We’re pleased to share a recent publication highlighting the continued dedication of Tony Seddon and Seddon Management Services to the UKMDA and other trade associations. Their provision of essential secretariat services plays a vital role in supporting our organisation’s mission and ensuring our members receive the highest level of representation and support. The following article details their ongoing contributions and the positive impact they have on our industry.

SMS: A Partnership Approach to Association Management

For over 18 years, Tony Seddon, Founder and Chief Executive and the team at Seddon Management Services (SMS) have been quietly revolutionising the world of association management, specifically geared towards supporting non-profit, trade associations and professional bodies. Their secret? A deeply personal, hands-on approach that prioritises understanding the unique needs of each client and their members. From humble beginnings working with the Road Surface Treatment Association, Tony’s passion for the field ignited, leading him to establish SMS in 2007. “The biggest lesson I learned early on was the importance of people skills,” Tony explains. “You need to be able to talk, interact, listen, and understand what the associations and their members need and want. Our aim has always been to try to make their world better.”

This philosophy permeates every aspect of SMS’s operations. Tony, a self-described “family man,” leads his team with fairness and openness, fostering a collaborative environment where everyone is empowered to contribute. “I don’t man-mark my team,” he says, emphasising trust and individual responsibility. This approach translates to a highly motivated team with diverse expertise, capable of handling everything from back-office administration, financial services, and membership support to specialised health and safety consulting and governance.

SMS doesn’t just manage associations; they become deeply embedded in their clients’ worlds. Tony’s technical expertise, honed through years of experience and active involvement in organisations like the European Standards Committee for Safety Netting and the Access Industry Forum, allows him to engage with clients on a deeper level. “We roll up our sleeves and get stuck in!” Tony declares. “I firmly believe that to deliver tangible differences for our clients, we need to understand their businesses. We need to understand the technical aspects of their world to be able to support them.”

This commitment to understanding client needs has allowed SMS to navigate the evolving association landscape successfully. Recognising the increasing complexity of member businesses, SMS has championed member audits, focusing on organisational quality, management capabilities, and corporate governance. This proactive approach, driven in part by tragedies like the Grenfell Tower fire, demonstrates SMS’s dedication to keeping members safe and compliant.

SMS’s vision for the future of association management involves building stronger partnerships and diversifying services to provide even greater value to members. The ultimate goal? “Getting people home safely at the end of the day!” This singular focus drives everything SMS does, from developing best practice guidelines to working closely with the HSE to shape industry standards.

Beyond financial metrics, SMS measures success by the happiness and well-being of their clients and their members. “If our clients are happy, then we are happy,” Tony states. He also emphasises the importance of member feedback, which is actively solicited and used to improve services. This client-centric approach has resulted in long-term relationships built on trust and mutual respect. “We never lose sight of the fact that every penny of association money has come from its members,” Tony explains. “I always ask myself one simple question before making any financial decision: ‘If this was my money, would I be spending it?'”

This dedication to service and impactful results is echoed by Mark Davison of SAEMA: “Since SAEMA started working with SMS the association has moved on greatly introducing new online training services which help fund the activities of the association including further training development and liaison with the National Construction College at Bircham Newton. The services that SMS provide really mean that the Board can focus on the direction of the association and leave the day to day running to the Secretariat, such as organising meetings, locations, events, accounts, keeping the website up to date etc. SMS have also become really embedded in the industry and maintain important industry liaisons with Access Industry Forum, Temporary Works Forum, HSE, CITB and more. Tony, Becky, Duncan and their wider team are a delight to work with! Mark Davison (SAEMA).”

Further reinforcing this sentiment is Rob Harris, Chairman of the FASET Training Committee and FASET Board Member, who states, “FASET has moved on massively since Tony and latterly the rest of the team at Seddon Management Services started running the association. Working seamlessly with the members, they have expanded the areas covered by the association and raised its recognition throughout the sector. Their professionalism shines through and they remain focussed on ensuring the members needs are met and often exceeded. I have no hesitation in commending them as an organisation – the benefits they bring to FASET are huge.”

For those considering a career in association management, Tony offers some sage advice: “Be prepared to work extremely hard! Look at what you can bring to the marketplace and perhaps start with smaller associations to develop your skills. You need to love what you do to make it work.” It’s clear that Tony and the team at SMS embody this philosophy, bringing passion, expertise, and a genuine desire to make a difference to the world of association management. And when Tony isn’t championing safety and best practices, you might find him indulging his passion for steam engines or enjoying the tranquillity of the Scottish Highlands with his family.

