🌿 Best Practice Day Returns at FenceX 2025!

Join us on 15 October at NAEC Stoneleigh for a full day of live demonstrations, practical techniques, and hands-on learning — all part of the AFI & AFA Best Practice Day, running outside as part of FenceX 2025!

🎟️ Tickets are FREE – and include a bacon roll on arrival if booked in advance!
📍 Outdoor exhibitor pitches are still available – a great chance to showcase your products in action.

Inside the hall, it’s just as exciting:
💥 The largest-ever destruction testing schedule
⚙️ Gate Automation Zone
🎤 Seminars and over 75% of stands already sold!

Don’t miss the fencing industry’s biggest event of the year – book your free ticket here or email fencex@theafi.co.uk to enquire about exhibiting.

 

Fencing the Future: Homegrown Timber’s Event.

It was a day defined by collaboration and industry support as Homegrown Timber hosted its much-anticipated first fencing event, drawing in professionals, apprentices, and industry suppliers such as ExMesh, KLOU UK, Advanced Perimeter Systems, Scott Parnell, DJB Machinery and Milwaukee. Set against the backdrop of Homegrown Timber’s thriving yard, the event was a vibrant showcase of innovation in fencing, combining live demonstrations and displays.

The event kicked off with a welcome address from the Homegrown Timber leadership team, setting the tone for a day focused on education, industry awareness, and sustainable practices. We hope that next year will be bigger and better and will continue to promote the fencing industry and best practices. See you there.

 

 

National Housing Bank 

FREE Mental Health First Aider Seminars

While working in nature can be good for the soul, the reality for many in our industry is far more complex. The physical demands, long hours, financial uncertainty, and often-isolating nature of the work can take a serious toll on mental health — and all too often, those struggles go unspoken.

In the UK:

• Over 5,000 people die by suicide each year — with the highest rates among men aged 45–49, a group that makes up a large part of our sector.
• 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
• 1 in 6 report facing issues like anxiety or depression every week.

Let’s be clear: poor mental health isn’t “just the new backache.” It’s real, it’s serious, and it can be life-threatening.

That’s why AFI Partner Perennial has partnered with Mental Health First Aid England to offer two free, practical webinars tailored specifically for those working in our industry. These short sessions offer tools to help reduce stigma, open confident conversations, and foster healthier, more supportive workplaces.

Upcoming Free Webinars:

Support Your Team by Having Confident Conversations about Mental Health

Tuesday 24 June @ 12pm
For managers and supervisors – learn how to spot early warning signs and support your team with confidence.

Do We Need a Mental Health First Aider in Our Workplace?

Tuesday 1 July @ 1pm
For business owners and HR professionals – discover how Mental Health First Aiders can make a difference in your organisation.

We know it’s a busy time of year — but just half an hour could make a lasting impact. Even if you can’t attend, please do make sure someone from your team does. It could quite literally help save a life.

Book your free place now:

Thank you for helping us make mental health a priority.

H&S and Environmental Manuals

The Health and Safety (H&S) Manual and the Environmental Manual, published by Construction Industry Publications (CIP) to provide a ‘one‐stop shop’ for managing health and safety and environmental matters during construction, have been updated with input from Build UK and its members to reflect the latest changes in legislation and guidance.

The H&S Manual contains reference to the new BS 5975 standard for temporary works and NASC’s TG30 for system scaffolding as well as updated guidance on the use of plant on site, sanitary provision in toilets, and Respiratory Protective Equipment with support from JSP, whilst the Environmental Manual includes CLOCS Standard Version 5, revised minimum energy efficiency standards, and the separation and storage of waste on-site.

Each manual is written by industry for industry to provide a concise summary of relevant legislation, along with practical guidance on how to comply with it. AFI members will receive a 30% discount when purchasing hard copies of either manual, or subscribing to CIP Knowledge which includes access to both manuals, by using the promotional code ‘BUILDUK’.