NASC to visit more prisons

Daniel Norton
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NASC to visit more prisons
As part of a campaign to turn former inmates into scaffolders, the National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) is set to make presentations at four prisons over the next two weeks. The NASC’s Returning Citizens campaign which aims to bring more workers into the scaffolding industry has gained more interest and attention from HMP institutions across the country. NASC’s Training Officer, Henry Annafi along with special guests are set to visit and deliver presentations at HMP North Sea Camp, HMP Stocken, HMP Wormwood Scrubs and again visit the Category-A and high-profile HMP Belmarsh. As part of the series of presentations, inmates will be given the opportunity to use VR headsets to allow them to experience what scaffolding is like in an immersive environment. PHD’s Site Manager Lukasz Rozpiorski who is a former Returning Citizen himself and mentors prisoners in his spare time will also attend the prison visits with Henry. He will be sharing his experiences of being a former prisoner and how scaffolding had been the vehicle for him to change his life. “I’m so blessed to be able to share my experience with these lads,” Rozpiorski said at a previous visit at HMP Blemarsh. “I can’t wait to do more of this work and I’m incredibly grateful to PHD for allowing me this opportunity to change people’s lives,”  NASC’s acting Managing Director, Dave Mosley said: “NASC and Henry in particular, have put a huge amount of effort into getting this initiative off the ground. “He has formed excellent working partnerships with Prisons, the Ministry of Justice, Training Providers and very importantly the NASC membership, who have proven very willing to offer people a chance for a new and rewarding career in Scaffolding.”  

Kewazo’s scaffolding robot raises $10M in extra funding

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Kewazo’s scaffolding robot raises $10M in extra funding
Munich-based start-up Kewazo has eyes on a North American expansion after raising a further $10 million in funding for its scaffolding robot LIFTBOT. US Venture capital firm Fifth Wall has become KEWAZO’s newest partner following the company’s first significant round of venture capital financing. The Series A funding round raised $10 million, bringing the total funds raised to-date to approximately $20 million. The new investment comes hot on the heels of Kewazo’s $5 million Pre-Series A round that closed in September 2021. “We have an excellent group of partners coming together that will enable us to keep building a leading company in construction robotics,” stated Artem Kuchukov, CEO and Co-Founder of KEWAZO. “This influx of capital will propel us to expand our sophisticated robotic fleet across Europe and North America, in tandem with enabling us to build out our additional digital services.” KEWAZO both automates and digitizes the on-site material flow via state-of-the-art robotics and data analytics. The company’s initial product LIFTBOT, an intelligent scaffolding robot hoist for construction and industrial sites, is empowered by the data analytics platform ONSITE. Since 2021, a dozen LIFTBOTs have been active in Europe’s iconic construction sites and leading industrial plants in the oil, gas, energy and chemical industries, including with key industry names Bilfinger & Altrad. Scaffolding robot makers KEWAZO has raised a further $10 million in investment for Liftbot. “Labor shortage continues to be the most acute challenge facing the construction industry today,” shared Miguel Nigorra Esteban, Partner at Fifth Wall. “Artem and his entire team at Kewazo are laser-focused on solving this head-on, bringing much-needed automation and robotics to the trillion-dollar construction industry. We’re thrilled to be a part of their category-defining growth.” Upon inception, KEWAZO initially honed in on scaffolding assembly with its robot, a $50 billion industry in which more than 80% of projects are still manually undertaken. With the implementation of LIFTBOT, 70% of man-hours are now saved, addressing the critical labour shortage and simultaneously reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall working conditions on-site. By being involved in critical on-site activities, LIFTBOT collects key operational data. This data is then processed and provided to customers as actionable insights via the data analytics platform. This enhances the transparency of what happens on-site at construction sites and industrial plants, leading to a multitude of advantages, including data-driven and proactive project management. With minor adjustments, the technology may be applied to allied activities such as insulation, painting and other on-site material transport. KEWAZO’s vision is to automate and digitize the entire on-site logistics — from the arrival of materials at the construction site to their utilization.
KEWAZO
The KEWAZO team.
“I think it is very useful that companies like KEWAZO are disrupting our business. We will have problems in finding and keeping good personnel – this will be our main focus in the coming years and decades. These innovations are very helpful in attracting and motivating our coworkers and help us to provide our customers with cost-effective and safe services, “ said Bart Gyssels, Chief Innovation Officer at Altrad Services Benelux.

