This report by On The Tools, published in March 2023, found that 93% of UK tradespeople have been impacted by mental ill health in some way, with 73% of all UK tradespeople surveyed experiencing mental ill health right now or in the past. A further 20% hadn’t personally experienced mental ill health but knew another tradesperson who had.

Working outside in construction can be a real slog over the winter, let’s be completely honest, so it always raises our spirits when the warm days of spring and summer arrive. With everyone else stifling in their offices and workshops, summer weather makes us realise why we entered this glorious industry in the first place! However, in many ways working outdoors in hot weather is as unpleasant, and certainly more dangerous, than working outside in winter.

One of the biggest trends in UK construction is the growing involvement of women at all levels of the sector. In this two-part article series, we’ll look at the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the construction industry. From breaking down stereotypes to exploring the benefits of a diverse workforce, we will address some of the most commonly asked questions and uncover the untapped potential of women in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

With the exception of a growing number of noteworthy and admirable examples, construction is still largely a male-dominated industry. Walk onto an average construction site and you’re not likely to see too many women in hard hats and vests, but this is changing rapidly due to changing societal attitudes, better promotion of STEM subjects as viable subjects for girls and young women in schools and universities, and more information about the wide range of job opportunities available in construction.

Building a timber frame structure requires a well-planned and expertly executed installation process. Timber frames are gaining popularity in the UK, particularly in the construction of residential and commercial buildings, so as a construction site manager or someone overseeing the project, it's essential to understand the different stages of timber frame building installation to ensure a successful and timely project completion.

With the nights drawing in and the weather getting colder each day, being outside for long periods of time is becoming less and less on people’s agenda. However, for people who work in construction on site, winter working isn’t something that can be avoided. This will allow you to adjust your work schedule and prepare the necessary tools and materials to keep everyone safe and warm.

This report by On The Tools, published in March 2023, found that 93% of UK tradespeople have been impacted by mental ill health in some way, with 73% of all UK tradespeople surveyed experiencing mental ill health right now or in the past. A further 20% hadn’t personally experienced mental ill health but knew another tradesperson who had.

Working outside in construction can be a real slog over the winter, let’s be completely honest, so it always raises our spirits when the warm days of spring and summer arrive. With everyone else stifling in their offices and workshops, summer weather makes us realise why we entered this glorious industry in the first place! However, in many ways working outdoors in hot weather is as unpleasant, and certainly more dangerous, than working outside in winter.

One of the biggest trends in UK construction is the growing involvement of women at all levels of the sector. In this two-part article series, we’ll look at the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the construction industry. From breaking down stereotypes to exploring the benefits of a diverse workforce, we will address some of the most commonly asked questions and uncover the untapped potential of women in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

With the exception of a growing number of noteworthy and admirable examples, construction is still largely a male-dominated industry. Walk onto an average construction site and you’re not likely to see too many women in hard hats and vests, but this is changing rapidly due to changing societal attitudes, better promotion of STEM subjects as viable subjects for girls and young women in schools and universities, and more information about the wide range of job opportunities available in construction.

Building a timber frame structure requires a well-planned and expertly executed installation process. Timber frames are gaining popularity in the UK, particularly in the construction of residential and commercial buildings, so as a construction site manager or someone overseeing the project, it's essential to understand the different stages of timber frame building installation to ensure a successful and timely project completion.

With the nights drawing in and the weather getting colder each day, being outside for long periods of time is becoming less and less on people’s agenda. However, for people who work in construction on site, winter working isn’t something that can be avoided. This will allow you to adjust your work schedule and prepare the necessary tools and materials to keep everyone safe and warm.

SC4 Carpenters Ltd takes working at height very seriously. So we have put together a blog of videos on safe working at height, including timber frame installation videos from Taylor Lane Timber Frame Ltd. With the installation of top hat trusses considered a hazardous work at height operation, Taylor Lane's Top Hat Gantry Walkway Method aims to minimise these risks.

In this article, we will explore the dangers of sleep deprivation in the construction industry and how it can put workers at risk.‘Sleeping on the job’ is never safe in any sector, but in many construction roles, sleep deprivation can be extremely dangerous and have severe implications on a person’s physical and mental health, as well as increasing the risk of dangerous and potentially fatal injuries.

Let’s take a look at the five main benefits of building sustainably in the construction industry and our best practices. Building sustainably is becoming the new norm when constructing new residential buildings, offices and even hospitals. As a responsible business owner in the construction industry, therefore, it is crucial to understand the benefits of sustainable building practices.

In this article, we will look at six ways that you can limit yourself and your team from injuring yourselves or others. Falls from height are one of the leading causes of injury on UK construction sites for a variety of reasons, from careless behaviour on the part of the worker, to a walkway not being cleared properly and causing them to trip. That's why it's crucial to take extra precautions when working at heights.

In this article, we look at six ways you can avoid taking shortcuts while still remaining time-efficient and productive. Taking shortcuts can be tempting in construction, especially if you’re feeling pressured by deadlines or you feel that taking those extra steps in planning is unnecessary and too time-consuming. However, these shortcuts can lead to dangers on site and directly result in injuries and quality issues, causing a wide range of problems.

Whether you are a business owner, manager, or employee, we all have a part to play in creating a more welcoming and inclusive work environment within our industry. As business owners, it is easy to make all the right moves in our attempts to hire a more diverse team of tradespeople and on-site operatives, but what happens when they quit due to bullying, discrimination, or lack of accessibility?

