Want more young people in Fencing? – Open Doors 2027 – hold an event with industry backing and help from Build UK
We are delighted to kick off a new chapter for Open Doors, the industry‐wide initiative delivered by Build UK to inspire careers in construction. We are introducing a more flexible format for 2027, which will enable events to take place throughout March, providing more opportunities for you to open your doors and showcase the wide range of careers available in the industry.
According to the latest CITB Construction Workforce Outlook, construction will need an additional 206,000 workers over the next five years, and Open Doors has a proven track record of recruiting young people and those looking for a change of career. For example, Molly from Magherafelt in Northern Ireland discovered a passion for quantity surveying during an Open Doors visit in 2025 and is now a Higher Level Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, whilst Adam from Lincoln secured a role as a Trainee Surface Preparation Operative off the back of his visit this year and will shortly begin his NVQ Level 2 qualification.
Open Doors 2026 welcomed over 6,500 visitors, and we are looking forward to your support to inspire even more people to choose a career in construction in 2027! Our Countdown to #OpenDoors27 contains all the key dates for your diaries, and please start thinking about which of your sites, offices, manufacturing facilities and training centres you can open next March.
Why Get Involved?
With over one million young people aged 16 to 24 currently not in education, employment or training (NEET), there is a huge opportunity for our industry to recruit the workers it needs. We know that people are more likely to consider a career in construction after an Open Doors visit and by taking part you will have the opportunity to:
- Showcase your projects and their impact on society and help to change perceptions of what it is like to work in construction
- Build relationships with local schools, colleges and JobCentres across the country to support future recruitment
- Promote your early careers opportunities and start a new work experience pipeline.
The Milburn report revealed that 84% of NEETs want to find a job, education or training, yet many leave education with little or no exposure to working environments. Open Doors helps to bridge that gap and give young people the insight that could shape their future career, so now is the perfect time to start thinking about how you can get involved and recruit the next generation!
UK Fencing Industry Awards – Don’t Let Your Hard Work Go Unnoticed!
Every day, businesses across the fencing industry are delivering exceptional projects, developing talented apprentices, supporting customers and raising standards.
The UK Fencing Awards are your opportunity to have that hard work recognised.
With the entry deadline approaching, now is the perfect time to complete your submission and put your achievements in the spotlight.
Whether you’ve completed an impressive installation, delivered an innovative solution, developed an outstanding apprentice, or worked with a supplier who consistently goes above and beyond, there’s a category waiting for your entry.
This year’s awards will be held at the iconic Old Trafford on 12th November, where we’ll also be welcoming Sir Geoff Hurst as our guest speaker for what promises to be a memorable evening celebrating the very best of our industry.
Categories include:
- Agricultural & Equine
- Domestic
- Gates & Barriers
- Industrial
- Sports & Education
- Security
- Temporary Fencing & Hoarding
- Highways & Railways
- Supplier of the Year
- Project of the Year
- Apprentice of the Year
- Women in Fencing
We’re also continuing to accept nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lifetime Achievement nominations: info@theafi.co.uk
👉 Enter today: www.afiorg.uk
Every award starts with an entry.
If you’re proud of what you’ve achieved over the past year, now is the time to share it.
Join Us for Commtel Boundary & Access Day
AFI is pleased to be taking part in the upcoming Boundary & Access Day, hosted by Commtel on Friday 17 July 2026 in Crawley, West Sussex.
This practical industry event brings together leading organisations involved in fencing, gates, locks and access control to explore how these disciplines combine to create effective site boundary solutions. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet manufacturers, suppliers and industry specialists, discuss real-world challenges and gain a greater understanding of how integrated boundary and access systems are designed and delivered.
Participating organisations include AFI, Commtel, Locinox, Suffolk Gates and First Fence, offering visitors the chance to see products and solutions first-hand and speak directly with the experts behind them.
As projects increasingly require multiple disciplines to work together, understanding how each element contributes to the wider solution has never been more important. Whether your interest lies in fencing, gates, automation, access control or perimeter security, this event promises valuable insight and networking opportunities.
Event Details
📅 Friday 17 July 2026
🕗 08:30 – 15:30
📍 Commtel, Orchard House, 39 Gatwick Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9RB
Breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
Places are limited, so if you have received an invitation, please confirm your attendance by replying to the invitation email.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Find out more here
Apply for the Youth Jobs Grant
The Government has committed to ensuring that every young person has access to further education, training or a job, and the new Youth Jobs Grant, which opened for applications on 30 June 2026, will pay employers £3,000 for taking on a young person aged 18 to 24 who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for over six months.
- To apply for the grant, employers must operate in Great Britain, have traded for at least six months, be registered with HMRC, and not be part of central Government.
- After their suitability has been assessed, employers will be invited to submit vacancies, which must pay at least the National Minimum Wage for a minimum of 25 hours per week for a minimum of 16 weeks.
- The number of funded roles available to each employer will be based on a ‘permitted ratio‘ of total employees.
- Once the young person starts, the grant will be paid in two stages: £1,800 after six weeks and £1,200 after 18 weeks.
Part of the Youth Guarantee scheme, the grant will be available for three years until October 2028, and applications should be submitted via the online application form. An employer toolkit has been produced to help navigate the process and recruitment support is available through Jobcentre Plus.
Best Practice Day – Have You Booked Yet?
Tickets are now on sale for the AFI & AFA Autumn Best Practice Day, taking place on Thursday 15th October at Northumberland College – Kirkley Hall Campus.
Join us for a full day of practical demonstrations, hands-on workshops, technical guidance and networking with fellow fencing professionals.
For just £15, your ticket includes a breakfast roll and hot drink on arrival, lunch, refreshments and access to a packed programme designed to help you develop practical skills and keep up to date with industry best practice.
📅 15th October
📍 Kirkley Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne
🕘 9.00am – 3.00pm
Book your place today
Fleet Safety Focus for July – Fatigue
Driving is for most people the most dangerous activity they can do.
We know that in the great majority of cases the initial outcome of a crash is around driver behaviour – and this can be caused by tiredness and fatigue, that can result in severe injury or worse, fatality.
Fatigued drivers can face charges of death by dangerous driving or death by careless driving if involved in a fatal collision, leading to a prison sentence.
Tired drivers have poor coordination, poor reaction times, poor speed and lane discipline.
You have a duty of care to make sure every driver is fit to be behind the wheel.
So how confident are you that your drivers aren’t tired, and that fatigue is not affecting their driving?
Access the free manager and driver resources
Member Benefit Spotlight: HR & Employment Law Support with Citation
Whether you employ one person or a growing team, dealing with HR and employment law can be one of the most challenging aspects of running a business.
From disciplinary issues and contracts to holiday entitlement, sickness absence and changing legislation, it’s important to have expert advice when you need it.
That’s why AFI members have access to professional HR & Employment Law support through Citation.
Your AFI Member Benefit
✔ 24/7 access to expert HR & Employment Law advice
✔ Support with employee contracts, policies and handbooks
✔ Guidance on disciplinary, grievance and redundancy procedures
✔ Employment tribunal support and advice guarantee (subject to terms)
✔ Access to Atlas – Citation’s online HR management platform to help manage employee records, documents and HR administration
Whether you’re recruiting your first employee or managing an established team, having expert support on hand can help you make confident decisions and stay up to date with ever-changing employment legislation.
Find Out More
If you’d like to learn more about the HR & Employment Law support available as part of your AFI member benefits, log in to the member area, or contact the AFI office info@theafi.co.uk and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction.