Speakers
James Brierley
Lee Marley
Adam Millgate
Business Management
Session overview: This session is for anyone thinking about starting their own business, or who has done it and wants to hear others talk honestly about the experience. It will address what it takes to start and grow a successful business in the scaffolding sector.
Starting a scaffolding business may feel like the next logical step, but often it’s the least well-prepared-for. This session cuts through the theory and brings together founders and business leaders who have done it, to share their journeys. From apprentice to owner, from first contract to company culture, the panel will explore the financial, legal and operational realities of building a scaffolding business - including the milestones to aim for, the warning signs to watch and the mistakes that nearly derailed them. This will be a frank, practical and candid conversation about what counts.
Why this session matters: Most people who start a scaffolding business learn the hard way - because nobody told them what was coming. This session changes that. Whether you are thinking about taking the leap, are a year into your journey, or looking to scale what you have already built, these tips on finance, resilience, culture and growth could save you years of trial and error.
James Brierley is Founder and Managing Director of Rose System Scaffolding, which he set up 2017. He leads the company’s strategic direction, supported by a strong management team overseeing day-to-day operations. Rose is an award-winning company recognised for delivering safe, reliable and innovative scaffolding solutions across a wide range of sectors.
Having started his career in the early 1990s, James brings extensive hands-on industry experience, progressing from practical site roles to business leadership. He also holds an MBA, which helped equip him with the tools and knowledge to grow a business now employing 100 full-time staff. As an entrepreneur and industry advocate, James has built a strong reputation for combining commercial insight with a deep understanding of workforce challenges, compliance, and operational delivery.
Lee Marley is Founder & Chief Executive of Lee Marley Group. Lee began his working life as a bricklaying apprentice, completing his training at North Devon College before setting out to build something of his own. By his early twenties he was already running a small team, and at 24 he founded Lee Marley Brickwork, today known as Lee Marley Group, one of the UK's largest integrated masonry and scaffold companies.
Over almost three decades, Lee has grown the business into a specialist contractor of genuine scale, integrating brickwork, scaffolding, stonework and façade systems into a single service model. The company employs more than 1,200 people, including over 100 apprentices, and delivers projects across London, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Lee has always believed that how you build a company matters as much as what you build. He is candid about the realities of operating at this scale: the decisions nobody prepares you for, the lessons learned the hard way, and the importance of investing in people at every level.
Adam Millgate is the Director and Owner of KAS Scaffolding Ltd, bringing with him over 18 years of industry experience. He has specialist knowledge in operations, commercial management, and surveying and estimating, which were instrumental in supporting the company’s growth strategy. With a deep understanding of management structures, sector requirements, and efficient processes, Adam plays a key role in guiding the business forward.
His partnership with Shane Wood provides a balanced skill set that ensures KAS delivers successfully on projects ranging from large-scale sites to smaller domestic works.
Shane Wood, along with his wife Kirsty, founded KAS Scaffolding in 2018 with a vision to create a company built on professionalism, safety, and reliability. With over 20 years in the scaffolding industry, he has delivered numerous high-profile projects across domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors. His leadership combines technical knowledge with hands-on experience, driving the company’s growth from a one-man operation to a well-established business with a strong reputation across London and the South East.
In 2022, Shane welcomed his long-standing friend and business partner, Adam to the board, strengthening the leadership team and setting the stage for further expansion.