There’s Still Time to Put Your Business in the Spotlight
The countdown is on for the AFI UK Fencing Industry Awards, and there’s still time to submit your entries.
The awards recognise excellence from across the fencing industry, celebrating outstanding businesses, projects and individuals who continue to raise standards and inspire others. With categories covering contractors, suppliers, apprentices and more, there are plenty of opportunities to showcase your achievements.
Remember, entries are completely free and you can enter multiple categories, giving your business more chances to become a finalist.
This year’s awards will take place at the iconic Old Trafford, where guests will enjoy an exclusive stadium tour, a three-course lunch, a champagne reception and an inspiring guest speaker, Sir Geoff Hurst.
If you’ve been considering entering, now is the time. Don’t miss the opportunity to gain industry recognition and celebrate your team’s hard work.
Enter UK Fencing Industry Awards today
Steel Strategy
To support its Steel Strategy, the Government has updated PPN 022 requiring public sector authorities to confirm whether UK‐produced steel is to be used by their supply chains from 1 October 2026. The CLC has also issued a statement confirming it continues to monitor the impact of new steel quotas and tariffs and will report bimonthly to the Trade Minister’s office.
AFI to Judge Tornado Wire Fencing Competition at NSA Sheep 2026
The Association of Fencing Industries (AFI) is delighted to once again support the Tornado Wire Fencing Competition at the NSA Sheep Event, taking place at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, on 28th July 2026.
Recognised as one of the highlights of the event, the competition showcases the outstanding skill, precision and professionalism of the UK’s fencing contractors as teams compete head-to-head to construct a section of high tensile stock fencing to the highest possible standard.
The competition will challenge teams of two to erect approximately 60–70 metres of Tornado high tensile stock netting, incorporating both traditional timber techniques and Tornado’s innovative Pro-Strain® steel system. Working against the clock, competitors will have just three hours to complete the task before the judging begins.
The AFI is proud to provide the judging panel for the competition, assessing each team’s workmanship, technical ability, accuracy, safety and adherence to industry best practice.
Pete Clark, Chief Executive of the Association of Fencing Industries, said:
“Competitions like this are a fantastic way to celebrate the professionalism and craftsmanship that exists within our industry. They demonstrate not only the high standards achieved by fencing contractors, but also the importance of best practice, technical skill and continuous learning. We’re proud to support Tornado Wire by providing the judging panel and look forward to seeing another excellent competition at NSA Sheep.”
With an impressive prize fund on offer—including £1,000 for first place and the opportunity for the highest-placed UK team to represent the UK at the prestigious Silver Spades Competition in New Zealand in 2027—the competition promises to attract some of the country’s most talented fencing contractors.
Visitors to NSA Sheep are encouraged to watch the competition throughout the day, meet the competing teams and visit the Tornado Wire stand for the prize presentation at 3.00pm.
The AFI wishes every competitor the very best of luck and looks forward to recognising the exceptional workmanship on display.
If you’re attending the NSA event, we’d love to see you. Please come and say hello to the AFI team and find out more about our work, membership and upcoming events.
Common Assessment Standard
Build UK has reviewed the Common Assessment Standard following advice from Wedlake Bell LLP, supported by a letter from the Building Safety Minister, confirming that scaffolding and temporary works do not fall within the scope of the Building Regulations which regulate ‘building work’, unless they form part of the structure once complete.
Whilst the dutyholder and associated competency requirements are not directly relevant to scaffolding and temporary works, such works are within the scope of the Building Safety Act in relation to raising levels of competence across the industry, and we will be publishing an updated version of the Common Assessment Standard on 1 November 2026 to reflect this position. The competence‐related questions will be moved from the Building Safety section to the Quality section so that they are completed by all suppliers, and scaffolding and temporary works suppliers will not be required to complete the Building Safety section, unless they undertake ‘building work’.
In the meantime and until the updated version of the Common Assessment Standard is published, all suppliers going through the certification process for the Common Assessment Standard with one of the Recognised Assessment Bodies will be required to successfully complete the competence‐related questions numbered 135, 136 and 138, even if they are not required to complete the remaining dutyholder questions in the Building Safety section.
Early Bird Stand Bookings Now Open
Planning ahead can make all the difference, and bookings for FenceX 2027 are already underway.