60,000 CSCS skills cards set to be banned

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60,000 CSCS skills cards set to be banned
More than 60,000 CSCS industry skills cards issued under Industry Accreditation (IA) aka ‘Grandfather Rights’ are set to be banned on 31st December 2024 and cannot be renewed. CSCS stopped issuing new cards on the strength of an employer recommendation / Grandfather Rights in 2015. However, over 60,000 existing cards have continued to be renewed. The Construction Leadership Council’s drive for a fully trained and competent workforce includes the end of all CSCS Industry Accreditation cards issued from 1st January 2020. IA allowed experienced workers to obtain CSCS cards on the strength of an employer recommendation rather than the achievement of a recognised qualification. Now, as of the end of next year, those industry accreditation (IA) cards will become invalid. It means that all CSCS cards will only be issued if the holder has or is in the process of gaining a recognised qualification. What each individual cardholder needs to do to get a CSCS card depends on their occupation and what qualifications they may already hold. New guidance is available on the CSCS website that outlines what CSCS IA cardholders must do before the deadline. Sean Kearns, Chief Executive at CSCS said: “IA cardholders will not need to attend college as much of the assessment can be delivered remotely.  Many IA cardholders will find it a straightforward process to replace their cards, such as moving across to the Academically or Professionally Qualified Persons cards. In addition, those who no longer attend site or are in non-construction related occupations will not require a card.” The new guidance and support will help cardholders to either retain their card via the S/NVQ or to easily transition to another CSCS card. We would urge employers, trade associations, awarding organisations and training providers to put plans in place to support these workers ahead of the December 2024 withdrawal.”

Turnover booms at major scaffolding suppliers

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Turnover booms at major scaffolding suppliers
West Midlands-based Scaffolding and building equipment supplier Generation (UK) recently achieved a turnover exceeding £130m according to new documents. Owned by the Altrad Group, Generation (UK), which trades as Altrad Generation Hire & Sales, is the UK’s largest scaffolding and no-mechanical building equipment supplier. The business provides scaffolding for sale and hire and other construction supplies through its network of branches across both the UK and the Republic of Ireland. According to its latest financial statements, the company generated £134.4m in turnover for the year ending 31 August 2022, a significant increase over £97.4m the previous year. In the same period, pre-tax profits increased from £13.3m to £19.4m. In a statement approved by the board said: “Trading conditions remained strong but competitive in the year ended 31 August 2022, with price increases and product availability affecting the market. “Post-year-end trading has remained strong, with the performance being in line with expectations.” The Generation (UK) brand has grown dramatically over the past few years following numerous industry mergers and buyouts, most recently with the acquisition of Actavo Hire & Sales in August 2021 for an estimated £40 million.

