Are you the UK's Fastest Fixer
September 27, 2022
National Scaffolding Week, 26 - 30th September 2022, partners with TRAD UK to run a ‘Fastest Fixer’ competition across six depots nationwide.
National Scaffolding Week (NSW) is a brand new campaign to celebrate the scaffolding and access sectors' many achievements and promote the diverse range of roles and opportunities available within the industry.
To help raise awareness of the campaign, National Scaffolding Week have teamed up with TRAD UK to run a ‘fastest fixer’ competition which will be held at six TRAD UK depots across the UK.
Each location will fix a vertical 6-foot tube and have a time challenge to fit 12 D/F doubles onto the tube. TRAD UK will provide the same scaffold spanner and fittings are used at each location to ensure everyone is competing like for like.
The depots taking part are Andover, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Manchester and the criteria for the competition will be as follows:
- 12 doubles to be laid out on the floor and scaffold spanner handed to the competitor
- All nuts are unwound fully, meaning everyone is starting from the same position
- Depot adjudicators have a stopwatch and spreadsheet ready to record your time
- Adjudicator to issue start instruction
- Timing starts immediately from when competitor touches / picks up first fitting.
- Once all 12 doubles are fixed to the tube the timer is stopped
- Nuts must be fully tight and should not be able to be loosened by hand.
- All names and times will be logged on to a spreadsheet
At the conclusion of National Scaffolding Week, a winner per region will be announced and awarded with a commemorative shield, with the fastest from all regions being declared the overall ‘Fastest Fitter 2022’ and awarded with their own award.
National Scaffolding Week (NSW) returns for 2025 to celebrate the many achievements of the scaffold and access sector and to highlight the wide range of roles and opportunities the industry has to offer. We’re inviting you to nominate the individuals who go above and beyond every day—on site, in the office, or in the wider community. In an industry worth over £2.86bn to the UK economy, with more than 34,000 scaffolding operatives and countless others in supporting roles, there are stories of hard work, generosity, and inspiration waiting to be told. Do you know someone who has: Raised money for charity through their scaffolding business? Played a key role in training and mentoring the next generation? Dedicated their life to the scaffold industry and deserves long-overdue recognition? Whatever their story, we want to hear it! Nominated individuals will be celebrated across our website and social media using the hashtag #ScaffStar, and recognised at a special awards ceremony taking place during National Scaffolding Week 2025. You can even nominate someone who has been a ScaffStar before! The deadline for nominations is Monday 30th September. Take a look at our 2024 Scaff Stars to see the inspiring individuals recognised last year. Submit your nomination and help us celebrate the stars of our industry!
The Scaffolding Association is excited to confirm that National Scaffolding Week 2025 will take place from Monday 6 October to Friday 10 October 2025 . Now firmly established in the scaffold industry calendar, National Scaffolding Week is a bold and positive campaign that champions the people, progress, and professionalism of scaffolding in the UK. Launched to raise awareness and improve understanding of the industry’s value, the campaign has grown significantly over the last few years. Since its inception, the campaign has reached thousands of people inside and outside the industry, sparked conversations with government, inspired young people to consider scaffolding as a career, and created new opportunities for engagement between scaffolders, educators, clients, and the wider public. A central feature of the campaign has been the celebration of #ScaffStars – individuals from all walks of scaffolding life who go above and beyond. From scaffolders on-site to office-based professionals, apprentices to directors, each ScaffStar story has helped to highlight the skills, commitment and pride that define the scaffold community. But more than that, National Scaffolding Week has become a rallying point for the industry as a whole. It’s a unique opportunity for businesses, individuals, suppliers, manufacturers, training providers, and supporters to come together around a shared purpose: to celebrate achievements, tackle common challenges, and shape the future of scaffolding together. Whether through events, online content, partnerships or local initiatives, the campaign encourages connection and collaboration across all corners of the industry. Over the last few years, the campaign has seen exceptional support from scaffolding companies, educators, media and partner organisations – all helping to ensure that the industry’s contributions to the built environment are seen, understood, and valued. This year’s campaign will continue to focus on inspiring the next generation, amplifying authentic industry voices, and most importantly, bringing the scaffold community together as one. Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association, said: “National Scaffolding Week is more than a celebration – it’s a platform for pride, progress and unity. Every year, we see companies of all sizes coming together to showcase what scaffolding is really about – professionalism, innovation, and community. In 2025, we want even more people to join us in raising the profile of this incredible industry.” The Scaffolding Association is calling on businesses, individuals, training providers, suppliers, and supporters to get involved and help shape the campaign. The Association will be unveiling this year’s campaign theme, new partnerships, and engagement opportunities over the coming weeks. In the meantime, we encourage everyone to start planning how they’ll get involved. Whether big or small, your voice matters – and your support helps us reach new audiences, shape perceptions, and build a stronger, more connected future for scaffolding. To stay updated and get involved, visit nationalscaffoldingweek.org to download the social toolkit or follow the campaign on social media. Help Us Raise the Profile of National Scaffolding Week 2025 We’ve created a set of downloadable promotional materials to help you show your support for National Scaffolding Week 2025 – including email footers, a website banner, and a range of social media images. We’d really appreciate you using them wherever you can – whether that’s adding the banner to your homepage, using the images on your LinkedIn or Instagram, or including the email footer in your day-to-day correspondence. Every post, tag, and share helps us raise awareness and amplify the voice of the scaffold industry. Your support makes a real difference. www.nationalscaffoldingweek.com
National Scaffolding Week is proud to support Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 , taking place from 12–18 May , led by the Mental Health Foundation — the UK’s leading charity for mental health. This year’s theme, “ Community ”, highlights something we know well in scaffolding: the power of connection, belonging, and everyday support. Whether you’re working at height, on the ground, or behind the scenes, community is what keeps our industry strong — and it’s what can help keep us mentally well too. Why Community Matters in Scaffolding Scaffolding is a team effort. From the early starts and long days, to the careful planning and physical demands of the job — no one does it alone. That sense of teamwork and trust is more than just good practice — it’s a lifeline. Scaffolding is built on teamwork. From the early starts and long days, to the careful planning and physical demands of the job — no one works in isolation. Checking in with a colleague, taking breaks together, or making time to talk when someone’s struggling, can make a real difference. Mental Health Is Everyone’s Business We echo the words of Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association, who said: “Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us that community is not just a word — it’s something we create through the way we treat each other, look out for one another, and make space to talk.” His message is a timely one. Mental health isn’t a side issue — it belongs on every toolbox talk, every company agenda, and every scaffolding site across the UK. Where to Get Support National Scaffolding Week proudly supports the work of these incredible organisations making a difference in our industry: Mates in Mind – Mental health education and support tailored to construction. Lighthouse Club – Financial, emotional and wellbeing help for construction workers and their families. Construction Sport – Using sport to create space for mental health conversations and connection. Working Minds Campaign (HSE) – Tools and resources to help employers tackle work-related stress. ManKind CIC – Peer support, mentoring and wellbeing programmes for tradespeople. Be Part of the Change Whether you’re an apprentice or a company director, you have a role to play in building a healthier, more connected scaffold community. During Mental Health Awareness Week, we encourage everyone across the industry to: Start a conversation about mental health Share resources on site Recognise when someone might need support — and reach out Because in scaffolding, we don’t just build structures. We build people up too. Find more Mental Health Awareness Week resources here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/public-engagement/mental-health-awareness-week Mates in Mind – www.matesinmind.org Lighthouse Club – www.lighthouseclub.org Construction Sport – www.constructionsport.com Working Minds Campaign (HSE) – https://workright.campaign.gov.uk/campaigns/working-minds ManKind CIC – www.mankindcic.co.uk