Claire Ripper February 2025, FM Business Daily

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has released its annual statistics on work-related ill health and workplace injuries for 2023/24.

Key Findings:

• Persistent Work-Related Ill Health: Approximately 1.7 million workers reported suffering from work-related ill health, a figure similar to the previous year.
• Stress, Depression, and Anxiety: These conditions remain a significant concern, accounting for nearly half of all self-reported ill health cases.
• Reduced Work-Related Stress: While the rate of stress-related ill health remains elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels, it has decreased from the previous year.
• Economic Impact: Work-related ill health and injuries cost the UK economy an estimated £21.6 billion in 2022/23.
• Workplace Fatalities and Injuries: 138 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents, and 604,000 sustained non-fatal injuries.

HSE’s Commitment to Workplace Safety:

HSE Chief Executive Sarah Albon emphasised the importance of continued efforts to improve workplace safety and health. Despite significant progress in recent decades, there is still room for improvement.

UKMDA’s Perspective:

These statistics are a sobering reminder that workplace safety is a crucial part of the duty of care of all employers.  Tragically of the 138 workplace fatalities in 23/24, 50 of them were as a result of falls from height, making it the single most cause of death in UK workplaces.

Tony Seddon, UKMDA Company Secretary, said “The recent HSE statistics are a stark reminder of the ongoing risks associated with working at height. It’s crucial that we continue to prioritise safety, training, innovation and legislation, to prevent these tragic accidents. UKMDA is committed to working with industry partners to raise awareness, promote best practices, and ensure that workers have the knowledge and skills to work safely at height. By investing in training and adopting the latest safety technologies, we can make significant strides in reducing the number of fatal falls and injuries.”

To read the full report go to HSE

For information and guidance dedicated to working at height go to Welcome – UK Metal Decking Association

UKMDA are celebrating the issuing of the first 3 GQA Qualifications awarded to metal decking and stud welding operatives in the UK. NVQ qualifications are a core stipulation for all skilled workers in the building and construction sector, and a pre-requisite to obtaining a trade-specific CSCS Card.

Since it was formed the UKMDA has championed NVQ qualifications for operatives.  The GQA is the second award body to offer this valuable vocational qualification alongside Training Qualifications UK (TQUK).

The employees of UK Steel Decking Ltd, John Hill, Bernard Schoolar and Daniel Bleasdale were all awarded their certificates in August 2024, having successfully completed their training with GQA Qualifications.

GQA Qualifications Ltd is an awarding body for specialist sectors and occupational roles including those in the construction sector. The qualification comprises of several mandatory units, including general health and safety, moving and handling, preparing and operating powered tools, pedestrian plant and machinery in the workplace.  Additional components cover installation of metal decking and edge trims and stud welding.

What Happened?

During the installation of floor deck, an operative stood on a pack of double span sheets that had been landed with little or no bearing at one end. As the deck operative stood on the end of the last three sheets, they upended and both he and the sheets entered the net. Due to the angle and weight of the sheets, they punctured the net and landed on the concrete floor below. The operative that had fallen into the net, then fell through the hole created, onto the floor below.

Thankfully he sustained very minor injuries and was able to continue working, however this could have been very serious. The net was subsequently checked and confirmed as both compliant and within test.

On Site Action / Learning

Where any packs loaded out are found to look similar to the photos below (insufficient bearing and/or trapped ends) you should stop work immediately and undertake the following:

1. Inform both your line management and the on-site client representative of the issue.
2. Agree the best course of action with your line management and the Client. This may be one of several options which could include repositioning pack with crane/forklift and/or additional control measures on site.
3. Where necessary, the contract team should undertake a site specific risk assessment and method statement addendum of additional control measures that are being adopted.
4. Work is not to resume until ALL parties are happy that work can be undertaken safely.

NEVER JUST CARRY ON AND HOPE IT WILL BE OK!

Off Site Learning / Action

When despatching packs from the supplier or when receiving packs on site, ensure that individual sheets are stacked on top of one another such that they are vertically aligned.  This means that when they are landed by the steel erector, they can be visually checked to ensure they have sufficient bearing on the steel.

