Paul added, “Having been subjected to plagiarism myself on several projects over 30 years. And having seen so many other Inventors suffer the same fate along the way. And seeing so many different people across the board looking for alternative ways to earn a few extra coins.
It became clear to me that we need to look to each other and not the establishment, as the only real way we can make something happen is to join forces and do it ourselves. I tried to do it in the 90’s, but the technology wasn’t there at the time. Now it is, and we CAN make it happen if we choose to!”
For more information, visit the BizKit-Tin Anonymous website at https://bizkit-tin.com and the BizKit-Tin Catalogue and u-Reka Club website at https://u-reka.club. Inventor Behind Scaffolder’s Level Fights Industrial Abuse with Innovative Fund and Platform Launch
Serial inventor Paul A Sparrow, known for creating the ProView Firefly Scaffolder’s Level and for conceptualising modern-day crowdfunding, is fighting back against industrial abuse and plagiarism by launching the world’s first dedicated ‘Innovation Support Fund’ and a new crowd-commerce platform.
The British inventor, who claims on his Youtube channel to have had multiple ideas stolen over the years, including those behind popular TV shows still running today, aims to provide financial support to inventors who struggle to secure funding through conventional means.
His new Innovation Support Fund, dubbed BizKit-Tin, will be crowdfunded and sponsored, with up to one-third of the fee revenues coming from Paul’s new u-Reka Club project.
u-Reka Club is the world’s first ‘c-Commerce’ (Crowd-Commerce) platform. It introduces a new evolution of crowdfunding called ‘Crowd-Distribution’, allowing supporters to share in the rewards of the projects they back.
Paul aims to raise money for the BizKit-Tin Core Fund through donations and sponsorships. “If we can raise £30 million per week for charities via the National Lottery, I am sure we can do something similar for inventors too! Even if it was only for just one week! Inventors can change the future – but ‘WE’ can change the world!” he said.
“For example, a million people donating £1 each creates a new fund with £1,000,000 available to lend in exchange for equity. Meaning donations come back in dividends to be recycled perpetually.”
Having experienced plagiarism first-hand, Paul is determined to provide the global inventor sector with the support and resources they need. He urges the public to join u-Reka Club and contribute to various campaigns on the BizKit-Tin platform or donate anonymously to the core fund.
Paul added, “Having been subjected to plagiarism myself on several projects over 30 years. And having seen so many other Inventors suffer the same fate along the way. And seeing so many different people across the board looking for alternative ways to earn a few extra coins.
It became clear to me that we need to look to each other and not the establishment, as the only real way we can make something happen is to join forces and do it ourselves. I tried to do it in the 90’s, but the technology wasn’t there at the time. Now it is, and we CAN make it happen if we choose to!”
For more information, visit the BizKit-Tin Anonymous website at https://bizkit-tin.com and the BizKit-Tin Catalogue and u-Reka Club website at https://u-reka.club.
Paul added, “Having been subjected to plagiarism myself on several projects over 30 years. And having seen so many other Inventors suffer the same fate along the way. And seeing so many different people across the board looking for alternative ways to earn a few extra coins.
It became clear to me that we need to look to each other and not the establishment, as the only real way we can make something happen is to join forces and do it ourselves. I tried to do it in the 90’s, but the technology wasn’t there at the time. Now it is, and we CAN make it happen if we choose to!”
For more information, visit the BizKit-Tin Anonymous website at https://bizkit-tin.com and the BizKit-Tin Catalogue and u-Reka Club website at https://u-reka.club. Scaffolders Join 300 Construction Workers in Strike Action
More than 300 construction workers, including scaffolders, at Dundee City Council have initiated strike action today amid a dispute over outsourcing claims and tracking of workers.
The industrial action is set to last for three weeks, with plans for further daily strikes until the end of June.
The Council’s Construction Services workforce, which consists of joiners, plumbers, electricians, labourers, and scaffolders, is demanding assurances from Dundee City Council that no services will be outsourced to private contractors.
Bob Macgregor, Unite industrial officer, expressed the workers’ concerns, stating, “We need cast-iron guarantees that there are no proposals by Dundee City Council to outsource any services to private contractors.”
He also criticised the council management for failing to address the workforce’s apprehensions, including what they believe is the inappropriate monitoring of council vehicles. “Unite will fight for our members every step of the way,” Macgregor added.
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council responded by saying that they remain in dialogue with trade union representatives to resolve the issues raised, believing that a resolution can be reached without the need for strike action.
The spokesperson added that the Council is committed to investing in and modernising the Construction Services to provide the service the public expects.
