This article highlights the significant presence of neurodivergent individuals within the UK construction industry—with figures suggesting as many as 1 in 4 workers and 46% of project professionals identify as such. Despite this, many face considerable challenges, including a lack of empathy, fear of stigma preventing disclosure, and missed opportunities for support during hiring. This often leads to "masking" and potential burnout, underscoring the urgent need for targeted initiatives. By fostering open conversations and providing specific support, similar to successful mental health campaigns in the sector, the industry can unlock the unique strengths of its neurodivergent workforce—such as strong problem-solving and attention to detail—creating a more inclusive, understanding, and productive environment for everyone.

Carpentry presents a range of occupational health hazards that workers should be aware of. These include the inhalation of wood dust, injuries from manual handling, falls from elevated positions, and potential contact with hazardous chemicals and asbestos. Implementing robust safety protocols, notably the consistent use of personal protective equipment (PPE), is key to reducing these risks.

This article takes a closer look at the primary risks and recommended safety measures, providing a list of key topics for your toolbox talks.

This video from SC4 Carpenters Ltd illustrates the installation of a timber frame roof. On this busy crane day in Winchester in April 2025, SC4 Carpenters installed two first floor walls and roofs and two ground floor walls and floor cassettes.

SC4 is passionate about encouraging more women into STEM and Construction. Owner/Director, Katy Hall, believes that changing attitudes to gender from a very young age, and in our day to day interactions, could cause a shift towards this and improve life for all.

On a rainy day in January 2025, SC4 Carpenters Ltd collaborated with Lovell Partnerships Ltd in providing a site visit at Drummond Park to 30 carpentry students from Newbury College, Berkshire, UK and Wiltshire College & University Centre.

The number of women venturing into roles in the construction industry is still modest, but is growing year by year. Since 2022, around 14-16% of the UK construction workforce have been female, with more women entering the sector from higher education. In 2023, The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported 340,000 women employed by the sector, an increase of 3.2% since 2019. As construction becomes an increasingly popular and attractive career pathway for women, however, ensuring women’s safety and well-being on-site remains paramount.

Society is finally coming around to the realisation that mental health is important. Putting on a ‘stiff upper lip’ and suppressing mental distress does nobody any favours. 

31 July 2024 was a hot and busy day for SC4 Carpenters, with 15 Crane lifts of Roofs and Timber Frame over 3 sites.

If you don't work harder at school you'll end up on a building site.

How many boys (and girls) heard this and thought "that's not the career for me"?

This article discusses how can changing attitudes towards neurodivergence and those with creative skills can help relieve skills shortages in the Construction Industry.

And that we should be valuing these skills in childhood and pride in neurodivergent people, not knocking them for the very skills the industry needs.

SC4 carpenter, Josh Whitfield, and SC4 apprentice carpenter, Jason Randall, both received Lovell's Site Operative of the Month awards in July 2024 for "going above and beyond".

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.

As a contractor or contractor-developer, you understand the significance of selecting the right specialist trade contractor to support your new-build housing projects. Working with the right specialist contractor can significantly impact your project's success, bringing in further expertise, experience, quality assurance, project management capabilities, and a strong commitment to health and safety. This eBook delves into the key aspects that a competent specialist trade contractor can contribute to your new-build housing development.

Katy Hall is a neurodivergent (ND) woman who has been working in technology & construction since the 1980s. In this article she shares how being neurodivergent affects her and the benefits she believes she brings to her role.

As we look forward to International Women’s Day next month (8th March 2024), a lot of construction industry stakeholders and thought leaders are reflecting on the position of women in the industry and how things can be improved. Without ignoring the huge improvements in female involvement in the sector, there is still clearly a long way to go – with at most 16% of British industry workers being women.

In January 2024, the Sustainability Tool, in collaboration with the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Fairness, Inclusion and Respect (FIR) Programme, published its UK built environment diversity survey. This survey of more than 526,000 people provides a detailed record of diversity data and pinpoints areas for improvement.

UK National Apprenticeship Week 2024, taking place between 5^th and 11^th of February, is a great time to explore what a carpentry and joinery apprenticeship involves and its practical aspects, and if this could be the right path for you into the construction industry.

