Southern Enterprise Awards 2021

93 | Southern Enterprise Awards 2021 Based in Barnstaple, North Devon, Advanced Scaffolding has been successfully operating for more than 20 years and has a stellar reputation that precedes it. We speak to Office Manager Gemma Bacon to find out more about the firm and the rationale behind its inception. Established in 1999 by Matt Bacon with a mission to create a professional, reliable, highly trained, reputable scaffolding company dedicated to providing the highest standard of service, safety and skills, Advanced Scaffolding has grown from a single scaffolder and labourer to the 50-strong company it is today. Now focusing predominantly scaffolding commercial and new build housing sites, with a smaller domestic scaffolding and temporary roofing specialist department, Advanced Scaffolding offers any and every type of scaffolding, and its highly qualified operatives can provide anything from basic domestic scaffolding to confined spaces (sewerage tanks etc), fully weatherproofed temporary roof structures, staging, bridging, shelters, historic buildings, church steeples etc. “Our main selling point is the fact that all of our staff are qualified scaffolders,” explains Office Manager Gemma Bacon. “All manual workers including yardmen and labourers have taken their health and safety training exams and hold their COTS cards as a minimum. All employees have regular first aid training, and many hold other qualifications such as Advanced Driving Skills, HGV, IPAF, Forklift licences, Confined Spaces, SSSTS, and SMSTS, to name just a few. We comply with all of the latest regulations and follow NASC guidelines, hold regular Tool Box Talks.” When recruiting new employees, Gemma and the team look for certain skills above all others, these being reliability, honesty, and the desire to work hard. “We take on anyone willing to learn,” she elaborates. “They may be already qualified as a scaffolder, or they may be a school leaver looking to work their way up in the industry.” Best Domestic/ Commercial Scaffolding Company – South West Aug21602 Currently the newbuild industry is absolutely booming in the south west, despite the Covid-19 pandemic still threatening the country, however materials have seen a huge rise in cost and availability, way above anticipated levels, meaning that profits are much lower. Gemma informs us, “There have been some holdups with other trades on sites which has a knock-on effect to us as scaffolding is usually the first trade in and the last trade out on any site.” Advanced Scaffolding was bestowed with the prestigious title of Best Domestic/Commercial Scaffolding Company – South West in the Southern Enterprise Awards 2021, and Gemma tells us just some of the advantages of being based in such a beautiful part of the UK. “We are so very lucky to live and work in (arguably) the nicest area of the country,” she enthuses. “The benefits of sprawling countryside and spectacular coastline and beaches definitely outweigh the city commute and traffic. Although our working area is much larger than most (all of Devon), the unique properties, coastal work and warmer temperatures are a sure benefit.” Regarding the future, Advanced Scaffolding has a very busy year on the horizon, with lots of work and new plans in development. “We have many ongoing contracts with major house builders, and we have recently started work on an 11- year project in Exeter building thousands of new properties. We have contracted works with Linden Homes, Elan, Persimmon Homes, Vistry Homes, Barratt Homes, Pearce Homes across Devon. And we also have contracts working on Aldi, Lloyds and M&S across the South of England and Wales.” It seems the skies the limit for Advanced Scaffolding. Contact: Gemma Bacon Company: Advanced Scaffolding Ltd Web Address: www.advancedscaffoldingltd.co.uk