The spokesperson also addressed the outsourcing issue, stating that subcontractors were temporarily brought in to deal with the significant backlog of repairs accumulated during the Covid-19 restrictions. They emphasised that there are no plans to outsource these roles permanently.
Regarding the vehicle tracking policy, the spokesperson mentioned that it has been in place for several years across all council services, aiming to safeguard staff, manage the fleet efficiently, and ensure the best value for service delivery to Dundee’s residents.
Workplaces Unite to Tackle Stress During Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month kicks off this April, with the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Working Minds campaign partnering with twenty-two organisations across Great Britain to help workplaces tackle work-related stress and bolster mental health.
In an effort to curb work-related stress and promote good mental health, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and its twenty-two partner organisations across Great Britain are urging workplaces to take action during Stress Awareness Month this April.
Through its Working Minds campaign, launched in November 2021, HSE has compiled a comprehensive list of resources to help employers and workers manage stress.
The campaign has grown from nine to twenty-two partners, with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and See Me – Scotland’s national programme to end mental health stigma, joining this month.
As part of the campaign, HSE reminds businesses of their legal obligation to assess and address work-related stress risks.
Liz Goodwill, Head of the Work-Related Stress and Mental Health Policy Team at HSE, emphasised the importance of establishing a workplace culture that openly discusses stress and mental health. She identified six key areas that can lead to work-related stress if not properly managed: demands, control, support, relationships, role, and change.
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Club, highlighted the construction industry’s struggle with anxiety and depression, which account for 20% of all recorded workplace absences. Andrew Berrie, Head of Workplace Wellbeing at Mind, and Francoise Woolley, Head of Mental Health and Wellbeing at Acas, both echoed the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace and creating supportive environments.
The law mandates that all employers, regardless of size, assess and act upon work-related stress risks to protect their workers. Failure to do so can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, loss of valued team members, and potential litigation costs.
The complete list of resources from the Working Minds campaign can be accessed [here].
KEWAZO Named Main Sponsor for Scaffolding Championship 2023
The organisers of this year’s Scaffolding Championships have named leading construction robotics company KEWAZO as its main sponsor for the upcoming international event.
The now-renamed KEWAZO ScaffChamp 23 scaffolding event takes place in Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 26-27th, 2023. Teams of scaffolders from around the world, including the UK and Australia, are set to compete in the championships.
This new partnership marks the second consecutive year that the German company has sponsored the event, solidifying a powerful and mutually beneficial collaboration between the two organisations.
Founded in 2018, KEWAZO has quickly become a leader in the construction robotics sector, focusing on automating and digitising on-site material flow through robotics and data analytics.
The company’s flagship product, LIFTBOT, is a lifting robot for scaffolding that addresses labour shortages, saves up to 70% of labour costs, and improves working conditions in the industry.
Since 2021, LIFTBOT has been used on some of Europe’s most iconic construction sites and industrial plants operated by leading industrial service providers.
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with KEWAZO, and we believe their cutting-edge technology will significantly impact the industry,” said a representative from ScaffChamp.
The partnership enables ScaffChamp to provide a platform for industry leaders and experts to learn about the latest developments in construction robotics and digital transformation, emphasising the importance of innovation in the field.
Both ScaffChamp and KEWAZO share a common vision of revolutionising the construction industry through technology, and this partnership reaffirms their commitment to this goal.
“We are confident that the event will yield even greater success than last year, and our renewed partnership with KEWAZO is a significant step in that direction,” added the ScaffChamp representative.
NASC Celebrates Inspiring Young Builders at House of Lords Reception
The NASC sponsored the YouthBuild UK Young Builder of the Year award reception at the House of Lords, celebrating young talents in construction who have overcome significant challenges.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) proudly sponsored the YouthBuild UK Young Builder of the Year award reception at the House of Lords yesterday, with a spectacular event to honour the exceptional young talent in the construction industry.
The reception provided an opportunity for sponsors to meet and celebrate the winners of the 2022 Young Builder of the Year awards in the presence of industry leaders, parliamentarians, friends, family, and supporting organisations. Finalists were introduced to rousing applause from the audience.
The event was hosted by YouthBuild UK’s President, Sir John Hayes, and Chairman Ian Davis, who acted as Master of Ceremonies. Reiss Doherty of Barratt Developments was the winner in the 19-25 category, while Kye Belmond, apprenticing with Lee Marley Brickwork and Brooklands College, won the 14-18 category. Lola Fannon, training in plastering at Preston Vocation College, was announced as the runner-up in the 14-18 category.
