National Scaffolders Day - 14th January 2025

January 14, 2025

Celebrating National Scaffolders Day: Honouring the Backbone of Construction

National Scaffolders Day, held on 14th January, is a key occasion for recognising the hardworking professionals and apprentices who form the backbone of the scaffolding industry. This day celebrates the critical role scaffolders play in construction and beyond, highlighting the individuals and innovations that drive the sector forward.

From enabling iconic architectural projects to ensuring safety on worksites, scaffolders are essential to the construction process. National Scaffolders Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate this indispensable trade and the contributions of the people behind it.


Why Scaffolders Deserve Recognition

Scaffolders are often the unsung heroes of construction, but their work is fundamental to the success of every project—from building towering skyscrapers to restoring historic landmarks. National Scaffolders Day recognises:

  • The Workforce: The skilled scaffolders, apprentices, and professionals whose expertise ensures every project is safe and efficient.
  • Innovation: Advances in scaffolding technology, materials, and techniques that elevate the trade.
  • Opportunities: Apprenticeships and training programmes that develop the next generation of scaffolding professionals.

Apprenticeships: Building the Future of Scaffolding

Apprenticeships are vital to the scaffolding industry, providing aspiring scaffolders with hands-on experience, industry-recognised qualifications, and the opportunity to earn while they learn.

For those looking to enter or progress within the scaffolding trade, here are some useful resources:

Employers can also contribute by offering apprenticeships, creating placements, and supporting apprentices in gaining valuable skills.


Marking the Date

National Scaffolders Day is an independent celebration, but it also ties into broader industry initiatives:

  • National Scaffolding Week: Held from 6th October, this week celebrates the scaffolding industry with events, resources, and opportunities for professionals, apprentices, and employers.
  • National Apprenticeship Week: Running from 10th–16th February 2025, this week highlights the impact of apprenticeships across industries, including scaffolding.

National Scaffolders Day serves as a standalone occasion to honour scaffolders, setting the tone for additional celebrations later in the year.


How to Get Involved

There are many ways to celebrate National Scaffolders Day:

  • Share Your Story: If you’re a scaffolder, apprentice, or employer, share your journey and achievements to inspire others to join the trade.
  • Highlight Apprenticeships: Employers can showcase the benefits of apprenticeships and celebrate the accomplishments of their trainees.
  • Raise Awareness: Promote the importance of scaffolders and the career opportunities available in the trade.

A Bright Future for Scaffolders

Scaffolding isn’t just a trade—it’s a career with boundless potential. With the support of apprenticeships, training programmes, and innovative professionals, scaffolders will continue to build the structures of the future.


Let’s use National Scaffolders Day to honour the scaffolders, apprentices, and employers shaping this essential sector—one scaffold at a time.:

Where's The Careers Advice for the Roles That Build Britain

April 23, 2025
The Construction Skills Shortage and the Scaffolding Sector’s Missing Message The UK’s housing targets are under pressure. The construction sector faces a growing skills shortage, and as the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) recently highlighted, one of the root causes is alarmingly simple: young people aren’t hearing about careers in construction. But this problem runs even deeper than housebuilding. At National Scaffolding Week , we see how the lack of construction-focused careers advice affects the entire scaffolding and access sector. Scaffolding is the backbone of construction — from maintenance on heritage buildings to the delivery of modern megaprojects — yet the pathway into our industry remains under-promoted and often misunderstood. Breaking Down Barriers and Busting Myths Despite offering structured training, clear progression routes, and a wealth of skilled and professional opportunities, scaffolding still suffers from outdated stereotypes. Too many young people, teachers, and even parents see it as just a stopgap job, not the highly technical, safety-critical profession that it is. Scaffolding is so much more than tubes and boards. It's about design ingenuity, engineering precision, safety leadership, and project management excellence. It’s about problem-solving, teamwork, and making a visible difference to the world around us. Why Early Engagement Matters If we’re serious about tackling the skills shortage — and if we want to secure the future of the access and scaffolding sector — we need to start early. Careers advice in schools must reflect the real breadth of opportunities available across construction, including scaffolding. That means: Embedding scaffolding into careers education programmes. Creating engaging, relatable role models who can share their stories with young people. Showing the exciting projects and life-changing infrastructure that scaffolders help to make possible. National Scaffolding Week: Leading the Conversation Our mission at National Scaffolding Week is to make scaffolding visible, accessible, and aspirational. We’re here to champion the essential role our sector plays in building Britain — and to ensure that scaffolding is part of the careers conversation in every school and college. Because if young people can’t see it, they can’t be it. Let’s work together to showcase the skills, passion, and pride that drive the scaffolding industry — and inspire the next generation to help us build the future.

Beat My Scaffold 2025 Winners Announced

March 25, 2025
The #BeatMyScaffold2025 competition has officially concluded, celebrating some of the most innovative and well-executed scaffold designs from around the world. The contest, which showcased the skills and creativity of industry professionals, saw strong participation from scaffolding experts, judges, and voters alike.
Safe Loading and Vehicle Checks for Scaffolders –

Safe Loading and Vehicle Checks for Scaffolders – Essential Driver CPC Module Launched by Scaffolding Association and RHA

February 13, 2025
Scaffolding transport comes with serious risks and getting it wrong can result in fines, vehicle prohibitions, loss of an operator’s license, and, more tragically, serious injuries or even fatalities. For this reason, the Scaffolding Association and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) have this week launched a brand-new Driver CPC training module, 'Safe Loading and Vehicle Checks for Scaffolders.' This course contributes to the required thirty-five hours of periodic Driver CPC training, mandatory for all professional HGV drivers. Failing to complete this training can result in being unable to legally drive. Robert Candy, Chief Executive of the Scaffolding Association, said: "Scaffolding transport is both high-risk and heavily regulated and getting it wrong can have devastating consequences. Poorly secured scaffolding loads can cause serious injuries, collisions and even fatalities. This new course equips drivers with the knowledge to prevent such incidents, protecting lives and protecting businesses from enforcement action and legal consequences.” Richard Smith, Managing Director of the RHA, said: "Load security is a priority for police and enforcement agencies who actively target non-compliant vehicles. There’s a moral obligation too as unsecured scaffolding and unsafe loads not only lead to penalties, but they also put lives at risk. This DVSA-approved course is designed specifically for scaffolding-related transport and equips drivers and businesses with the essential skills to stay compliant and safe. It arms drivers and businesses with the knowledge they need to prevent accidents, avoid fines, and protect the public." This Course Will Ensure: ● Drivers and operators fully understand the latest legislation ● Scaffolding materials are transported safely, securely, and legally ● Vehicles remain roadworthy and compliant with operator license requirements ● Businesses avoid costly enforcement action, fines, and prohibitions What Delegates Will Learn: ● Load Security – Key updates and who is responsible ● Staying Safe & Compliant – The right way to load scaffolding vehicles ● The Consequences of Getting It Wrong – Prohibitions, fines, and legal action ● Daily Vehicle Checks – What must be checked and how to record defects ● Defect & NIL Defect Reporting – Keeping vehicles roadworthy ● Enforcement Agencies – Their powers, documentation, and what to expect Who Needs to Book This Course? ● All professional HGV drivers transporting scaffolding ● Operators and supervisors responsible for loading & securing scaffolding materials ● Businesses that want to avoid enforcement action and protect their operator’s license For full course details including dates and locations, please visit: https://www.rha.uk.net/Training/England-Wales/Driver-CPC-Courses/-Safe-Loading-and-vehicle-checks-for-Scaffolders
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