The Scaffolding Training Alliance (STA) is a new trade body launched to improve scaffolding training in the UK. It brings together several major training providers who want to offer a new route into the scaffolding industry.
This blog explains more about the STA, including why it was created and what it means for scaffolders and employers.
The Scaffolding Training Alliance (STA) is a new trade body established to improve scaffolding training in the UK.
The STA was formed in response to planned changes to the current industry standard, the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS).
The training providers who launched the STA hope it will offer a more practical, flexible and modern approach.
The STA was established with the primary aim of making the scaffolding industry safer by raising training standards.
It’s being positioned as a direct alternative to the CISRS scheme, which has been the industry standard for over 60 years but is now set for reform.
Some training providers and industry professionals expressed concerns over the proposed changes, citing a lack of consultation and potential adverse impacts on smaller scaffolding firms.
The STA aims to provide a training route that is simpler, more accessible and better aligned with the practical realities of scaffolding work.
Our Scaffold Awareness Course teaches employees the fundamentals of scaffolding safety, including the types, components, hazards and legal requirements. It also examines the hierarchy of risk controls and provides practical strategies for reducing risks.
The STA has stated its mission as “maintaining and improving upon existing scaffolding and safety standards whilst enhancing the quality, consistency and accessibility of scaffolding training for the benefit of learners, their employers and the wider scaffolding industry.”
The alliance claims it will achieve this through collaboration and more practical training. “The formation of the alliance is a fantastic opportunity to bring together highly experienced scaffolding industry and training professionals to work collaboratively – supporting each other in pursuing the common interest of providing sustainable, effective training practices, in a safe environment, to meet the current and future needs of the scaffolding sector in the UK.”
The STA also highlighted its commitment to practical, hands-on training, noting: “We will be embracing technological progress in our delivery, where appropriate, but as we service a practical ‘hands-on’ trade, we will continue to focus on the safe selection and use of scaffolding and access equipment and the manual practice of erecting and dismantling scaffold structures safely and compliantly.”
The points below reflect the STA’s stated aims and how it positions its training approach.
The training is controlled by the people who actually provide it. This means the courses are based on real site work and not just classroom theory.
The STA wants to make sure scaffolders are job-ready. The training is hands-on and focused on the skills scaffolders use every day.
STA training is modular, so learners can build skills step-by-step. The STA will also recognise experienced workers’ existing skills, and won’t ask them to repeat training they’ve already completed.
The STA suggests that its approach offers:
According to the STA, the new training route will produce more job-ready scaffolders at a time when the industry is facing a skills shortage.
The STA also intends to involve employers in shaping how training is delivered, although what this means in practice isn’t clear yet.
Right now, STA cards are not part of the CSCS card scheme. This means STA-trained scaffolders may not be allowed onto certain sites, especially those operated by large contractors who follow Construction Leadership Council (CLC) guidelines.
However, the STA is working to get wider recognition. If enough companies and contractors support it, the STA card could become more widely accepted.
As new training models like the STA gain ground, one thing stays the same – every scaffolder needs a firm grasp of basic safety. No matter the training route, understanding scaffold types, common hazards and legal responsibilities is essential before stepping on site.
Our Scaffolding Awareness Course is designed to build that foundation. The course explores:
This awareness-level training prepares workers for safer site work and more advanced learning.