This Timber Frame Installation crane day shows two roofs (top hats) being removed and first floor panels installed. Then the roofs went back on, ready for the roofers. At SC4, we’re an established commercial joinery and carpentry business with more than 20 years of experience delivering top-quality carpentry,

Two 2023 surveys from the Association of Project Managers and On the Tools suggest that around half of Construction Project Managers and Tradespeople describe themselves as Neurodivergent. 

Reassuringly, 9 out of 10 Neurodivergent Project Managers in Construction say their employers have made changes to accommodate their needs.

In this, the second part of our mini-series on women in construction, we tackle some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding the role of women in the industry.

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.

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.

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.

In this article, we discuss the UK housing shortage and the role downsizing could play in more of the population having access to affordable homes. Despite the thousands of new build houses popping up like summer flowers all across the UK, the country is still facing a housing shortage. Or, to put it more accurately, the UK has a shortage of appropriately priced housing for certain demographic groups.

Since Brexit and the Covid 19 pandemic, there has been an increased shortage of qualified tradespeople and industry professionals in the construction sector, and many contractors are starting to feel the strain from a lack of skilled workers to deliver their projects. Although this has meant an ‘employee’s market’ in which wages have increased for skilled workers, this increased pay is still not helping overcome the shortage.

In this article, SC4 Carpenters Ltd Owner/Director talks more about her nomination as a UK Construction Week Role Model in 2023 and why the promotion of women, neurodiversity and equity in construction is so important. When I first started out there were very few women in construction and in fact it took me many years to understand that I was working in the construction industry.

On 27 April 2023 SC4 installed its final timber frame plot at North Stoneham Park as 5 years carrying out Carpentry and Timber Frame contract works for Highwood and Taylor Lane on this site drew to a close. SC4 has contributed to the construction of almost 900 new homes on the site which consists of 10 phases. It was a brilliant opportunity to be part of building this new community so close to my home and where I grew up.

All carpentry involves cutting, shaping and assembling wooden materials to create structures, fittings and furnishings. All carpentry involves cutting, shaping and assembling wooden materials to create structures, fittings and furnishings. However, the on-site tasks of a commercial carpentry contractor can mostly be categorised into either first fix or second fix carpentry.

The traditional brick and mortar construction method is no longer the only way to build a new home. Timber frame construction has become increasingly popular for residential new builds in the UK, thanks to its many advantages over more traditional building methods. Timber frame construction is a type of prefabricated building system that uses load bearing timber components instead of masonry or steel framing.

Katy Hall, Owner Director of SC4 Carpenters Ltd talks to the Federation of Master Builders about the many opportunities for Women in Construction and the improvements the industry has seen over the last decade to increase the number of women entering the construction industry. Katy discusses her experience over her 20 years and the shift in attitudes to women in construction.

SC4 Carpenters promoted National Apprentice Week in February 2023 by celebrating the achievements of second year carpentry apprentice, Ethan. Ethan has been working on various sites in Hampshire. Ethan takes on new tasks willingly and is not afraid to come up with new ideas and get involved with every day site issues and is good fun to have around the team.

Commercial second fix carpentry generally refers to the installation of doors, windows, and other fixtures and fittings in a commercial setting.  It’s what happens once the first fix trades complete the installation of the structural components of the build, and at SC4 Carpenters, we are happy to offer both first and second fix aspects of carpentry for all types of residential and commercial property development.

Project Managers want reliable subcontractors with high-quality service at each project stage, and sourcing the right subcontractors can make the difference. Commercial construction can be a challenging field to work in, with tight budgets and deadlines, health and safety responsibilities and multiple trades who need collaborate with each other.

The best carpentry professionals enhance their skills by learning ‘trade secrets’, techniques and tips to help get the job done efficiently and accurately. The best professionals keep their skills sharp by learning ‘trade secrets’, techniques and tips that help them get the job done efficiently and accurately – without compromising on safety or quality.

