The Legend of Barry McPlank

Barry McPlank isn’t your average scaffolder. No, Barry’s been “on the tools” since he once helped his uncle Dave put up a garden trellis in 2002.

“If it’s above head height, I’m your guy,” he says — usually right before something collapses.

Barry’s current motto's?

• “Handrails are just polite suggestions.”
• “If it wobbles, it’s just adjusting to the load!”
• “Harnesses ruin my silhouette."
• “If it stands for five minutes, it’s structurally sound!”

The Day Barry Built a 4-Storey Tower… with Wardrobe Poles

One day, Barry got a “big job” putting up scaffold for a bakery refurb.

Armed with:

• 14 wardrobe poles
• 6 bungee cords
• and an Argos stepladder......he built what he called “The Eiffel Tower of Bognor Regis.”

Local legend says the scaffold swayed in the breeze like a jazz saxophone solo.

A passing building inspector took one look and said:

“Either take it down, or register it as a ride at Alton Towers.”

Enter SkillRise Training

Barry was offered two choices:

• £10,000 in fines

• Or a spot on a NOCN Level 2 NVQ Scaffolding course with SkillRise.

He chose the course.

Now? Barry’s finally got his Blue CISRS Card, he knows the difference between a ledger and a ledger board, and he hasn’t tied a scaffold with shoelaces in months.