Member in focus: How Star Scaffolding is building careers as well as scaffolds
At a time when the scaffolding sector is struggling with a well-documented global skills shortage, Star Scaffolding has taken a practical approach to the problem: grow your own.
Since December 2022, the West Midlands-based NASC member firm has been running a structured apprenticeship programme that has supported 32 apprentices across both operational and office-based roles. The results speak for themselves; a retention rate of over 90%, well above the national average, and 13 successful completions to date, with 16 apprentices currently active.
It is exactly the kind of initiative we need to see more of across the industry.
The programme did not happen by accident. Before a single apprentice was recruited, Star Scaffolding invested significant time in understanding the landscape, researching qualification structures, funding mechanisms and compliance requirements. That groundwork allowed the company to design a programme that was financially sustainable and properly aligned with both educational and operational needs from the outset.
The centrepiece of the approach is a partnership with Walsall College's Construction College Midlands, which delivers the academic elements of the training. Pairing that external expertise with an internal mentoring culture, where experienced scaffolders and office staff take an active role in guiding apprentices through the early stages of their careers, has proved to be a powerful combination.
"It's not just about building scaffolds, it's about building careers," says Lydia Stanton, Commercial Director at Star Scaffolding. "We're proud of what our apprentices have achieved and will keep investing in future talent."
Perhaps one of the most distinctive aspects of Star Scaffolding's approach is how it recruits. Rather than relying on job boards or industry channels alone, the company has engaged directly with local schools, gyms, boxing clubs and community organisations to find motivated young people who might never have considered a career in construction.
It is a grassroots strategy that reflects a broader ambition: not just to fill vacancies, but to position scaffolding as a genuinely rewarding long-term profession for people at the start of their working lives. Many of those who have come through the programme transitioned directly from school or from career changes into secure, long-term employment.
The results are hard to argue with. Of the 32 apprentices supported since 2022, only three have dropped out; a figure that reflects both the quality of recruitment and the strength of the support structures put in place to keep apprentices on track.
The programme covers more than just scaffolding. Business administration apprenticeships have run alongside the operational training, strengthening Star Scaffolding's office function, while offering a different route into the company for those whose skills and interests lie elsewhere. Apprentices have achieved qualifications including Scaffolding Part 2 and Business Administration, with clear progression pathways built into the programme from day one.
For Tyler Evans, who has recently completed his Part 2 Scaffolding Apprenticeship, the experience has been transformative. "The apprenticeship gave me real skills and confidence," he says. "I went from having no experience to working on live projects as part of a team. Now I've completed my Part 2 and feel ready for a long-term career."
With 16 apprentices currently working through the programme, Star Scaffolding shows no sign of slowing down. What the company has demonstrated is that a well-planned, properly resourced apprenticeship programme is not just good for business — it is one of the most effective tools available to address the skills gap that continues to challenge the sector.
At NASC, we are proud to count Star Scaffolding among our members and would encourage others to consider what a similar commitment to apprenticeships could mean for their own businesses and their local communities.
