Looking Back at Construction in 2023

As we near the end of 2023, we are reflecting on what has been a remarkable year for the SIMIAN team and the construction industry as a whole.

So what has 2023 held for the construction industry? We take a look back below…

January

Some great news to start the year for the SIMIAN team with Elise Simpson passing her Business Administration L3 Apprenticeship and being promoted to Admin Team Leader at our centre in Warrington!

February

We highlighted the importance of adhering to safe work at height and roofing practices on site after a West Yorkshire based company was fined £120,000 this month following a fatal 2021 incident that saw a worker fall from the roof of a building site. Find out more here. 

March

In March, we celebrated International Women’s Day 2023. As a business that operates in an industry that is often perceived as ‘male-dominated’, at SIMIAN we are keen to help challenge this perception, promote a diverse workforce and encourage  women to enter the construction industry, supporting them throughout their career. Find out more here.

April

The SIMIAN team grew as we welcomed Nathan Jones, CISRS Scaffolding Instructor to our Weston-super-Mare centre. On becoming an instructor, Nathan says: “I have always enjoyed teaching people the skills of scaffolding and knew from an early age on the tools that I would like to become an instructor later on in my career. The courses I am teaching at present are Foundation Course, Part 1 Course, COTS Course and Basic Scaffold Inspection.”

May

SIMIAN’s New Roofing Training Centre, providing both Roof Slating and Tiling, and Waterproof Membrane Installation Apprenticeships, had its official open day.  Speaking of the event, Luke SIMIAN’s Lead Roofing Instructor, said, “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to those who attended and supported in making the event a success, in particular CITB, NFRC, BMI Group, Lancastria Group, Velux, and the North West Roofing Training Group, all of whom contributed to make the event a huge success.”

Read about the Open Day success here.

June

SIMIAN learner Kash Watkins won Weston College Construction Apprentice of the Year! We were delighted that Kash’s hard work had been recognised, well done to him.

July

SIMIAN partnered with CISRS (The Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme), to offer subsidised CPD courses from our training centres in a range of locations across the UK. The courses where offered at a reduced rate of £50 per individual as part of an initiative to improve access to high-quality training for workers in the scaffolding industry.

August

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) highlighted a potential issue with SAFETY Boot Testing standard ASTM F2412-18A, raising alarm bells in the safety industry.  The core problem stems from the standard’s unsuitability for live electrical work. Safety boots tested under ASTM F2412-18A lack testing against direct current (DC) voltages, rendering them ineffective in shielding against electric shock after penetration, say by a nail. Read the report here.

September

Jamie Lyons, who has been with SIMIAN for 4 years in a Health & Safety advisor role, takes the Helm as Consultancy Manager /Senior Health & Safety Manager at SIMIAN. Jamie’s background in Health & Safety consultancy at SIMIAN and expertise placed him in a prime position to excel in this role. With an extensive knowledge of safety practices, he brings a wealth of experience to the consultancy division

Read more about Jamie and his experiences here.

October

We are thrilled to announce that we have become a Company Supporter of the Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity. This partnership is a significant step forward in our commitment to giving back to the construction community and making a positive impact on the lives of those in the industry. Learn more here.

November

Celebration time! SIMIAN celebrates 18 years of successful trading in the construction industry  When asked about the biggest learnings from his 18 years of SIMIAN, our Managing Director Simon said “I am most pleased with the positive impact SIMIAN has had, and continues to have, within the Scaffolding industry. We’ve had a part to play in changing the industry for the better and I am confident that the work we have done over the years has played a part in saving lives in the industry.” Read about our 18th Celebrations here.

December

SIMIAN teams from all centres got into the festive spirit whilst supporting a good cause and raising money for Save the Children as part of their national Christmas Jumper Day.

Of course, we’ve only just scratched the surface on what has been a great year for SIMIAN. As we prepare for the festive season, we are busily planning for what is certain to be an equally amazing 2024. With lots of exciting things on the horizon we can’t wait to see what the New Year will bring!