Carpentry involves cutting, shaping, installing, finishing and repairing the wood products used in construction, from interior trim work such as door frames, staircases and skirtings to external window frames and roofing – and even including load-bearing structural components. Decorating services include painting walls, ceilings, doors, and windows as well as installing wallpaper and exterior finishes.

The success of a construction project often depends on the quality of the work done by first and second fix carpentry contractors. In this article, we want to discuss in detail the second fix carpentry process for residential new builds and refurbishments. We hope this will help you be more confident when discussing your needs with prospective contractors and putting together an outstanding team.

As every construction project manager knows, ensuring that all first fix joinery work is solid is a crucial part of any residential project. First fix joinery involves structural work, ranging from floors and ceilings to door frames, wall studs, and other space divisions that are put in place before plastering can begin. Therefore, high-quality first fix carpentry and joinery are essential when it comes to ensuring the structural stability of a new building.

Choosing the right professional painting and decorating service provider matters to the overall quality of a construction project. Choosing the right professional painting and decorating service provider matters to the overall quality of a construction project. Working with an experienced contractor can help make project completion smoother, while ensuring compliance and helping build a solid reputation as a developer.

Saturday 10th September 2022 marks #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, a day designed to raise awareness of, and to promote action to reduce the number of suicides globally. Here at SC4, we believe in making sure everyone under our employment feels safe, enjoys what they do, and cares about the community and environment. We feel this is important not just for our work, but also for the wellbeing of our staff.

SC4 Carpenters Ltd is pleased to announce that we have won Best Carpentry Business - Southern England at the SME News UK Enterprise Awards. "We pride ourselves on providing a high quality service to our customers, safely and to programme, working in partnership with our clients – and are pleased that this has been recognised by this award."

Working in construction can be dangerous and accounts for thousands of injuries every year in the UK, which is why companies should place health and safety at the heart of their organisation in managing a commercial construction project. Keeping alert on-site requires knowledge of health and safety guidelines covering a wide range of areas, including:

In August 2022, SC4 Carpenters Ltd was thrilled by another glowing testimonial from very satisfied client, Redrow. The quantity surveyor and site management team described SC4 as "a pleasure to work with - showing great professionalism, craftsmanship and constant attention to health and safety on site, dedication to the development and willingness to help and find solutions."

There are plenty of carpentry contractors you can engage to work on a development project, but not all of them will have the same levels of experience and expertise. In this article, we look at the essential ‘tricks of the trade’ that a competent carpenter will definitely know and apply in every project – and which a Project Manager or QS may not necessarily be aware of if he or she is not themselves trained as a carpenter.

Timber framed buildings are strong, durable, and cost effective – and also boast an impressive array of green credentials. Here are a few of the surprising benefits of timber frame construction for property developments, refurbishments, and conversions. Organic materials such as wood have properties that are impossible to mimic with synthetic options.

SC4 is proud to have once again been certified by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and TrustMark for our commercial carpentry, timber frame and decorating works. The FMB has carried out an independent inspection of our works and has certified that we meets its strict membership requirements and government-endorsed TrustMark quality standards.

In Summer 2022, SC4 Carpenters Ltd and SC4 Decorators start work on Phase 2 of the Foreman Homes project at Selborne Road, Alton, Hampshire. SC4 frequently wins multiple phases with existing clients reflecting the high standard of work and customer satisfaction offered by SC4 as well as the benefits of working with an established contract carpentry and decorating company.

Working in construction during the heat of the summer can lead to increased risk of injury from falls and other accidents and incidents as concentration wavers due to heat-related illnesses (HRI), tiredness, dizziness, disorientation or confusion. It can also result in heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, fainting and heat stroke leading to serious illness or even death.

Read more for some tips on how to stay safe in the heat.

Here at SC4 Carpenters, we are committed to not only calling out this behaviour by businesses but also doing our utmost to make sure that none of these imbalances appears within our company. We understand carpentry is about skill and hard work, and the quality of the work is in no way affected by gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disabilities or social background.

Good carpenters are always in demand. According to a 2019 survey, carpentry is the top trade job in the UK, and demand for professionals in this industry increased by more than 65% between 2019 and 2020 alone. Having said that, there are different types of carpenters. Carpentry contractors can specialise in different areas, from framing and structural work (first fix) to cabinet and door fitting (second fix).

