation of this new role is fuelled by the desire to bring in some independent and fresh thinking, drawing on experiences and knowledge from industries beyond our own. Construction is sometimes seen as being behind other sectors in respect of approaches to modernisation, digitisation and best working practices.
“A fresh, unbiased perspective will help balance the work of the Quality Assurance Committee and guide it on training, business development and operational issues.”
Professor Wooff said he was pleased to take on the position: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of the newly established CISRS QAC. This role presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen quality standards and promote excellence across the scaffolding sector.
I look forward to working with colleagues to deliver meaningful improvements that support both industry and workforce development.”
The committee will now begin its initial work under Professor Wooff’s leadership, including the appointment of representatives from across the industry as outlined in its terms of reference.