All nominees overcame significant challenges and barriers in their lives to be nominated for the prestigious award. An independent panel of judges led by Alasdair Reisner, Chief Executive of the Civil Engineering Contractors Association, selected the winners.
David Brown, NASC President, expressed his enthusiasm for the event and the promising young builders: “As sponsors of YouthBuild UK, we are thrilled to be here today to celebrate the achievements of Reiss, Kye, Lola, and all the Young Builders of the year nominees.
Supporting and inspiring the next generation of contractors is at the heart of our values here at NASC, and we work closely with our members to connect young people with career nurturing initiatives like these. We wish all the participants the best in their careers and look forward to what they hold for the industry.”
YouthBuild UK and its sponsors awarded all finalists who were Highly Commended, Runners-up, or Winners with a cash prize, of up to £250, as a token of recognition for their outstanding achievements in the field of construction.
Scaffolder Receives Life-Changing Double Hand Transplant After Devastating Accident
A scaffolder who lost his hands and legs in a horrific building site accident underwent a miraculous double hand transplant.
Jamie Mines, 38, shared his experience in a new documentary series, “Saving Lives in Leeds,” which premiered on BBC Two earlier this month.
Mines was placed in an induced coma in December 2016 after being electrocuted by 33,000 volts while working beneath powerlines in Swindon. Medics amputated four of his limbs to save his life.
The father of two described the ordeal to the BBC, saying the electricity “fried” him and that he was surprised to have survived.
After learning about the possibility of hand transplants, Mines contacted Dr. Simon Kay, who performed the rare and complex double operation. Dr. Kay praised Mines’ progress, noting that he had already regained grip strength just a year after surgery. He also emphasised the importance and generosity of limb donations, calling it an “enormous, courageous, generous thing to do.”
To make his new hands feel more like his own, Mines decided to tattoo them. After his recovery, the former semi-professional footballer first held his children’s hands while walking them to school.
Mines, originally from Bradford on Avon, hopes his story will raise awareness about limb donations. He believes that if more people knew about the possibility of donating limbs, they might consider it as a life-changing gift for someone in need.
“Saving Lives in Leeds” follows the daily lives of medical staff working in hospitals across the city. The first of eight episodes, focusing on neurosurgery and transplant patients at Leeds General Infirmary, aired earlier this month and is available to view on BBC iPlayer.
Make it Visible Taskforce Launched to Address Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention in Construction
Over 150 industry volunteers have joined the Make it Visible Taskforce in a bid to combat construction worker suicide and improve wellbeing.
More than 150 volunteers from the construction industry have joined forces in a national initiative called “Make it Visible,” aimed at combating suicide rates and promoting the wellbeing of workers in the field.
The initiative, launched earlier this year, brings together contractors, clients, and professional bodies to address the construction industry’s poor record on mental health.
According to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, construction workers in the UK and Ireland are three times more likely to take their own lives than workers in other industries. On average, two construction workers die by suicide every working day.
The Make It Visible initiative, coordinated by the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity and Mates In Mind, seeks to establish a practical and quantifiable plan of action for wellbeing that can reach workers at all levels. The initiative also aims to consolidate the numerous mental health schemes already operating within the industry, fostering a more cohesive cross-company approach.
Key priorities for the initiative include developing an industry-wide wellbeing code of practice, providing industry-wide advice, supporting existing on-site wellbeing champions, and promoting people skills training for supervisors and managers.
The Make It Visible task force will also work to secure government funding for wellbeing training and initiatives and to ensure that mental health provisions are included in procurement processes.
Bill Hill, CEO of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity, emphasized the moral responsibility to improve the welfare of the construction workforce. He urged industry stakeholders to put egos, brands, and intellectual property aside to work collectively and transform the initiative into a movement that makes wellbeing support visible on every construction site.
“We want to leave egos, brands and intellectual property aside so that we can work together and change this moment into a movement to make wellbeing support visible in sight, on every site,” he said.
Members of the task force have already begun to learn from international efforts, hearing from Jon Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association, which has developed a draft Culture Standard to improve welfare for construction workers in Australia. Davies noted similarities between workplace cultures in both countries’ construction industries and highlighted the need to address the root causes of poor mental health in the sector.
Davies suggested reducing long working hours, providing flexible work options, and mandating improvements in construction culture through procurement processes as potential ways to foster better workplace cultures and support worker wellbeing.
NASC Appoints New Marketing and Events Manager
An experienced marketing professional is set to bring digital expertise to the NASC.
The National Access and Scaffolding Confederation (NASC) announced today the appointment of 32-year-old Sophie Price as their new Marketing and Events Manager.
