The NASC will be exhibiting at trade stand V2350 at the forthcoming Safety & Health Expo at London’s ExCel. The show runs from June 17-19 and is the UK’s largest health & safety event. The intention is to promote the work of the NASC and the scaffolding industry training organisation CISRS to the construction and health and safety industries.

NASC will be actively promoting the launch of its innovative new TG20:13 tube and fitting technical guidance at the show, and will be giving live demonstrations of the TG20:13 eGuide in both PC/laptop format, and in the new Android App version, which provides a mobile, digital good practice guide for tube and fitting scaffolding.

BaseStone, a tech startup from East London’s Tech City, has launched its web and tablet app to the construction market, following successful trials on Crossrail and High Speed 2 (HS2).

BaseStone aims to solve an industry-wide problem: that of lost data leading to abortive work on construction projects. Large enterprises and SMEs share many drawings and documents throughout the lifecycle of a construction project and BaseStone makes this task simpler.

BaseStone have teamed up with The Bartett School of Architecture and Capital Enterprise to showcase some of the UK's most innovative startups shaping the future of architecture, engineering and construction. 

The event will take place in Wayra, Shropshire House, 2-10 Capper St, London WC1E 6JA on Thursday 19th June 2014 from 18:00 to 22:00 (BST).

Having recently returned to the UK after carrying out successful annual accreditation visits to two CISRS providers – Safety and Access Middle East in Ajman and Simian Skills in Dubai – CISRS have announced that they are very excited about the positive response CISRS scaffolding training is receiving within the region.

Whilst both training providers have only been in operation for a 12month period, several hundred delegates have now undertaken CISRS Overseas Scaffolder Training Scheme (OSTS) courses. These have included Level 1 Scaffolder, Basic Scaffold Inspection and Scaffolding Supervision.

The NASC has launched a Google Android App version of its TG20:13eGuide, which will provide a mobile, digital good practice guide for tube and fitting scaffolding.

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first Greater Manchester Construction Summit this summer to assess the current state of the industry and its importance for the region’s economy. 

Estimated to be the largest event of its kind outside of London, the Summit will include a keynote speech from Peter Hansford, Chief Construction Adviser to the Government, as well as panel discussions from the UK’s leading experts on key areas impacting the construction industry. Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council and James Wates, Chairman of the Construction Industry Training Board, are also confirmed to speak.

The city’s most talked about mixed-use development project, which comprises 237 apartments and 55,000 sq ft of office space, has already attracted eager buyers and overseas investors.

Nottingham One, situated off Canal Street, is a pivotal part of the city’s regeneration plans and is a major focal point along one of the main arterial routes in and out of the city.

A construction expert at Robert Gordon University (RGU) in Aberdeen has cited a missed opportunity in the sector, with companies failing to plan for the future during the economic downturn, and is urging innovative action to address the issue.

Rob Leslie, a course leader at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, Robert Gordon University (RGU) and a former Chair of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) in Scotland, believes that businesses are now panicking as the industry’s skills shortage starts to bite with a large percentage of the workforce rapidly approaching retirement age and fewer graduates coming through from universities and colleges.

A new course which focuses on architectural visualisation techniques is being launched at Robert Gordon University’s (RGU) Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment this year.

RGU will add an MSc in Visualisation in Architecture and Built Environment to its portfolio, covering the rapid development of digital visualisation techniques in the industry, their implications for design, construction and collaboration and the ways in which they will impact on working practices.

Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, President of Youthbuild UK, has launched the 2014 Young Builder of the Year Awards, inviting entries from young builders across the UK.

"I'm delighted to launch the 15th Young Builder of the Year Awards to celebrate the achievements of young people, who have successfully overcome barriers to train or gain employment in the construction industry,” he said.