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WELCOME | NASC YEARBOOK 2012


TOUGHING IT OUT BUT KEEPING STANDARDS HIGH


It has been a difficult year for the industry but NASC remains resolute about standards, says Robin James, NASC managing director


in a year when the confederation lost its President to the effects of the downturn we are all reminded that the ongoing recession is no respecter of status or position and has penetrated the industry. Feedback from regional meetings in


2011 demonstrated the extent to which our members have suffered. Although the pain is being felt throughout the UK, it is clear that some have fared worse than others. All are agreed that this is by some way the toughest recession which the industry has faced in 40 years. Members in London and the South


East are feeling the pain more than most because competition is so fierce in these markets. Price is increasingly king for principal contractors, and has forced the confederation to consider whether it has set the bar too high for NASC membership entry.


Stringent criteria Reassuringly a significant majority of the membership remains in favour of rigorous criteria, particularly with regard to training and direct employment. This is despite the additional burden of compliance placed on those already struggling to satisfy onerous pre-qualification requirements.


Standards for NASC membership


are demonstrably more stringent than those which principal contractors expect from their supply chain. This is precisely what differentiates the NASC from non-members. Membership numbers have held


up well at around 220 despite the downturn. The confederation received nearly 50 applications for entry during the 12 months to October 2011. Of these, only 17 were successful. A disturbing feature, however, has been an increase in the number of member companies lost to insolvency events. This mirrors a wider trend throughout the construction sector.


Specialising to survive Survival is the name of the game for many member companies as they


weather the economic storm. Several members have had to streamline their approach or develop a niche or specialism simply to stay in business. Members operating in the housebuilding sector have experienced particular difficulty. Public sector work continues to be dogged by uncertainty, and the private sector simply isn’t filling the gap. For many, a step change is required as they batten down the hatches for another difficult winter.


“The HSE continues to support and work with the NASC in the development of best industry practice for scaffolding.” Joy Jones, HSE principal inspector, National Construction Sector Safety Team


“TfL will be adopting the NASC’s full guidelines and applaud its ‘fight’ for a universal improvement by the tightening of conditions for scaffolding contractors.” Raymond Pierson, quality analyst in safety, risk and design services, Transport for London


Representing the members and the industry The NASC continues to be the voice for the scaffolding sector in the industry. Our proactive stance as equal partners at UKCG meetings means that the confederation and its members cannot be ignored. If UKCG members pay lip service to NASC criteria when stipulating their requirements they can expect to hear from the confederation. The confederation will continue


to push the NASC message and fight its corner in the forthcoming year, maximising any opportunities which may arise through its many relationships with industry bodies such as UKCG and HSE, ConstructionSkills, and the Access Industry Forum.


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