NASC, the UK's leading trade body for scaffolding and access, has officially opened entries for the 2026 Scaffolding Excellence Awards, celebrating the very best people, projects and products across the industry.

The awards will once again recognise outstanding achievement, innovation and commitment to high standards in scaffolding and access. The awards will feature the same nine categories as 2025, allowing companies of all sizes the opportunity to showcase their work and gain industry recognition.

The only change for 2026 is that the Apprentice of the Year Award has been renamed the Wayne Connolly Apprentice of the Year Award as a way of honouring the legacy of the former NASC president and CISRS chairman, who died unexpectedly in December 2025.

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As in previous years, the awards are only open to NASC members.

The awards highlight not only technical excellence but also the people, projects, products and services that are helping to move the industry forward.

Dr James MacFadden, Senior Responsible CSA Engineer at Sellafield, returns as Chair of the judging panel, bringing continuity and expertise to the process. Commenting on the launch, he said: "We saw an exceptional standard of entries in 2025, with brilliant examples of innovation, project delivery, leadership and collaboration across the sector. I am looking forward to seeing how the industry continues to raise the bar in 2026. These awards are an important way to recognise hard work and professionalism that often goes unseen.

"Once again, I am pleased to be chairing a panel of leading experts from across the industry who all bring different expertise and experience to the process."

The winners will be revealed at a star-studded evening on Friday 11 September in Manchester, hosted by stand-up comedian and television presenter Dara Ó Briain, best known for best known in the UK for hosting Mock the Week, Blockbusters, Robot Wars, and Stargazing Live. It promises to be a memorable night of celebration, networking, and recognition for the scaffolding community.

Further details on categories, criteria, and how to enter can be found on the NASC website at nasc.org.uk.