225,000 Extra Workers Needed in Construction

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225,000 Extra Workers Needed in Construction
Construction workers are still in high demand despite economic uncertainty, according to new data. New figures in a report from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) reveal that in order to meet UK construction demand by 2027, almost 225,000 extra workers will be needed. If the projected growth is met by 2027, there will be 2.67 million construction workers. The CITB’s annual Construction Skills Network (CSN) report also shows construction output is set to grow for all nations and regions, however, a recession is expected in 2023 with slow growth returning in 2024 the report says. The report highlights that construction is expected to remain a sector where there is demand for workers despite the current economic uncertainty. As a result, recruitment, training, development and upskilling remain major priorities for the industry for 2023 and beyond. CITB is responding by investing in apprenticeships, launching a range of targeted initiatives and working collaboratively with industry, to help the construction sector have a skilled, competent, and inclusive workforce. “The latest CSN report clearly shows that despite current economic uncertainty, recruiting and developing the workforce remains vital to ensure the industry can contribute to economic growth,” says Tim Balcon, CITB Chief Executive. “We know the next 18 months won’t be easy, however, I remain inspired by the construction industry’s resilience shown in the pandemic and throughout 2022. “In short, it makes clear that the need to recruit and retain talent in the sector has never been greater. Whether that’s for building the homes the country needs, constructing energy and transport infrastructure or retrofitting the built environment to help drive down energy bills and meet net-zero targets. “To bolster the industry’s resilience, CITB will strive to attract and train a diverse range of recruits for the industry, equipping them with modern skills for rewarding construction careers. I look forward to working with and supporting industry and stakeholders in the challenging times ahead and to emerging stronger when the recession ends.”

PERI acquires German formwork firm

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PERI acquires German formwork firm
In a bid to expand its business, PERI has acquired German formwork specialist Implenia Schalungsbau, the formwork division of Implenia. Located in Bobenheim-Roxheim, the company provides intelligent and complete formwork construction services for a wide range of projects. As Peri describes it, the deal “perfectly aligns” with the company’s current product offering, which it describes as “urgently needed capacities,” and it will allow them to invest in both the infrastructure and high-rise segments as it says these are urgently needed in the business. This acquisition will allow Implenia to “focus on the core portfolio” and advance its asset-light strategy, it says. Upon closing of the deal, all 46 employees of Implenia Schalungsbau will remain, while the company will become Peri Schalungsbau. No changes to the running of the business is expected. “The PERI Germany team is happy about the personnel reinforcement and we warmly welcome all new colleagues to PERI. We have already worked very well together in the past and are happy to have them in our team,” says Stefan Schurwonn, Head of Commercial Operations at PERI Germany. “With this purchase, we are expanding our competences and capacities in special formwork construction and in the areas of “Infrastructure” and ” High Rise”. This is an important step for PERI Germany to further strengthen our market position and achieve our ambitious growth targets for the coming years.”

Bookings open for Build UK Open Doors 2023 event

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Bookings open for Build UK Open Doors 2023 event

The booking process for Open Doors 2023 is now open.

Young people and those seeking a career change will have the opportunity to visit construction sites across Great Britain from Monday, 13 March, through Saturday, 18 March, 2023.

There are a variety of career opportunities available within the construction industry, and Open Doors provides a unique insight into the field.

It is anticipated that more than 150 construction sites, offices, factories, and training centers across England, Scotland, and Wales will be open for Open Doors this year. This will showcase hundreds of different occupations.

Visitors can book their place to go behind the hoardings on a range of projects that include hospitals, schools, universities, theatres, libraries, viaducts, and production and training facilities.

It is the vision of Build UK, in collaboration with a number of partners, to deliver Open Doors, which aims to change perceptions about construction and to encourage the next generation to explore the opportunities within the industry. It focuses in particular on the progress made by the industry towards flexible working and helping the UK reach net zero carbon emissions.

Open Doors is a great way to see that construction is for everyone, according to Suzannah Nichol MBE, Chief Executive of Build UK. “You can’t beat going to a construction site and seeing it in action. Check out what’s going on in your neighbourhood, book your visit today, and find out what a career in construction has in store for you,” she said.

As Suzanne Hardy, Mace’s Head of Social Value (Construct), explains: “Finding your first step into the world of work is more important than ever, and Open Doors is the perfect place to see just how many diverse career paths there are in construction, from hands-on building trades to design, architecture, finance, and sales and marketing.

We already have multiple visits planned with schools across our projects, so we know people have a real desire to learn more about the industry, understand the vital role it plays in the economy, and discover the opportunities available to them.”

Slowdown in housing drags on construction output

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Slowdown in housing drags on construction output

Construction output in November 2022 showed zero growth, according to official statistics.