The concept of ‘social value’ has been making headlines for quite a while and is a hot topic of conversation among decision-makers in many industries - among them, construction. The term social value refers to the creation of benefits in various spheres of society, from the environment to the economy. In other words, it implies making a wider contribution beyond profits.

SC4 Carpenters Ltd takes health and safety extremely seriously. If you are working at heights at home or on site, please watch this video created by http://outtakes.co.uk/ in collaboration with Jason Anker. This is a FREE TO STREAM film with an extremely strong safety message. It's an important film for all kinds of workers to see and one that forms the basis of Jason's campaign 'Proud 2b Safe'.

In March 2022, we were proud to be named as the very first winners of the Taylor Lane Timber Frame Ltd's Subcontractor Award. Taylor Lane Timber Frame described SC4 as excelling in their approach to health & safety on site, whilst continually striving to find ways of improving in any way possible, with SC4 playing a proactive part in effective planning, with their efficient management of materials and works on site.

In April 2000, Katy, Conrad, Simon and Julie launched SC4 Carpenters Ltd to bring together skilled tradesmen to provide high quality commercial carpentry and joinery services, specialising in new build construction. In 2006/7 they expanded their business to include timber frame installation and painting & decorating services. we invite you to join us in a short retrospective of the journey so far.

From roofs/first fix to second fix and finals, trust, skill and reliability matter in construction. But sometimes it can be hard to determine the criteria to use in order to select the best commercial carpentry contractor. Insurance, accreditations, skills, qualifications and experience - they're all important. Here are eight tips for hiring the best carpentry and joinery contractors for building developments.

When it comes to residential care, people are looking for names that they can trust to provide a professional and responsive service, with that extra attention to detail that makes such a difference. And leading providers in the care industry expect those same high standards to be applied in the construction of their new care homes. As part of our 21st birthday celebrations, we looked back at some of our Care & Residential Home projects over the years.

As part of our 21st birthday celebrations, SC4 Carpenters Ltd has looked back a some of its projects over the past few years.  Since 2016, SC4 has been providing contract carpentry services to Foreman Homes for 2 back-to-back projects off Walworth Road in Picket Piece, Andover. The latest, The Nightingales, included extensive exterior cladding giving a luxury finish to these beautiful homes.

In this article, Conrad Hall, owner/Director of SC4 Carpenters Lt discusses his 40 year career in construction and how his dyslexia and neurodiversity has contributed to his success. In January 2022, when I received my NVQ 7 in Senior Construction Management it was validation for years of hard work, experience and building belief in myself.

In this article, Owner/Director of SC4 Carpenters Ltd, Katy Hall, relates her story in construction reflecting on her role and changing Construction Industry attitudes to women over the last 30 years. I was an equal owner and director and was heavily involved in the commercial strategy right from the start. Yet I still saw it as their company. They were the ones on site, they had the technical knowledge and carpentry experience.

Building a housing development or other construction project from scratch has a number of different stages as far as carpentry and joinery work is concerned.As a contractor or lead developer, it’s important to get them right to avoid messing up or correcting costly mistakes down the line. In the earlier stages of construction, there's a lot of behind the scenes work for trades specialists: electricians, plumbers, and of course joiners and carpenters.

The construction sector has been at the forefront of change in recent months, with some key issues – disruptions in global supply chains, shortages in skilled labour, and variations in prices – causing uncertainty for construction firms and project managers. So, how can we help you to overcome the three main challenges faced by the construction sector?

Although there is a considerable overlap of skills between carpentry and joinery, the two are quite distinct; so, if you’re a construction business or main contractor looking for a trustworthy and professional carpentry contractor for your construction project, or are considering a career in the industry, it’s important to understand the similarities and differences between carpentry and joinery.

In this article we explain what Social Value in Construction means to us. We are proud that our company represents a diverse local social and ethnic community where the benefits provided by individual skills and experience, knowledge, expertise, neurodiversity and conditions such as dyslexia are valued and our workforce and local community is supported.

