Manchester delivers: ScaffEx26 in review
3,200 visitors, 70 exhibitors, two days, one industry.
ScaffEx has closed its doors at Manchester Central for another year, and the numbers tell the story we hoped they would. This was the biggest ScaffEx we have ever staged, with 39% more visitors through the door than last year, more exhibitors on the floor and a broader spread of sectors, products and services represented than at any show before it.
But the numbers are only part of it. What made ScaffEx26 was the fantastic, buzzy atmosphere: two days of our impressive industry genuinely excited to be in the same room.
A floor that never went quiet
From the moment the doors opened on Thursday morning, the exhibition hall was busy and stayed that way. Exhibitors from all round the world brought their best to Manchester with full-scale scaffold displays, product launches, new systems and technology and hands-on demonstrations.
Skills, safety and success
Our conference programme ran alongside the exhibition across both days, and the sessions drew strong crowds throughout.
Day one set the tone, with speakers tackling the skills challenge and the realities of building and running a successful scaffolding business. Day two turned to the practical: the site risks that don't announce themselves, the growing role of computer-based training in the sector, and the technical considerations around temporary roofing.
These were not sessions of polite agreement. The discussion was frank, the questions from the floor were sharp, and the conversations carried on long after each session ended. That is exactly what we want ScaffEx to be.
The best awards night we've had
Friday evening brought the Scaffolding Excellence Awards and by common agreement it was our best yet. A full room, glam guests, our amazing award winners, great food and entertainment and a reminder of the standard of work being done across our industry every day.
Congratulations to every winner and to every finalist. Being shortlisted at these awards is impressive enough and the quality of entries this year made the judges' job a difficult one.
ScaffEx only works because our industry turns up for it, so our thanks go to every exhibitor who invested in a stand, every sponsor who backed the event, every speaker who gave their time and expertise, and every visitor who made the journey to Manchester.
Thanks also to the brilliant team at Manchester Central, to our production partners, and to the NASC team who spent months making two days look effortless.
ScaffEx27
We are already well into planning the next one, which will take place at Manchester Central from the 9th-10th September 2027.
If ScaffEx26 showed you what a presence at this show can do for your business, we would love to hear from you early.
Stand space at ScaffEx27 has already started to sell up quickly, so dont delay in getting in touch with us.
Register your interest by sending an email to: [email protected] (or if you already know who your designated Business Development Manager is, please email them directly.
