CLIVE DICKIN CEO Q&A BRAVE NEW WORLD

Welcome to your exciting new role as NASC Chief Executive Officer (CEO). We wish you every success with it. Can we start by asking you to give us a potted CV?

I have worked for over 25 years within the membership trade association sector, specialising in understanding the needs of membership bodies and ensuring that those membership bodies thrive and grow, delivering on their members wishes and needs. My career started within the b2b sales environment working with John Cleese at the renowned training film company Video Arts. then spent over a decade working within the plant tool and building services sectors representative bodies as CEO, leaving for a period to follow a passion for aviation. I then lead the air ambulances as their National Director, I then joined the National Federation of Builders as their Commercial Director.

Why did you want to be the NASC CEO?

Scaffolding and access is critical to construction and a range of other sectors. Without the services NASC members provide these sectors would just not be able to operate in safe and productive way. NASC ensures through its membership and standards of membership that customers needing access and scaffolding can be assured of the highest safety, lowest risk and creativity in delivering their scaffold and access needs.

Equally NASC has a duty to its members to ensure that their securing new business from these standards and that NASC supports them as businesses either with services, affinities or changing the legislative environment to make them as successful as possible. With my experience and knowledge, I believe I can truly support NASC. And of course who would not want to lead such an important organisation?

What was your perception of the NASC before applying for the role?

Through my career, be that when in the plant sector and supporting access hire companies with MEWPs or with the NFB, I have been aware of the important work of NASC, its position within the sector and its reputation. More recently through NFB I have seen the continued complexities of the construction sector and procurement processes more generally, NASC has a huge opportunity to ensure that its membership is at the center of this and projects such as #ItHasToBeNASC will be enhanced and promoted. NASC’s standards are significant and recognised for their quality – shining above all others.

And how is that public perception of the NASC going to change with you in charge?

Firstly, I am here to help. It’s clear that NASC has much to offer. We will ensure that clarity is brought to the offerings and the challenges faced by members will be a key priority. In my first weeks I want to meet as many members as possible and hear their views and challenges and ensure that the immense strength that is NASC is aligned with those needs.

What do you have in mind for the NASC?

NASC is a powerhouse of information, resource, and support. It’s my job to ensure that this service is easily accessible to members, understood by non-members and where there are challenges to the sector pragmatic solutions and challenge to legislators is provided. Over the first months I will be reviewing with the team the NASC strategy and ensuring that we have the resources in place to deliver on the members’ aspirations. NASC’s standards and its membership offering is a beacon of recognised quality, we will ensure that this is truly heard and understood by all customers and prospective customers of NASC members.

What are your impressions of the issues facing the scaffolding sector in the current economic climate?

In over 40 years there has never been a more challenging period; the spectre of war and the economic outcome, talent and staffing issues and the pace of general change as never been so fierce. From economic (inflation, interest rates), ESG for investment, A.I. on the design and costing systems in construction, challenges in securing talent, NASC is here to aid its members and those access and scaffolding business that aspire to be highly professional and profitable.

And the specific issues facing NASC contracting members?

NASC is well appraised on the issues facing NASC members, from support with talent through the Educational Grants scheme to the education programmes through to the business support services provided to members. As part of a strategic review, we will be looking at any gaps in service and ensuring that these are provided as soon as possible. We will also be working with our partners, such as BuildUK and expanding the NASC sphere of influence, with the NFB, SBF, FMB and others ensuring issues and opportunities faced by NASC members are supported and answered. NASC’s governance systems, including its regions and specialist committees alert the council and board of challenges being faced by members.

However, NASC will also be doing a lot more testing and independent questionnaires on the challenges the sector faces. We will then ensure NASC provides solutions and aids the sector. If you are an access or scaffold organisation in membership or not, we will be encouraging you to contact NASC in the first instance so we can help. NASC has by far the most comprehensive knowledge and engagement to solve your businesses problems and help you thrive in these changing times.

Please email enquiries@nasc.org.uk so we can help.

Were you surprised by the amount of different NASC membership types on offer?

Not at all. That is what impresses me about NASC members – from construction, civils, marine through to heritage projects with special design needs. This diversity and scope of access and scaffolding projects is immense. As you travel around the country, scaffolding and access solutions are often overlooked and considered straightforward, however I will be looking with the team at ways we can highlight excellence and promote the scaffold industry. NASC must use these opportunities to ensure that challenges

– like the shortage of talent – can be addressed.

Why do you think people should be NASC members?

NASC is an integral part of the success of the scaffold sector, the standards derived from the expertise of the members and independently vetted and inspected, derives a low risk for clients and higher quality. As a result, scaffolding and access businesses can derive greater, more profitable business. Align this with NASC’s capability to educate, technically advise and support its members through a range of engaging programmes, you must ask why you would not be a member. It’s NASC’s responsibility to ensure (like a gym) that the user is fit and able to perform and grow, over the coming weeks the team will be ensuring that all members are appraised of the services available are being accessed (pun intended!). We will be ensuring that members are aware of the classes, free weights, and cardio equipment available, i.e., the services that can make their business fit. For prospective members I’m keen, no matter their size of business that we help them realise their true potential. We will be looking at how we can help the non-members understand their strengths and adding to the portfolio of amazing services already on offer.

What role do you see NASC guidance taking in the construction sector in the next decade?

Be it ESG, digitisation, changes in contract terms to the JCT, NASC must be at the cutting edge of development ensuring members are not informed as the changes occur but briefed and have the competitive edge over competitors before they happen.

NASC will be reviewing its communication processes and looking at how it can – through dynamic communication systems – ensure members are getting the guidance they need. The pandemic has revolutionised how the sector meets and debates issues, we can be effective, efficient, and dynamic in the delivery of knowledge. Where we NASC needs we will also challenge and drive forward representation if the change is not appropriate and brief on the best pragmatic solution.

Now, would you be kind enough to tell us something about your life away from work?

Favourite book: Anything Tom Clancy or espionage based.

Favourite film: Sorry Star Wars! Then Blade Runner 2049 / Batman (Chris Nolan ones).

Favourite band: Lots, but Foo Fighters, Nirvana, AC/DC….

Favourite pastime: Enjoy riding and time with the family.

Favourite sport: Rugby, F1 and Cycling.

Favourite meal: BBQ or Thai.

Top 3 celebrity/historical dinner party guests: Neil Armstrong, HM Queen Elizabeth II and Toto Wolff.

Thanks for your time and good luck CEO!

Editor, Scaffolding Matters