This report by On The Tools, published in March 2023, found that 93% of UK tradespeople have been impacted by mental ill health in some way, with 73% of all UK tradespeople surveyed experiencing mental ill health right now or in the past. A further 20% hadn’t personally experienced mental ill health but knew another tradesperson who had.

Working outside in construction can be a real slog over the winter, let’s be completely honest, so it always raises our spirits when the warm days of spring and summer arrive. With everyone else stifling in their offices and workshops, summer weather makes us realise why we entered this glorious industry in the first place! However, in many ways working outdoors in hot weather is as unpleasant, and certainly more dangerous, than working outside in winter.

One of the biggest trends in UK construction is the growing involvement of women at all levels of the sector. In this two-part article series, we’ll look at the challenges and opportunities faced by women in the construction industry. From breaking down stereotypes to exploring the benefits of a diverse workforce, we will address some of the most commonly asked questions and uncover the untapped potential of women in a traditionally male-dominated sector.

With the exception of a growing number of noteworthy and admirable examples, construction is still largely a male-dominated industry. Walk onto an average construction site and you’re not likely to see too many women in hard hats and vests, but this is changing rapidly due to changing societal attitudes, better promotion of STEM subjects as viable subjects for girls and young women in schools and universities, and more information about the wide range of job opportunities available in construction.

Building a timber frame structure requires a well-planned and expertly executed installation process. Timber frames are gaining popularity in the UK, particularly in the construction of residential and commercial buildings, so as a construction site manager or someone overseeing the project, it's essential to understand the different stages of timber frame building installation to ensure a successful and timely project completion.

With the nights drawing in and the weather getting colder each day, being outside for long periods of time is becoming less and less on people’s agenda. However, for people who work in construction on site, winter working isn’t something that can be avoided. This will allow you to adjust your work schedule and prepare the necessary tools and materials to keep everyone safe and warm.

SC4 Carpenters Ltd takes working at height very seriously. So we have put together a blog of videos on safe working at height, including timber frame installation videos from Taylor Lane Timber Frame Ltd. With the installation of top hat trusses considered a hazardous work at height operation, Taylor Lane's Top Hat Gantry Walkway Method aims to minimise these risks.

In this article, we will explore the dangers of sleep deprivation in the construction industry and how it can put workers at risk.‘Sleeping on the job’ is never safe in any sector, but in many construction roles, sleep deprivation can be extremely dangerous and have severe implications on a person’s physical and mental health, as well as increasing the risk of dangerous and potentially fatal injuries.

Let’s take a look at the five main benefits of building sustainably in the construction industry and our best practices. Building sustainably is becoming the new norm when constructing new residential buildings, offices and even hospitals. As a responsible business owner in the construction industry, therefore, it is crucial to understand the benefits of sustainable building practices.

In this article, we will look at six ways that you can limit yourself and your team from injuring yourselves or others. Falls from height are one of the leading causes of injury on UK construction sites for a variety of reasons, from careless behaviour on the part of the worker, to a walkway not being cleared properly and causing them to trip. That's why it's crucial to take extra precautions when working at heights.

In this article, we look at six ways you can avoid taking shortcuts while still remaining time-efficient and productive. Taking shortcuts can be tempting in construction, especially if you’re feeling pressured by deadlines or you feel that taking those extra steps in planning is unnecessary and too time-consuming. However, these shortcuts can lead to dangers on site and directly result in injuries and quality issues, causing a wide range of problems.

Whether you are a business owner, manager, or employee, we all have a part to play in creating a more welcoming and inclusive work environment within our industry. As business owners, it is easy to make all the right moves in our attempts to hire a more diverse team of tradespeople and on-site operatives, but what happens when they quit due to bullying, discrimination, or lack of accessibility?

Clear and effective signs are mandatory on all construction sites according to UK Health and Safety Regulations, but how many types are there and what do their different colours mean? Construction sites can be chaotic, with multiple hazards surrounding workers and visitors. The best way to ensure safety on-site is by using unambiguous construction signage to communicate important messages and information.

As timber frame installation specialists, at SC4, we take pride in ensuring that all finished structures meet their design brief for energy efficiency and sustainability. But what makes a good timber frame installation contractor, and how can you verify their energy efficiency credentials? Thermal performance can be optimised through high-quality insulation, preventing thermal bridging (see below) and using materials with a high thermal mass.

Mental health in construction is a serious issue. With suicide killing more people than falls from height, the mental wellbeing of construction workers definitely needs to be highlighted, to break the stigma, increase awareness and improve support. In this article we have put together a few videos which you may find insightful and could be helpful for your mental health toolbox talks, etc.

New research from National Federation of Builders, published in August 2023 in conjunction with CITB, has discovered that neurodiversity is common amongst construction workers in the UK and being neurodivergent is encouraging people to pursue a career in construction. SC4 Carpenters Ltd employs neurodivergent people at all levels from Directors to Carpenters and Decorators on site and believes they bring a lot of benefits to our business.

In this article, Katy Hall discusses neurodiversity in construction and how to build a neurodiverse work culture. Many people working within SC4 Carpenters from Directors to tradespeople, and within the Construction Industry as a whole, are neurodivergent, including Katy herself. Many of the challenges faced by ND people are invisible - don't assume everyone else is ok, just because you are not struggling with the working environment.

In June 2023, SC4 Carpenters Ltd completed the carpentry works for 80 affordable new homes in Totton, Hampshire. The development will mainly consist of two, three and four-bedroom houses along with a small collection of one and two-bedroom flats. All homes will be provided on an affordable basis, with half of the homes available to purchase through the shared ownership scheme and the remaining half offered for rent.