If you asked the average person if they had a ladder at home the answer would probably be “yes, I have a step-ladder” or “yes, I have an extension ladder for cleaning out the gutters”.  Not many people would say they have any other type of ladder, except a loft ladder.  The Beckhams, who are not your average family, actually have a ladder in their kitchen.   The Beckhams' kitchen ladder is similar to a library ladder in that it is attached to a rail and can be slid along the kitchen units to provide access to the highest cupboards (and we can only assume they have very high ceilings in [...]

As we look back over 2020, (and wonder whether 2021 is going to turn out better) it struck us that the Little Giant multipurpose ladders are the perfect metaphor for the changes we have had to make over the last 12 months, and the various roles we have had to take on and manage.   Anyone with children is already multi-tasking, being a chauffeur, cook, nurse, counsellor, personal dresser, life coach and more, but in 2020 they also had to be a teacher, careers guidance advisor, relationship coach and more.  Those of us used to coming into the office every day had to get used to working from home, and establishing [...]

The Ladder Association, formed in 1947, is the UK's leading light on ladder safety, training and innovation.  They advise the Health and Safety Executive about safe ladder use and work with them frequently on any issues related to ladder safety in the workplace.  Members of the association, (which includes us at Midland Ladders as well as manufacturers, distributors, training centres and other ladder related bodies in the UK), can access training, help influence the industry and develop guidance for ladder use, and stay up to date with the latest news in the height access market. Each year the Ladder Association runs a ladder exchange scheme, which offers customers a discount on [...]

We've written about ladders in sculpture before, inspired by the semi-nomadic community artist Charlie Brouwer, who creates stunning temporary sculptures out of ladders donated by the town he is in at the time.  The idea of borrowing ladders from the community helps reinforce the message of his art, which is that the total is greater than the sum of its parts and that all communities are inter-dependent on the people who make up that community, in order to create a sense of an equal and open society where people help and support each other.   This latest ladder inspired sculpture actually has no ladders in it at all, although it is [...]

Firefighters usually rescue people from burning buildings, but their rescue services don't end there.  They are also often called to help rescue stranded or injured wildlife with their aerial ladders.  One thing many people don't realised about ladder trucks is that the ladders are designed to go down as well as up, so they can be used to rescue people or animals from holes, as well as across bodies of water or other gaps.    Firefighters in Bath, Somerset, used their ladder truck to rescue a baby seagull which had become trapped in netting on top of a building.  The netting is designed to stop birds nesting on top of the [...]

When we look at the ladder related news from across the world many of the stories we see are tragedies, where someone has been killed as the result of a fall from a ladder, electrocution or other misadventures involving heights.  We see a lot of incidents of people being struck by ladders or other items which have not been secured to a vehicle, which have then come loose on the road. It's rare to find a lucky escape from these events, especially as most of them involve motorcyclists, who don't have the protection of a car to shield them from items that might fly off a truck.   Travis Irwin, 24, [...]

This year we’ve a second Christmas special for you.  We've taken inspiration from that classic Christmas song, Fairytale of New York by The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl.  Widely considered to be one of the best Christmas songs of all time, it's a hit with everyone, even those who claim to hate Christmas.  There's no denying it gets stuck in your head for weeks, but it never gets old.   It's Christmas Eve babe, I'm hanging fairy lights Adorning the house and Making festive wishes true The cards are hung up Along the hallways Used my stepladder To deck the halls out   Got on my Little Giant It works in any [...]

Christmas 2020 looks like it will be a very different experience to the one we know and love.  While there are certainly some silver linings to a socially restricted Yule (it's a great excuse not to visit those relatives you can't stand, and you could save some money on presents if there's no visiting the extended family); it's also a beacon of hope and enjoyment in what has otherwise been a dreadful year globally.  We might have to abide by restrictions but we can still have fun and take some time to enjoy the aspects of life we can still indulge in.   For this reason, 2020 is a great year [...]

With many of us going all out with the Christmas decorations this year our loft ladders have seen a lot of use and we may be thinking of replacing the one we have for something more user-friendly, or installing a proper loft ladder if we have been using a leaning ladder or stepladder to access the space.  We may also have had some desperate times over the last year, stuck in the house with our household members for what has seemed like endless stretches of time, and we might be glad of a bolt hole where we can go for some peace and quiet, such as the attic.   Whether you're [...]

It’s that time of year when we here at Midland Ladders like to present you with our annual Christmas song; this year to the tune of Merry Christmas Everyone by Shakin' Stevens.  This is a classic hit to which everyone knows the tune, so get stuck in and get singing while you work!   Snow is falling Put the ladder back Wait until it's Nice and dry   ‘Tis the season For nasty breaks and falls so Don't end up in your A&E   Decorations Illuminations They all need to Go up somewhere   But don't be risky Make sure you're safe and sound and That you'll be there on Christmas [...]