Price, a native of Wales, brings a wealth of experience in marketing and user-experience optimisation, SEO, and digital marketing for membership organisations. She previously held a similar position at The Society for Experimental Biology, where she demonstrated excellence in membership-based marketing.
In her new role, she will collaborate with NASC staff, committees, and Royle Media, a scaffolding specialist freelance marketing communications agency, to enhance brand awareness for the organisation and its 490+ members.
Upon accepting her new position, Price expressed her enthusiasm and excitement, stating, “I’m very excited to be joining the NASC. The team have been so welcoming, and there is a huge amount of passion for the industry and its members. I see a lot of exciting opportunities on the horizon.”
Acting NASC Managing Director Dave Mosley also shared his optimism about Price’s appointment, saying, “We are thrilled to have Sophie Price join the NASC staff and are feeling very positive about her recruitment. We have a lot going on within the organisation, record membership levels, and lots of strong, fresh aims and objectives for new President, David Brown – including #ItHasToBeNASC, achieving net zero, improved sustainability, and membership access to training grant pots.
Sophie is bright, young, and enthusiastic, and we are all feeling she will achieve a lot in this brand new NASC marketing and events management role,” he added.
Millcroft Impresses MP with HS2 Involvement and Community Commitment
During a recent visit from local MP Matthew Pennycook, Greenwich-based Millcroft Scaffolding showcased its facilities, community engagement, and involvement in the High Speed 2 (HS2) rail project.
The visit aimed to showcase Millcroft’s facilities and discuss the company’s involvement in Europe’s largest rail project.
During the tour of Millcroft’s head depot and Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)-approved training centre, Pennycook spoke with representatives about the company’s work on HS2 Central and Euston Station.
Millcroft is providing safety and access scaffolding across eight different terminals on the Central HS2 route, with the project expected to span five years. The company also has a significant multi-million-pound contract at Euston Station, supporting the main contractor, Skanska, in facilitating the construction of the new HS2 Euston Station.
Pennycook, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, praised Millcroft’s team, saying, “It was a pleasure to meet such an enthusiastic and friendly team, who are incredibly passionate about their work and proud of the contribution they make to our local and national economy.” He also lauded the company’s high-quality services, first-rate facilities, and excellent staff training and career progression opportunities.
In addition to working on the HS2 project, Millcroft engages with the community by visiting local schools and career fairs to discuss the benefits of a career in scaffolding. The company is committed to building the workforce of tomorrow by encouraging local recruitment for skills-based scaffolding roles, as well as administrative and managerial positions.
Billy Jones, Managing Director of Millcroft, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to showcase their facilities and discuss their dedication to clients, employees, and the Greenwich community. He acknowledged the contentious nature of the HS2 project. Still, he emphasised the economic and employment benefits it brings, stating, “We can hopefully encourage more positivity about the initiative and recognise the skill and dedication going into the project.”
CITB Doubles Grant Rates for Short Courses Amid Rising Costs
In a move aimed at supporting the UK construction industry, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) has announced it will invest over £100m in grants to train construction workers this year.
The investment will help construction workers acquire the skills they need to thrive in the industry.
Effective 1 April 2023, CITB is doubling grant rates for short courses to enable businesses to offer more training to their employees. Up to £240, the grants will support employers with their training needs, including leadership and management courses.
According to the training board, Mental Health and Asbestos awareness courses were the most popular short courses last year, for which CITB paid over £15m in grants to employers.
The CITB is also increasing grant rates for specific supervision and management qualifications to support individuals affected by the Industry Accreditation card withdrawal. To continue working on construction sites, Industry Accreditation cardholders may need to complete a qualification, and so grants for supervision and management qualifications will be increased from £600 to £1,250 and £1,500, respectively.
Last year, CITB increased rain screen cladding qualification grants from £600 to £1,000, making an additional £2,000 available for each dry lining apprentice. The CITB is investing in the industry to create a more skilled and competitive workforce.
CITB Chief Executive Tim Balcon said: “During this challenging time for the economy, the finances of businesses and workers are under pressure. Our increased grant rates address rising costs and support employers to secure high quality training to upskill their workforce. We know investing in training can bring competitive advantage helping businesses to retain and attract more workers and to ensure they have an upskilled workforce to win new work.”
Mr Balcon continued, “We’ve listened to their concerns and responded by doubling our grant rates for short courses and increasing our grant rates for specific short qualifications.”
The CITB is committed to supporting the construction industry by providing employers with the necessary resources to train and retain a skilled workforce. With this investment of over £100m in grants to train construction workers, the CITB is crucial in ensuring that the industry has the skills and talent it needs to thrive in the coming years.