SC4 Carpenters Ltd has been working in partnership with Highwood Construction since 2018 and is proud that they have described working with us as "an absolute pleasure!" The feeling is mutual and we were also proud to work with Highwood on a project for the ManGang charity. Read more about Highwood and ManGang in this article in the Construction and Civil Engineering (CCE) Magazine.

While many sectors have been able to insulate themselves by taking emergency measures, such as homeworking, construction has proved to be vulnerable to the extensive collateral damage of the virus. Despite the construction sector’s volatility, the good news is that most carpentry firms express growing certainty about the future, particularly their ability to thrive in the post-pandemic world, with the following reasons bolstering confidence.

The benefits of timber frame construction are hard to ignore, whether you’re a project manager responsible for the redevelopment of land, or a self-builder seeking an affordable way to create your dream home. However, when considering whether to choose timber frame construction, the cost must be taken into account. So, what is the cost of timber frame construction and how does it compare with traditional building methods?

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When the construction of your project has been completed, painting and decorating is the most effective way to bring the building alive so that it’s ready to welcome its new occupants. Whether you’re constructing a new home development, office, hospital, or school, applying that final finish is essential to add warmth to the building and make it inviting and attractive

Conventional construction methods have become the failsafe choice for most building projects, yet modern engineering and architecture has enabled the construction of timber framed housing instead. For decades, most homes in the UK have been built using conventional construction methods, with assembly starting from the ground upwards using brick, stone, plaster, or stucco.

From windows and door frames to staircases and entire structural beams, carpentry and joinery services are best delivered by expert contractors. From windows and door frames to staircases and entire structural beams, carpentry and joinery services are best delivered by expert contractors, offering unrivalled benefits for any construction project. 

On World Suicide Prevention Day 2021, we have republished a couple of videos from 2019 which are sadly still relevant today. In the construction industry deaths from suicide are around ten times higher than deaths from injury, and each death is one too many.

SC4 Carpenters' workforce star in this new Milwaukee Tool promotional video: "MILWAUKEE® Cordless Carpentry Solutions: From Frame to Finish", filmed in Hampshire in early 2021. The filming took place on various sites of our valued clients, Highwood Construction and Foreman Homes. SC4 was pleased to assist Milwaukee with this promo and excited to test their range of heavy duty cordless carpentry tools. 

SC4 Carpenters uses Drone Videography to showcase and review our progress on site. This often gets picked up and shared by our clients, helping them to promote their new homes to partners and potential homeowners. We took the first two videos in May 2021 at Foreman Homes' sites in Oakley and Selbourne, where we are carpentry and decorating contractors. 

At SC4 Carpenters Ltd we are proud of our excellent health and safety record over the last 21 years. We have just renewed our SMAS and Acclaim SSIPs accrediations for 2021-2022. In this article we explain what these accreditations mean for us, our clients and our workforce. Health and safety is one of the most important considerations that should take before any construction project gets underway. 

In this article, SC4 reflects on its role and influence in the industry. Our primary focus has been on how Belonging can affect the Wellbeing of our staff and subcontractors. We hope that by raising awareness of Mental Health issues and promoting Diversity within our workforce, we will create a happier and healthier company and a more positive and focused team.

In October 2019, SC4 attended UK Construction Week in Birmingham. Katy (Director) and Rachael (Marketing) spent the day networking and attending seminars and talks.

SC4 have started a NEW campaign titled "Keeping Safe and Healthy in Construction." We hope to raise awareness of the Health and Safety issues in the industry.

Rachael talks about how she became Marketing & Communications Manager for SC4 Carpenters Ltd and why her role as Welfare Liaison was so important.

Katy Hall has been Finance Director, Company Secretary and an owner of SC4 Carpenters Ltd since its inauguration in 2000. Read Katy's story in construction to find out how she came to construction and why she believes it is so important for the industry that it attracts more women.

In this article, SC4 continues its efforts to promote positive growth in the Construction Industry. We present the facts about women in construction, such as, of the 2 million people who work in the Construction Industry in the UK, just 320,000 are Women and only 7% of women in construction work in manual positions.