July issue of Scaffolding Insider out now
The July 2026 issue of Scaffolding Insider is out now and available to download here.
This issue leads with Keeping the Lights On, a set of four case studies with one thing in common: power stations. Altrad's work on the Chargehall Roof Remediation Project at Heysham 2 involved a scaffold designed to withstand seismic activity and 10,000-year wind events, standing 74.5m tall and using over 350 tonnes of system scaffold. At Hinkley Point C, SRK replaced what was originally conceived as a multi-million-pound steel portal frame with a scaffold-based building, achieving tolerances measured in millimetres and an industry-first 19m-wide door supported by scaffold. SRK also features for its asbestos enclosure and demolition support work at Inovyn Runcorn, while JR Scaffold Services describes three years of planning and 11 months on site for the re-insulation and re-cladding of the 275kV building at Cockenzie. Between them, the four projects are a reminder of how specialist this work has become.
That theme runs into this month's Industry View, in which NASC and CISRS Group CEO Clive Dickin picks up on the Government's recent clarification that scaffolding and temporary works fall outside the remit of the Building Safety Act. He argues the clarification is an opportunity to address something bigger, pointing to research among the 20 largest NASC member companies which found that, on average, just 30% of their turnover now comes from traditional construction activity.
In NASC News, the Scaffolding Excellence Awards 2026 shortlist is announced in full, following a year in which entries rose by 40% on 2025; the highest number in the event's history. There is also detail on new member guidance PAG2:2026 Application of the Building Safety Act to Scaffolding and Access, issued alongside written confirmation from the then Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy, and news that Build UK has agreed to revise the Common Assessment Standard question set to align with that clarification.
With just weeks to go, there is a full preview of the ScaffEx26 conference and exhibition, taking place at Manchester Central on 10-11 September. The conference programme is now complete, with sessions on supply chain pressures, starting and scaling a scaffolding business, the talent crisis, the hidden risks of getting it wrong, and whether you would trust a scaffolder trained on a computer. The exhibition will be the biggest the sector has seen, with more than 50 exhibitors, a dedicated transport area, a display charting 100 years of scaffolding and an early look at the Awards shortlisted entries. Registration is free.
Also in this issue, Inside the Engine Room goes behind the scenes of NASC's committees; the people who develop and maintain the guidance members rely on every day, with the full current membership of all nine committees, details of how to join, and news of the new 10-region structure launched at the AGM. We introduce Rob Boardman, the new Head of Training and Education at NASC and CISRS, who sets out his priorities including the CISRS Train the Trainer programme, CPD and a new Learner Management System. And in Training & Education, there are reports from the latest Teacher Tour in Swansea and a hands-on Careers Insight Session at Nine Elms in London, both part of the ongoing work to change perceptions of scaffolding careers.
Plus the usual Industry News Round-up, including the new CIJC pay rates, the latest HSE fatality figures and the Lighthouse Charity's 2025 Impact Report. We hope you enjoy the read!