Further to the statement issued by UKMDA last week relating to metal decking and stud welding operations during the Covid-19 outbreak and the associated risk assessment, as noted, UKMDA met today to review the possibility of our members returning to construction sites whilst ensuring the safety of their workforce and associated people.

The committee reviewed site operating procedures (including CLC/Build UK’s) and the UKMDA Risk Assessment, including further possible controls that members and associated parties had identified.

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Following the statement issued by the UKMDA on 25th March 2020, the members met virtually to discuss their off and on site activities with a view to seeing if the industry can work safely during the Covid-19 outbreak.  A risk assessment for these activities has been created which considers the Government advice on social distancing, as well as site practicalities such as manual handling and use of equipment.

As well as considering the health of Metal Decking and Studwelding operatives, the UKMDA were concerned about the health of others affected by their works, as well as the operatives’ families, many of whom are “key workers”.

Upon completing the risk assessment, which is available to download from the image below, the UKMDA Members concluded that they have no option but to cease works on site due to health and safety grounds.

The UKMDA Members will be meeting virtually over the coming weeks as the likelihood and risk profile changes in order to review up to date government and industry advice.  Any changes will be published on the news pages of the UKMDA website.

Site Safety for Metal Decking, Thru-Deck Stud Welding Operations During the Covid-19 Outbreak

The Board of the UK Metal Decking Association (UKMDA) has reviewed the Build UK/CLC document Site operating procedures – Protecting your workforce Found Here and the government information Full guidance on staying at home and away from others Found Here and its implications on metal decking and thru-deck stud welding operations in line with Health and Safety Regulations and law.

We have concluded that our members cannot continue to operate on sites as these procedures cannot be adhered to for the following reasons and they cannot comply with Health and Safety Law and Regulations:

The 2m rule cannot be adhered to in the following critical metal decking and stud welding operations:

• handling short metal decking sheets of less than 2 m (2-man operation)
• Joint lifting of long metal decking sheets as required for effective manual handling. (2-man operation)
• Measuring and cutting sheets around columns and notches (2-man operation)
• Correcting cover widths of sheets and fixing in place (2-man operation)
• holding trim in position for fixing (2-man operation)
• holding flashing in position for fixing (2-man operation)
• cutting trims for corners (2-man operation)
• offloading stud barrels for stud welding operations from stud welding rigs (2-man operation)
• installation of safety nets from footed ladders (2-man operation)
• rescue of a faller into a safety net (requiring close physical contact)
• lifting of large safety nets when they are folded up (2-man operation)

Furthermore, with metal decking and stud welding operations being very specialist in nature, our Members workforce are not local to the sites they operate on. This necessitates the operative taking accommodation in hotels and guesthouses local to the sites they are working on, and they use restaurants and public houses to obtain meals. These are no longer available due to the Government enforced closures. The workforce is therefore having to travel excessive distances to site, often many hours, increasing road safety risks.

The UKMDA has therefore agreed that it is no longer possible to safely provide metal decking and thru-deck stud welding on UK sites until the strict restrictions that currently imposed by parliament for social distancing (2m) are removed or reviewed for construction work.

We understand that this will present issues on sites, but the safety and welfare of our members workforce and their families has to be paramount in these unprecedented times.

We thank you for your understanding.

UK Metal Decking Association Ltd

www.ukmda.org.uk

info@ukmda.org.uk

Tel: 07854 226251

UKMDA Statement on Retentions – July 2018

The UK Metal Decking Association considers the withholding of retentions on metal decking contracts to be unnecessary. As such, the industry does not accept the application of retentions.

Metal decking is effectively a shutter and would not be subject to defects or poor workmanship once the concrete has been poured and reached design strength.  After the concrete pour, it would not be possible to carry out any remedial work, therefore the holding of retention to cover any potential defects is not applicable to the works.

Accordingly, retention to cover any potential defects is not applicable to metal decking works.

For the first time in five years, nationally recognised NVQ’s in Metal Decking and Stud Welding have been awarded through a brand new training and qualification scheme set up by the U.K. Metal Decking Association (UKMDA).
In 2013, ECITB withdrew the NVQ Qualifications, leaving the industry without an industry recognised way of formally qualifying the workforce, but after months of lobbying, the UKMDA stepped in to develop the National Occupational Standard with the support of CITB. The qualification enables holders to obtain a Blue Skilled Worker CSCS card in Metal Decking and Stud Welding.
Joe Gaughan, UKMDA Chairman awarded the first seven qualifications to the candidates and their company representatives in the beautiful surroundings of the Callow Hall Hotel, near Ashbourne, on Monday 11th June.

