![Church access solutions](https://b1202896.smushcdn.com/1202896/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/church.jpg?lossy=0&strip=1&webp=1)
HILLINGTON-based Scaffolding & Access Supplies has carved out a niche for itself as a provider of bespoke access solutions – often for complex and highly technical projects.
The family-run business was founded in 2017 by experienced scaffolding and access industry stalwart Kenneth Norris. Kenneth has more than 30 years’ experience in the sector, including lengthy spells with industry giants and stints overseas in Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
The company started out selling light access products such as ladders and towers, before gradually expanding the portfolio. Today Scaffolding & Access Supplies offers a wide range of equipment from traditional scaffolds and aluminium towers through to scaffold tubes and fittings, steel system scaffolding, and ladders of various lengths.
The firm’s success has partly been driven by fruitful supply chain partnerships with the likes of aluminium access tower specialist Euro Towers and Lyte Ladders.
As well as providing the products, Scaffolding & Access Supplies offers an installation service to ensure the kit is set up correctly and safely.
“We were probably about three years into the business when people started asking if we could build the towers,” Kenneth told Project Scotland. “We’ve built umpteen aluminium towers throughout the years across a wide range of projects. Some of the projects have been simple, while others have been far more complicated.”
As the business grew, it started to diversify and invest in heavier scaffolding systems. Despite growth, the firm has remained true to its roots. The operation is still run by Kenneth, his wife Catherine, and son Kyle. Kenneth believes customers value dealing with a family firm where decision makers are always available at the other end of a phone.
“We tend to get an appreciation for the fact that we take the time to work with customers to provide them with the correct service for what they need,” Kenneth explained. “One of the issues that we pride ourselves on is we can almost tailor-make to specification what is required. We look at the problem the client has and provide a solution in terms of the access or edge protection. While a lot of work is standard, there are occasions where we have to think in a different manner. We try to work closely with contractors.
“We run two or three squads, depending on what the volume of work is and how demand moves.
“The solutions we’ve had to come up with have been for all sorts of arrangements. We’ve done a lot of work in churches. We’ve provided a variety of products from towers right through to major platforms. This has mainly been for painting and decorating purposes, but sometimes for ceiling work and external renovations.
“We’ve also supplied a lot of towers for roofing contractors carrying out gutter or minor fascia repairs and pipe work. And we work with another company that has requirements for towers to change flues in tenement buildings.”
An example of the company’s capabilities can be found on a project to provide an access solution to allow an airline to reskin an aircraft that had been ‘pockmarked’ by hailstones. This led to another project with the same airline which saw Scaffolding Access & Supplies work with Euro Towers to develop a special product to allow operatives access to the underside of aircraft wings as part of a programme to change the wingtips.
While Scaffolding & Access Supplies’ expertise has taken the firm as far afield as Poland and Lithuania, the bulk of work is focused on Scotland’s central belt.
The business has had a busy start to 2025, with a customer base that ranges from small and medium contractors to domestic one-off projects. The majority of work is repeat business, with Kenneth citing the typical client as an all-trades business specialising in building work, renovations, new-builds, and refurbishments, perhaps with a painting or roofing division. The company also benefits from a lot of referrals.
Moving forward, an area of increasing importance looks certain to be solar panels, with Scaffolding Access & Supplies’ products in high demand for both residential and industrial projects. The company has been working with a contractor to provide access solutions to enable a major car retailer to place solar panels on the roof of showrooms and large warehouse units. This is one of several major projects in this field.
Whatever the future holds, Kenneth is determined that the company’s commitment to providing first class products with a personal touch will remain key.