The UK scaffolding and access industry gathered in Manchester on Friday to celebrate its leading figures and landmark projects at the Scaffolding Excellence Awards 2025.
The event, held at Manchester Central to mark the close of the ScaffEx25 exhibition, brought together contractors, suppliers and guests from around the world.
Television presenters Alex Jones and Clare Balding co-hosted the ceremony, joined on stage by Leigh Francis, Mike Tindall and Shaun Ryder.
Major winners
The night’s standout prize went to Allen & Foxworthy for its work on the Blenheim Palace Roof Restoration. The company collected both Design of the Year and Project of the Year – Large.
Judges described the scheme as the “project of a lifetime” and praised its “innovation, creativity and problem-solving on a job that demanded genuine out-of-the-box thinking”.
Other notable winners included:
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Apprentice of the Year: Rhys Bennett of JMAC
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Lifetime Achievement: Rob West of Benchmark Scaffolding
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Product of the Year: Staht
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Service of the Year: Leach’s
Rob West, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, was commended for his role in raising industry standards, strengthening safety culture and mentoring the workforce. Judges said his influence had extended beyond his own company, helping shape “industry thinking” across commercial, rail, infrastructure and heritage sectors.
Clive Dickin, Group Chief Executive of NASC and CISRS, described the evening as a highlight of the industry calendar. “It’s a great opportunity for the industry to get together and celebrate the achievements of the brilliant people in the industry.
The winning projects are remarkable examples of what this industry can and does achieve every day,” he said.
Full list of winners
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Apprentice of the Year (CISRS): Rhys Bennett, JMAC (runner-up John Stokes, Shield Services Group)
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Service of the Year (NASC Insurance Services): Leach’s
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Project of the Year – Small (Southern Hoist Services): Proplant Scaffolding (highly commended: Malvern Scaffolding)
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Product of the Year (Step-Up Scaffold UK): Staht
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Design of the Year (Worldwide Scaffold and Access): Allen & Foxworthy
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Project of the Year – Medium (JR Scaffold Services): Rose System Scaffolding (highly commended: Chris Sedgeman Scaffolding)
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Project of the Year – Large (Trad UK): Allen & Foxworthy (highly commended: Inner City Scaffolding)
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Project of the Year – Major (AT-PAC): ISS
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Lifetime Achievement (Leach’s): Rob West, Benchmark Scaffolding
The awards, organised by the NASC, capped a week that saw Manchester host the largest scaffolding and access expo held in the UK to date.