• The first wave of Metal Decking & Studwelding NVQ candidates were:
  Viorel Caldare and Callum Gowland, from Durham Complete Decking Ltd, accompanied by Glen McDonald – Durham Complete Decking’s MD
• Damien Nixon, David Holt, Stephen Dey, Dean Craster and Peter Bland, from Northern Steel Decking Ltd, accompanied by Carl Baxter, Northern Steel Decking’s Senior Contracts Manager

Tony Seddon, UKMDA’s Company Secretary says: “This is massive news for the construction industry. There’s been a huge hole in the metal decking and studwelding training sector for almost half a decade now and we are thrilled to have developed this excellent formal qualification, which sets a new standard for those working in this busy sector. It’s now up to the construction industry to get behind the NVQ, with support from UKMDA and CITB.”

UKMDA Chairman Joe Gaughan added: “We are very proud of what we have achieved since the association was launched in June 2015. This NVQ now means the industry has a formally recognised and thorough qualification and there is a career path for those entering the industry.”

Many more NVQ qualifications are in the process of being assessed and will roll out in coming months. For information on the NVQ and UKMDA training scheme, please visit www.ukmda.org.uk or email tony.seddon@ukmda.org.uk.

Mental Health Issues in Construction

https://www.matesinmind.org/

Mates in Mind aims to raise awareness, address the stigma of poor mental health and improve positive mental wellbeing in the UK construction industry.

Mates in Mind has an ambitious goal – to reach 100,000 workers in its first year and by 2025 to have reached 75% of the construction industry.

It is led by and for the industry in partnership with the Health in Construction Leadership Group and British Safety Council, as well as with other leading organisations and charities such as Mind, Samaritans and Mental Health First Aid England.

Mates in Mind helps to make sense of available options and support to employers.

Mates in Mind is a registered charity.

New Qualification Route for Metal Decking

The UK Metal Decking Association (the single largest UK based specialist trade body for the Metal Decking and Studwelding industry) has teamed up with Training Qualifications UK to resolve a major problem that has faced the metal decking industry for a number of years.

Formed of the leading companies in the composite metal flooring and studwelding industry, UKMDA has worked with TQUK to develop a new robust and regulated qualification in Metal Decking and Studwelding which will help many skilled tradesmen to continue working on construction sites throughout the UK.

NVQ qualifications have now become a core stipulation for all skilled workers looking to ply their trade in a building and construction environment with metal decking being no different. They are also a pre-requisite in obtaining a trade-specific CSCS Card.

In terms of acquiring the correct metal decking and/or studwelding credentials to work on a construction or building site moving forward, you can undertake UKMDA Core Training, register for the NVQ and obtain a Trainee CSCS Card whilst you progress your NVQ, on completion of which you will be able to apply for a skilled CSCS card for Metal Decking Installer and/or Stud Welder.

More on the NVQ qualification with TQUK

TQUK Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Metal Decking and Stud Welding Occupations (Construction) (RQF)

The qualification comprises of several mandatory units including the preparing and operating of powered units, tools or pedestrian plant, machinery or equipment in the workplace and the safe handling, moving and storing of resources in the workplace.

And in addition to those, there are separate pathways aimed specifically at metal decking installation and stud welder operations. TQUK Managing Director Andrew Walker said: “We’re extremely pleased to assist the UKMDA in providing them with a qualification which the industry has been asking for.’

‘With NVQ qualifications becoming a core component for skilled workers, we’ve developed a wide range of Building and Construction vocational qualifications which we hope will help tradesmen in their pursuit of a career within the construction industry.’  

On working with TQUK, Tony Seddon, Company Secretary for the UK Metal Decking Association said: “ TQUK’s no nonsense approach to moving the qualification forward has been refreshing. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them”

On what the qualification means to the UKMDA Tony said: “The metal decking and studwelding industry has been without a robust qualification route for several years. The NVQ will lead to a qualification at a nationally recognised level, which means the industry can finally move forward in qualifying the workforce. The UKMDA is delighted to have been part of this process and I am personally pleased to have seen the industry pull together for the common good.”

Click here for more information.