In November, the number of new construction projects completed declined by 0.4% as a result of a drop in new housing starts of nearly 5%, according to data provided by The Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This decreased output was also attributable to a wetter-than-average November causing more difficulty in working conditions, which in turn, contributed to the fall in new work. As a result, the overall output the month remained flat in part because of a modest 0.6% increase in repair and maintenance work.

In their monthly survey of businesses in the construction sector conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), it was found that more businesses have been raising concerns about clients delaying or cancelling their work than they had previously.

According to the ONS, construction output rose 0.3% from growth in new work (1.3%) while repair and maintenance decreased (1.2% fall).

Scaffolding contractor announces ambitious plans for 2023

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Scaffolding contractor announces ambitious plans for 2023
North West scaffolding specialist Teal Scaffold has announced ambitious plans to grow the business in 2023. The award-winning commercial scaffolding firm is entering its fifth year of successful business having provided vital access solutions across the North West since 2018. Part of The Sovini Group, Teal Scaffold deliver a scaffolding service to many of the North West’s leading construction and facilities management firms. Since 2018, Teal Scaffold has delivered a high-quality and reliable service working on large and complex projects. As well as providing a priority reactive works package. Such projects have meant collaborating with both private and public sector clients; from NHS trusts and registered social housing landlords to Tier 1 contractors. With several large-scale, highly complex contracts in the pipelines Teal Scaffold are set to take 2023 by storm, the contractor said. During its fourth year of business, the firm successfully surpassed industry guidelines and awards, including the Investors in People (IIP) award and the highly coveted NASC accreditation to name a few. The prestigious industry accreditation evidences the award-winning company’s high standards and professionalism. This year, the working at height professionals will mark their fifth year of success by kickstarting their five-year business plan and acquiring a second hub to facilitate the growth. The hub is set to provide additional meaningful employment opportunities for the local community and wider region. Dan McGregor, Head of Operations of Teal Scaffold, adds: “We were established in 2018 to provide an access solution service for our parent company, The Sovini Group. Since then, we have gained experience in the housing sector as well as expanding our service offering and delved into various industries and sectors. Throughout our journey we’ve been recognised by leading industry bodies for our excellence. We are proud of the fact that for an increasing number of local councils, social landlords and Tier 1 contractors, we are their scaffolding partner of choice. Furthermore, we’ve continued to provide new and unique employment opportunities across the North West”.

Scaffolders strike over bonus dispute

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Scaffolders strike over bonus dispute
Scaffolders and other trades working on a GSK Pharmaceutical Plant in Scotland have downed tools over their employer’s refusal to pay bonus payments. Around 40 workers employed by Kaefer Limited began strike action yesterday (Monday 9 January) at the GSK plant in Irvine. They seek a bonus payment of £2.37 an hour, the maximum allowed under the relevant industrial agreement (National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry [NAECI]). Workers include Scaffolders, Electricians, Cable pullers and Labourers. The strike will continue each day up to 23 January. An overtime ban will also be in force, which will last until 2 April. The industrial action will directly impact on the maintenance of the plant, Unite the Union said. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “GSK, which operates the Irvine plant, is making eye-watering profits. Paying our members the bonus they are seeking is like a drop in the ocean to their overflowing coffers. Yet the contractor Kaefer who we are directly in dispute with onsite refuses to award our members what they are entitled to. The workers will have Unite’s 100% backing in their fight for better jobs, pay and conditions.”  GSK recorded sales of £7.8 billion in the third quarter of 2022, and a total operating profit of £1.2 billion. Unite industrial officer Paul Bennett added: “The strike action will cause considerable disruption and it will lead to significant delays in maintenance issues affecting GSK’s Irvine plant. The dispute has been contrived entirely by the contractor Kaefer and GSK as the client steadfastly refusing to pay a bonus.” “Our members don’t want to be in this position but they have been forced to take this action in order to get what they are entitled to under a UK wide bargaining agreement. The action will continue until our members get what they deserve.”
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