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News www.thefis.org 7 Sector resilience According to a new report, mergers and acquisitions transactions increased in the building products and services sector by 69% in 2021, surpassing pre-pandemic levels to reach an all-time high. The report, Building Products and Services Sector Insights 2022 , published by BDO UK and the Construction Products Association, (free to download at https://tinyurl. com/5h4acfaa ) shows how companies are adapting to price inflation and embracing online channels to market, progressing modular construction and applying new technologies. Businesses are adapting to post-Grenfell regulations and the introduction of the UKCA mark, while aligning with booming sectors of the market. The report notes that companies that focus on sustainability are particularly valued, as this is fast moving from a nice-to-have add-on to a basic business requirement. All-in-all, it adds up to an exciting time for the sector. www.bdo.co.uk The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has made apprentice cards free in advance of the new academic year. It made the move after feedback showed that some employers were not aware of the apprentice card. Others were put off applying for it by the lengthy apprenticeship registration processes. At the same time, CSCS is introducing a new process for anyone experiencing difficulties with their apprenticeship registration. In this scenario, the new entrant applies for the £36 provisional card, before moving onto the apprentice card for free. The provisional card does not require the applicant to achieve a Level 1 award (as per the labourer card). As a result, CSCS claims, it reduces time and costs for both the employer and the new entrant. Alan O’Neile, Head of Communications at CSCS, said: “The provisional card is valid for six months, cannot be renewed and requires the completion of the CITB health, safety, and environment test, which can be transferred across to the apprentice card. When enrolled onto the apprenticeship the apprentice will move off the provisional card and onto the apprentice card free of charge. “The provisional card option also gives employers and new entrants a six-month window to decide if the apprenticeship is right for them.” www.cscs.uk.com Free CSCS cards for apprentices Most ladders soldonline fail safety regulations New research commissioned by the Ladder Association has raised serious concerns that unsafe and potentially dangerous ladders are being sold to consumers in the UK. The report, produced in partnership with the East of England Trading Standards Association (EETSA) and Suffolk Trading Standards Imports Team, found that over 80% of commercially-available telescopic ladders tested in the study failed to meet the minimum safety requirements designed to keep users safe. Worse still, the research found that over half of the failed ladders were certified and sold as ‘compliant’ to standards such as CE marking, in a deliberate attempt to mislead consumers. While there are manufacturers producing ladders that do meet the safety standards, the study showed that a significant number of ladders available on the market and sold by some of the country’s biggest online and trade retailers fall well below basic safety requirements. Many of these ladders appear fit-for-purpose and some even display fake labelling, giving customers false assurance. To guarantee user safety, telescopic leaning ladders should be produced to comply with the requirements of EN 131-6 (known in the UK as BS EN 131 Part 6:2019). It was against the most critical requirements of this standard that the sample products were tested at the UKAS accredited independent Test and Research Centre in Soham. Working at height can be risky enough, without the additional danger of shoddy ladders, every 11 minutes in the UK, someone attends A&E after sustaining an injury involving a ladder, ¹ so following the results of the survey, the Ladder Association and EETSA are calling for increased vigilance of the issues on the part of suppliers, marketplaces and social media selling platforms, as well as enforcement agencies and governing bodies, and a joined- up approach with Trading Standards to stop these products at port. www.ladderassociation.org.uk/step-up 1 Hospital data fromNHS England, NHSWales and Public Health Scotland