FenceX 2025 Breaks Records and Brings the Fencing Industry Together
The UK fencing industry came together in record numbers on 15th October for FenceX 2025 at NAEC Stoneleigh – and the result was a day packed with innovation, collaboration, and inspiration.
With groundbreaking numbers of visitors and record numbers of exhibitors showcasing the latest in fencing products, technology, and best practice, this year’s show was the largest and most dynamic FenceX ever. From the exhibition floor to the outdoor demonstration areas, the energy and enthusiasm were evident throughout the day.
Live Action, Innovation and Expertise
One of the biggest draws of the show was the largest-ever destruction testing schedule seen at a UK fencing exhibition. Crowds gathered throughout the day to watch leading manufacturers – including Barkers, Zaun, CLD, IAE, Alexandra, Henry Squire & Son, and First Fence – put their products through rigorous real-world testing. These live demonstrations not only showcased the strength and durability of modern fencing solutions but also highlighted the continual innovation taking place within the sector.
The Gate Automation Zone, delivered in partnership with the Door & Hardware Federation (DHF), was another major attraction. Featuring live demonstrations, compliance guidance, and expert advice, the zone proved invaluable for contractors, specifiers, and clients keen to understand more about automated access solutions.
Best Practice in Action
Outside, the AFI & AFA Best Practice Day brought practical skills and expert techniques to life. Following the sell-out spring event at Harper Adams, the outdoor demonstrations at FenceX featured two full fencing lines – one timber and one metal – covering both timber and metal techniques. Delegates learned how to adapt approaches for strainers, struts, turners, and wire work across different ground conditions. Huge thanks to the team for delivering another fantastic event and sharing their knowledge and experience.
Knowledge Sharing and Future Thinking
Education was also at the heart of the show, with a busy seminar programme tackling key topics including apprenticeships, standards, safety, compliance, and business development. Speakers from across the industry – including training experts, standards bodies, and leading contractors – shared practical insights and answered audience questions in well-attended sessions throughout the day.
Perks, Prizes and Networking
Visitors who pre-registered were welcomed with a free breakfast rollto start their day, and hundreds took the opportunity to network, meet suppliers, and explore new business opportunities.
One lucky visitor will also be enjoying a weekend in Ghent, courtesy of Locinox, with Eurostar travel, hotel accommodation, and a private tour of the company’s cutting-edge factory included. The prize draw, entered by dropping name badges into a collection bucket on departure, proved a popular finale to a memorable day.
A Landmark Year for FenceX
“FenceX 2025 has surpassed all expectations,” said Pete Clark, CEO of the Association of Fencing Industries. “The quality of exhibitors, the scale of the demonstrations, and the level of engagement from across the sector have been phenomenal. It shows the strength and ambition of our industry – and the importance of coming together to share ideas, showcase innovation, and build the future of fencing.”
With this year’s event setting a new benchmark, the AFI is already planning ahead for future editions. For those who couldn’t make it, highlights, photos, and videos will be shared on the FenceX website and social media channels in the coming weeks.
Digital Skills Passport
The My CSCS App provides the foundations of a ‘digital skills passport’ for the industry, as recommended by Mark Farmer in his Industry Training Board (ITB) Review published earlier this year, to enable Clients and other dutyholders under the Building Safety Act to demonstrate and enforce the competence of individuals working on their projects.
The app holds an individual’s digital CSCS card, which is identical to the traditional plastic version and shows their photo, qualifications, training, occupation and the expiry date of the card. To help both cardholders and employers, the My Skills section within the app allows an individual to store in one place their qualifications; successful completion of the Health, Safety and Environment Test; and any additional training and CPD undertaken. Cardholders can then generate a CV‐style summary of the information within the app, which can be shared with employers as part of demonstrating the skills and knowledge elements of competence.
CSCS Smart Check can be used to digitally check all 2.3 million cards carrying the CSCS logo, and Build UK members should be using it across their projects and supply chain.
Our New AFI Website Is Now Live!
We’re delighted to announce that the brand-new AFI website is now live!
The new site has been completely refreshed to make it easier for members to find information, access resources, and stay connected with everything happening across the fencing industry.
We’re putting the finishing touches in place this week to ensure a smooth transition for all members. Log-in details and password reset links will be sent out next week, so please keep an eye on your inbox — and don’t forget to check your junk or spam folders just in case the email lands there.
We can’t wait for you to explore the new site and see what’s new. Thank you for your patience while we’ve been making these improvements — we’re confident the new platform will provide a much better experience for all our members.
Review of Temporary Shortage List
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has completed the first stage of its review of the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) and provided recommendations for the future. The stage 1 report includes a list of occupations for potential inclusion on the TSL, which will be considered further after an industry‐wide call for evidence.
Following the recent changes to the Points‐Based Immigration System, which included raising the threshold for a Skilled Worker Visa to RQF Level 6, the TSL is a way for occupations at RQF Levels 3 – 5 to be eligible for a Skilled Worker Visa. The MAC has provisionally identified 82 occupations, out of the 151 occupations at RQF Levels 3 – 5 in the UK, as ‘potentially crucial’ to delivering the 10‐Year Infrastructure Strategy, and this initial list will be considered further at the next stage of the review. It includes a range of construction occupations such as bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, construction supervisors, floorers and wall tilers, painters and decorators, plasterers, plumbers, roofers, stone masons, steel erectors, and welders, and Build UK will be working with the CLC to coordinate the industry’s response to the call for evidence.
The MAC has recommended that occupations on the TSL should generally be reviewed every three years and not receive any discount against the standard salary threshold for a Skilled Worker Visa. MAC’s stage 2 report, including final recommendations for the occupations that should be included, is expected to be published in July 2026, and the Home Secretary will make the final decision on whether to accept the recommendations.
Build UK’s flowchart providing an overview of the process of employing a worker from outside the UK is being regularly updated in line with changes to the immigration system, together with our detailed guidance on How to Get a Sponsor Licence and How to Apply for a Skilled Worker Visa.
Making Tax Digital
The new Making Tax Digital for Income Tax service will come into force from 6 April 2026, representing a major change to the way that self‐employed individuals manage their tax. It is part of HMRC’s efforts to modernise the tax system and reduce errors and it will be phased in over the next three years, starting with individuals with a turnover over £50,000.
Rather than paying four tax bills a year, individuals will need to pay a single tax bill and use recognised software to keep records of their income and expenses. Using the software, individuals will have to send quarterly updates to HMRC, which will enable HMRC to produce an estimate of an individual’s tax bill. The deadline for payment of the tax bill will be 31 January. Individuals will need to check their eligibility for the new service and sign up in time; they will not automatically be signed up by HMRC. Further information is available in a series of FAQs published by HMRC.