The Scaffolding Association has appointed seasoned industry leader Mark Parkin as its new Strategic Director, in a move set to bolster the organisation’s ongoing efforts to improve safety standards, elevate industry recognition, and support its growing membership base.
With a career spanning 37 years, Mark Parkin brings a wealth of frontline experience to the role. His journey through the scaffolding sector has included positions as an advanced scaffolder, supervisor, managing director, CEO, and operations director. This extensive background gives him a unique perspective on the sector’s challenges and opportunities—from the ground up.
Mr Parkin is expected to play a central role in shaping the Association’s strategy and furthering its mission to promote scaffolding as a highly skilled and essential industry.
Robert Candy, CEO of the Scaffolding Association, welcomed the appointment, describing it as a “perfect fit” for the organisation’s goals.
“Mark’s extensive industry knowledge, hands-on experience, and strategic mindset align perfectly with the Association’s mission,” said Mr Candy. “His expertise will help the Association continue its work in supporting members, driving innovation, and ensuring the scaffolding industry gains the recognition it deserves.”
Mr Parkin, who has long championed professional development and operational excellence within the sector, said he was eager to take on the new challenge.
“I’ve spent 37 years in the scaffolding industry—not just working within it but striving to understand it at its core: its challenges, its opportunities, and the people who make it what it is,” he said.
He added that one of his key ambitions is to help businesses reframe their thinking to overcome common hurdles.
“All too often, I see businesses struggling because they can’t see the options available to them,” Parkin said. “Using the right approach for each challenge requires an open mind and the ability to think outside the box. Sometimes, you just need to reframe what’s in front of you to get a different perspective.”
In his new role, Parkin will work closely with the Association’s leadership team to strengthen member support, champion best practice, and cultivate closer collaboration across the sector. His focus will also include helping to future-proof the industry by encouraging innovation and a more unified voice for scaffolding professionals.
The Scaffolding Association has grown steadily in recent years, becoming one of the UK’s leading trade bodies for the access and scaffolding industry. With Mr Parkin now in post, the organisation hopes to accelerate its progress in building a stronger, more resilient future for the sector.