As the UK’s dedicated fencing and perimeter security exhibition, FenceX provides an unrivalled opportunity to showcase products and services, launch new innovations and connect with contractors, suppliers and decision-makers from across the industry.
Indoor stands can now be secured with just a 10% deposit, allowing exhibitors to take advantage of early bird rates while reserving their preferred location.
Whether you’re looking to increase brand awareness, generate new business or strengthen existing relationships, FenceX continues to be one of the industry’s most valuable events.
Find out more and secure your stand
Benchmarking Retentions
Build UK will be updating its payment performance table at the start of next month with the latest results published under the Reporting on Payment Practices and Performance Regulations. For the first time, data on retentions will be included for Build UK members and the wider industry in line with new reporting requirements introduced last year:
- Whether a company uses retention clauses
- Amount of retention withheld as a percentage of all payments to suppliers
- Amount of retention withheld from suppliers as a percentage of the amount withheld by clients.
In the same way that we have been providing transparency on payment performance since 2018, we will now shine a spotlight on retentions. For every large company in the industry required to report their payment performance, the Build UK table will show the average rate of retention they withhold and the extent to which they are ‘passing on’ retentions to their supply chain.
With the Commercial Payments Bill currently going through Parliament including a ban on the use of retention clauses, the data will provide a benchmark for progress. We have already demonstrated the value of measurement and transparency in changing behaviours across the sector, with the average time taken to pay invoices by Build UK Contractor members reducing from 45 days to 29 days since 2018, and we now have the opportunity to tackle the long-standing issue of retentions.
Tickets Now Available for the AFI & AFA Best Practice Day
Join us at Kirkley Hall on 15 October for this year’s AFI & AFA Best Practice Day, focusing on agricultural strained wire fencing.
Designed for contractors, installers and anyone keen to improve their practical knowledge, the day will feature live demonstrations, expert guidance and opportunities to discuss best practice with fellow professionals.
Whether you’re looking to refine your techniques, keep up to date with current standards or simply spend the day networking with colleagues from across the industry, this is an event not to miss.
Places are limited, so we encourage members to book early.
Reserve your place today
Construction Apprenticeship Network
On behalf of the industry, the Construction Skills Mission Board is working to support the delivery of 100,000 new construction workers each year until 2029, and its objectives include providing employers with the confidence to employ and invest, creating clear pathways for new entrants, and ensuring appropriate training provision is available.
As part of our work to support the Mission Board, we have identified the need for an apprentice ‘matching service’ to connect individuals looking for an apprenticeship with local employers offering opportunities. The nationwide service will also support and track apprentices throughout their apprenticeship journey, with the ability to ‘re‐home’ those that lose their employer for any reason. With employers across the industry struggling to identify suitable apprentices and young people often lacking the guidance and support to thrive in construction roles, our proposal has now received the backing of the Mission Board and will be developed and delivered with feedback from members and the support of CITB.
Following a concerted effort led by Build UK member, British Woodworking Federation (BWF), Skills England has agreed a new approach to apprenticeship assessments, recognising that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not appropriate for the diverse range of occupations in construction. A dedicated construction taskforce, which includes the Building Safety Regulator, CITB and CSCS alongside industry representatives, has introduced additional requirements for high‐risk occupations aligned with recognised industry competence standards. Three industry standards – Building Services Engineering Senior Technician, Carpentry and Joinery, and General Builder – are now open for public consultation and members are invited to provide feedback until 2 August.
Member Benefit Spotlight – Acrisure
As an AFI member, you have access to a wide range of exclusive business benefits, including specialist insurance advice and support through our trusted partner, Acrisure.
Acrisure understands the unique requirements of businesses operating within the fencing industry and can provide tailored insurance solutions designed to protect your business, your people and your reputation.
Whether you’re reviewing your current cover, expanding your business or looking for expert guidance, Acrisure offers professional advice backed by extensive industry knowledge.
It’s just one of the many ways AFI membership helps support your business beyond technical guidance and industry representation.
To learn more about the benefits available through Acrisure, or to explore the full range of AFI member benefits, visit:
https://afiorg.uk/membership/member-benefits/
Helping you get more from your AFI membership