August issue of Scaffolding Insider out now

The August 2026 issue of Scaffolding Insider is out now and available to download here. This is the bumper edition, printed to coincide with ScaffEx26 those special two days where the whole industry comes together.

This issue leads with Scaffolding's Bigger Story, a celebration of just how broad this sector has become. It opens with Tone Scaffolding Services' work on the refurbishment of Gate 3 at the Barking Creek Barrier, one of London's critical tidal flood defence structures, where a large suspended access scaffold had to be designed, erected and adapted within a live tidal environment, with erection sequences planned around tide movements and narrow working windows. Work was temporarily suspended when nesting crows and peregrine falcons were discovered on the barrier.

The feature then revisits some of the remarkable projects that have appeared in these pages, including KAEFER at Hinkley Point C, where a 340-tonne containment liner was lifted past scaffolding by the world's largest construction crane; Infrastructure Site Services on the High Level Bridge over the Tyne; Sky Scaffolding's temporary roof for the film Wonka, which supported lighting, camera gear and 20 trapeze artists; ADVANCED NI Scaffolding beneath a working helipad at the Royal Victoria Hospital; Allen & Foxworthy at Blenheim Palace; and Proplant Scaffolding 87 floors up The Shard. From tidal barriers and nuclear power stations to film sets, hospitals and heritage sites, scaffolding has a remarkable story to tell.

There is a full preview of ScaffEx26 across four pages, covering the conference programme, the Demo Zone's nine sessions, the Skills and Safety Zone and an exhibition that will be the biggest showcase the UK scaffolding and access industry has seen. Also inside, a guide to using the two days to solve the problems your business is actually facing.

Fraud in Scaffolding looks at a risk that is on the rise and can be fatally damaging to a business. Luigi Maggio of NASC Insurance Services sets out where the exposure lies, from staged accidents and phantom passengers to payment diversion and compromised supplier emails, alongside five key messages from new guidance CG28 Fraud Awareness and Prevention for Scaffolding Contractors and Suppliers, and a practical checklist.

Fit for the Job is a buyer's guide to scaffolding trucks, covering the HGV and LGV licensing ladder, payload at 7.5 tonnes and above, bodywork and lorry loaders, FORS accreditation and how Transport for London's Direct Vision Standard is shaping fleet choices.

In NASC News, there is detail on the new risk-based audit process, the AI-powered assistant now live on the NASC and CISRS websites, four new guidance documents covering adult work experience, funding and grants, recruitment methods and workforce consultation, the top five messages from SG28 on timber frame buildings, and record TG30 download figures.

The Scaffolding Excellence Awards feature runs through every shortlisted entry ahead of the winners being announced on 11 September, with the Lifetime Achievement award still under wraps.

Plus the Industry News Round-up and Training & Education, including the Sean Doyle Scaffolding work experience day and three Liberton High School students now in discussions about apprenticeships with Enigma Industrial Services. We hope you enjoy the read.