{"id":533684,"date":"2025-12-01T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T12:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/?p=533684"},"modified":"2025-12-01T09:20:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T09:20:46","slug":"cn-specialists-index-2025-top-10-scaffolding-contractors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.constructionnews.co.uk\/financial\/cn-specialists-index-2025-top-10-scaffolding-contractors-01-12-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"CN Specialists Index 2025: top 10 scaffolding contractors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scaffolders in the top 10 had a strong, steady year. Overall, total turnover reached \u00a31.35bn, passing the billion-pound milestone for the first time. Total pre-tax profit rose 92 per cent to \u00a3124.9m.<\/p>\n

Altrad UK led once again, pulling further away from the pack with turnover rising 38 per cent to \u00a3486.9m and a 59 per cent uplift in profit to \u00a346.8m. Second-placed Kaefer enjoyed a 95 per cent profit rise on a 6 per cent hike in revenue. And Trad Group, in fourth, posted a 177 per cent boost in profit on a 5 per cent fall in turnover.<\/p>\n

Eighth-placed GKR Scaffolding brought in \u00a341.2m in revenue, which translated into a
\n185 per cent rise in profit to \u00a39.8m, driven partly by \u201cefficiencies in labour productivity\u201d, says managing director Neil Roswell. But in general, he cites \u201cmixed\u201d fortunes in the scaffolding sector, as \u201clarge-scale infrastructure and commercial projects continue to provide opportunities, while some projects have slowed due to cost pressures\u201d.<\/p>\n

He adds: \u201cOverall, demand for high-quality, safety-critical scaffolding remains resilient, which suits our positioning at the more complex end of the scaffolding market.\u201d<\/p>\n

Palmers Scaffolding chief executive Mike Carr says the sector is still being affected by large clients going under. As such, the need to reduce exposure to businesses at risk of collapse has been an area of focus. Meanwhile, he tells CN<\/em>, labour shortages prevail and competition is acute. \u201cTalking to other scaffolding contractors, most companies that have continued their investment into their workforce, materials and transport are seeing the market return to previous levels, but still face the same challenges,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Palmers delivered an 84 per cent profit rise on a 38 per cent jump in revenue. Expansion plans at Heathrow and Gatwick will continue to generate opportunities for the firm, which is the resident scaffolding contractor at both airports. It also secured work at Hinkley Point C, which has \u201cproved to be a good income stream for us \u201c, Carr says.<\/p>\n

The sector had a \u201creally interesting year\u201d, according to National Access and Scaffolding Confederation chief executive Clive Dickin, but it still faces hurdles. \u201cThings like gateway two [planning approvals], where we\u2019ve seen challenges around mobilisation of projects and getting things moving, haven\u2019t been straightforward,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019ve continued to see challenges with talent. We have quite a significant vacancy rate in the sector, despite looking to get increased numbers of personnel joining. But there\u2019s a buoyancy too. And we\u2019re waiting with bated breath to see infrastructure and housing projects starting to come through.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The top 10 companies in:<\/h3>\n