MIDLANDS
SOUTH WEST AND SOUTH WALES
PHIL HEFFERNAN, SCAFFOLD ERECTION SERVICES LTD
DAVID ANDERSON , ALLEN & FOXWORTHY LTD
The ending of the latest lockdown on Monday 19 July, albeit with the welcome recognition that there will be long-term Coronavirus risks for some considerable time, should help see renewed and stronger growth in the second half of the year for our Midlands NASC membership.
Immediately, current shortages are being exacerbated by reviving demand in the US and China as well as a shift in consumer patterns brought on by the global pandemic. For example, the increased demand has seriously disrupted the timber supply from Scandinavia with the obvious consequences we are now encountering.
Most construction sectors including our own with the help of NASC guidance, were able to adopt Covid mitigation during the lockdowns, helping sustain turnover and growth. Coupled with the re-opening of the wider services economy, a more sustainable but moderate growth trajectory could be achievable.
Furthermore, as well as international freight costs multiplying, commodity prices are also on an upswing, and PPE and consumables are equally as hard to secure and suffering similar price hikes.
However, there are always hurdles to jump over and now we have interruptions to global supply chains, and all the UK membership are suffering from decreasing availability of materials and massive price increases. Steel tube, boards and fittings have escalated in cost dramatically.
Whilst much of this surge can be attributed to the accelerated pace of global economic recovery, the change in demand patterns is also a factor that could affect our members’ ability to sustain turnover and growth. I would very much hope to be writing a brighter outlook for the latter part of the year. Watch this space!
Recently I visited the Construction Training Centre, operated by Simian and Southwest Training Centre.
trade that he hoped would lead him to a good career, with more responsibility/training and of course better wages!
On arrival to site in Weston-super-Mare, I was greeted by Simian’s Rob Wolstanholme who immediately made me feel very welcome. I was due to visit when the centre opened, but due to Covid-19 a delayed visit was arranged.
Simian and Southwest Training Centre should be really proud of what has been achieved to date at The Construction Training Centre. Being able to deliver the range of courses that they do and deliver them across the South West Region and into South Wales, is a positive move.
My first impression from outside was wow! After a short tour of classrooms full of our region’s finest operatives working with their instructors to develop theory skills and knowledge. It’s been a long time since I was in one of these centres and have to say I was very happy to see how spacious and organised the areas were. The areas allocated to different types of scaffolding operations full of trainees keen to get on with training. The areas felt safe and zoned off between different structures. The training centre was spotless and very well organised. I met the centre manager, Adie Holmes, and felt his enthusiasm to produce properly trained scaffolders at different levels of their careers. I was introduced to a young Part 1 operative called James Bourton who agreed to talk about his training and workplace experience. I was especially pleased to hear him being grateful to his employer for sending him to be trained properly and I also advised him to be loyal and productive to his employer. With that a rewarding future in our industry will be achieved. James stated he was enjoying the experience and chance he had been given – learning new practical skills and theory of our specific
Working with NASC and NASC members across the region is an area of importance to all members in the future, further developing these links and providing a service to newly accredited members, be it training, consultancy or apprenticeships, is something that Simian actively promotes. WALES IN FOCUS More Welsh firms have remained operational through the pandemic than elsewhere in Britain, meaning increased orders for scaffolding and more training and apprenticeships opportunities. Wales is thus well-placed to play a leading role in the UK’s post-Covid economic recovery. The £1.5 million CWIC Scaffolding Academy, based in South Wales, is a fully accredited centre that has invested £150,000 to support the Welsh scaffolding industry with fully funded COTS, CPD and Part 1 courses. Currently they deliver up to CISRS part 2 training, with CISRS advanced scaffolding accreditation due in November 2021.
SCOTLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND
KEVIN FITZPATRICK, BRAND ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES UK LTD T/A LYNDON SGB
Further relaxation of the Covid restrictions has been great on the one hand as it’s allowed us all some more freedom and time to socialise with friends and family. On the work front, we continue to go through a time no one has ever experienced before. With excellent guidance notes issued by the NASC on a regular basis we’ve been allowed to safely manage our people and operate on site, granted on a far smaller scale than we previously did. The full construction sector needs to continue to be vigilant and follow the guidance to avoid disruption. As we know, the construction industry continued to work through the pandemic which the scaffolding industry supports. However, with the closing of training facilities during the pandemic and people deciding to change careers or new entrants to our industry declining, the scaffolding industry is now having issues with scaffolders, yard staff, drivers and staff having to isolate or leaving, making it difficult to maintain manning levels on sites.
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As a supplier, we need to work on ways to attract people to join our industry as there are many opportunities open to all and not just in scaffolding. This could be office work, surveying, engineering accountancy etc. The NASC is aware of this and has put numerous plans in place to promote the industry to jobseekers of all ages and backgrounds. Another issue we face is the rising prices of both steel and timber with some products doubling in cost compared to this time last year with the supply chain even struggling to give delivery times due to shortages of raw materials. Why is this happening? Brexit and the pandemic combined seems to be at the heart of it all. Many people are now suggesting it is also a knock-on effect from the hold ups at the Suez Canal. In addition, people globally are still returning to manufacturing and non-essential domestic work, so it is a perfect storm. On a more positive note, the construction industry looks buoyant over the coming years so there should be plenty of work for us all. 7
