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.

Following these top regulations, and more as specified on the Gov.UK website, will keep your construction site legal, and ensure you know how to identify and reduce the risks of working in this dangerous industry. Health and safety legislation is designed to encourage uniform safe working practices on construction sites throughout the country, and keep people safe at work.

Long working hours, heavy lifting, and exposure to the elements can all take a toll on your well-being. Here are five ways you can look after your body and physical health while on or off the job. Looking after your body when working in construction is one of the most important things you can do. After all, your body is your most important tool in the day-to-day. 

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.

If you’re planning a large residential construction project, it’s important to ensure that you have the right contractors working on each aspect of the job in order to avoid overspend or delays. One key element of any commercial building project is carpentry and joinery. Let’s take a closer look at why you should use a commercial carpentry contractor for your next construction project.

First fix carpentry is an important part of any commercial building process. First fix involves the installation of the structural carpentry elements, such as the timber framework, joists, studwork, floorboards and roofing, that provide the load-bearing features of a building. In this article, we will discuss what exactly first fix carpentry is and why it pays to hire a professional to support you at this crucial stage of building development.

During Neurodiversity Celebration Week, 13 -19 March 2023, Katy Hall, Owner/Director of SC4 Carpenters Ltd, considers the pros and cons of being neurodivergent, including the many benefits neurodiversity brings to the company as well as the difficulties neurodivergent people face. In construction , neurodiversity is more common than you probably realise and frequently an advantage.

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.