Five Weeks to Go – Have You Booked for Kirkley Hall?
The countdown is well and truly on.
There’s now just over five weeks to go until the AFI & AFA Autumn Best Practice Day arrives at Northumberland College – Kirkley Hall Campus on Thursday 15th October.
If you’ve been meaning to book but haven’t quite got around to it, now is the time to get your place secured.
A day dedicated to agricultural fencing
The Best Practice Day is an opportunity to put the everyday pressures of site to one side and spend a day focused on skills, techniques and best practice in agricultural fencing.
Expect practical demonstrations, hands-on learning, industry expertise and the opportunity to ask questions and exchange ideas with people who understand the job.
You’ll also be able to meet manufacturers and suppliers, catch up with fellow contractors and make new connections across the industry.
And this isn’t just for the most experienced fencers – employees, apprentices and those developing their skills are very welcome too.
All for £15
Thanks to the support behind our Best Practice Days, tickets are just £15 per person, including a breakfast roll and hot drink on arrival plus lunch.
- Thursday 15th October 2026
- 9.00am – 3.00pm
- Kirkley Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE20 0AQ
There’s plenty you could spend £15 on. A day investing in your skills and your business isn’t a bad one.
BOOK YOUR PLACE
Latest Planning Reforms
Following a consultation earlier this year, the Government has published its new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which sets out its planning policies for England and how they are expected be applied by Local Authorities. As part of accelerating the ambition to build 1.5 million new homes, the key changes to the NPPF include:
- Development within settlements should be approved unless the benefits of doing so would be substantially outweighed by any adverse effects.
- Residential or mixed‐use developments within reasonable walking distance of ‘well‐connected’ train stations will receive a ‘default yes’, with a minimum required density of 35 dwellings per hectare around stations with a service frequency of 4+ trains per hour and 45 dwellings per hectare for stations with 8+ trains per hour.
- A new national minimum requirement for accessible homes to comprise 40% of major residential developments.
- Creating new categories of development with tailored planning policies, including ‘medium development’ for between 10 and 49 homes and up to 2.5 hectares in area, and ‘strategic site’ for residential, commercial or mixed‐use developments that would be implemented in multiple phases, have significant infrastructure requirements and require a masterplan.
The Government is also consulting on four standardised planning agreements for medium developments, which are intended to become the default for applications in order to reduce timescales and costs. The deadline for responses is Tuesday 20 October.
Mayors in England will also be given new powers to take over key planning applications in their areas, including developments of over 150 homes, more than 15,000 square metres of commercial space, and any building over 30 metres.
The Judging Is Done – Are You A Finalist?
Judging for the 2026 UK Fencing Industry Awards took place 3rd September, and what a fantastic showcase of our industry it proved to be.
We received a brilliant number of entries this year, with projects and nominations coming in from across the fencing sector. More importantly, the standard was incredibly high, giving our judging panel some genuinely difficult decisions to make.
From impressive workmanship and technically challenging projects to innovation, outstanding apprentices and individuals making a real difference within our industry, this year’s entries demonstrated just how much talent, professionalism and expertise there is across the fencing sector.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered. We know that putting an Awards submission together takes time, and we really appreciate every business and individual who took the opportunity to share their work and achievements with us.
We’d also like to say a very big thank you to our judges and category sponsors, who gave their time and expertise to carefully review the entries and help select our 2026 finalists. Their continued support plays an important part in making the UK Fencing Industry Awards possible. Very special thanks also to IAE for hosting the judging and putting on quite possibly the most impressive buffet ever!
What happens next?
The difficult decisions have now been made!
All entrants will receive an email during w/c 7th September confirming whether they have been selected as a 2026 finalist, so keep an eye on your inbox.
We’ll then begin revealing this year’s finalists publicly as we build towards the UK Fencing Industry Awards at Old Trafford on 12th November, with Sir Geoff Hurst joining us as our special guest.
To everyone who entered, judged, sponsored and supported this year’s Awards – thank you.
We can’t wait to celebrate the very best of our industry with you at Old Trafford.
Changes to Employment Rights
The Employment Rights Act represents the ‘biggest upgrade to rights at work for a generation’ and further measures will come into force next month. From 1 October, the time limit for an employee to make a claim to an Employment Tribunal will be increased from three to six months, with the following measures to be introduced from 30 October:
- Employers will be required to prevent harassment of their employees by third parties and to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent sexual harassment, replacing the current legal obligation to take ‘reasonable steps’. Ministers will also be given the power to bring into effect at a later date evidence‐based steps that employers must take to prevent sexual harassment.
- Employers will have to provide a written statement to workers informing them of their right to join a trade union. This statement must be provided at the start of a worker’s employment and at other prescribed times, and the Government is expected to publish further guidance on what it must include this month.
To assist employers to comply with the changes, the Government has created a dedicated webpage with guidance and practical tools, which is being regularly updated as more measures are introduced under the Act throughout the rest of 2026 and 2027.
Start the Conversation at FenceX 2027
Emails, Teams meetings and social media all have their place – but sometimes there’s no substitute for sitting down and having a conversation face-to-face.
That’s one of the reasons FenceX continues to play such an important role in bringing the fencing and perimeter security industry together.
On Thursday 23 September 2027, FenceX returns to NAEC Stoneleigh, creating a dedicated meeting place for contractors, manufacturers, suppliers, installers and industry professionals from across the sector.
For exhibitors, the value isn’t simply measured by the number of people who walk past a stand.
It’s the existing customer you finally get to catch up with. The contractor who discovers a product they hadn’t considered before. The introduction that leads to a new relationship. Or the quick conversation on the day that turns into an enquiry weeks or even months later.
FenceX creates the environment for those conversations to happen.
Alongside the exhibition, live demonstrations, industry content and other attractions give visitors plenty of reasons to spend time at the show, creating opportunities to meet, exchange ideas and build relationships throughout the day.
Join Us in 2027
Stand bookings for FenceX 2027 are already underway, with businesses from across the sector securing their place.
The Early Bird Booking Scheme currently allows exhibitors to reserve their indoor stand with just a 10% deposit, providing a simple way to secure a location now and plan ahead.
If you’d like to explore the opportunities available for your business, contact fencex@theafi.co.uk for the latest floorplan and stand information.
Sometimes the most valuable part of an exhibition starts with one conversation.
Start yours at FenceX 2027.
Member Benefit Spotlight: FREE Credit Checks
Know who you’re doing business with.
Cashflow matters, and knowing a little more about a company before agreeing payment terms can help you make better-informed business decisions.
As part of your AFI membership, members have access to FREE unlimited company credit checks, giving you a quick and simple way to check the financial standing of businesses you’re considering working with.
Whether it’s a new customer, contractor or supplier, a credit check can provide valuable information before you commit — particularly where significant sums or extended payment terms are involved.
It’s another practical AFI member benefit that could help you reduce risk and protect your business.
Want to run a credit check? Log into the member area & follow the link!