FIS Skills is rolling out its flagship BuildBack programme in Birmingham and all employers based in the Midlands are invited to attend the assessment day on Friday 16 February 2018. The event will take place at Birmingham South and City College at the Bordesley Green campus, which specialises in construction.

BuildBack is being delivered in collaboration with Birmingham City Council; as one of the FIS Skills partners, this is a prime opportunity for your business to prove fulfilment of your Section 106 contractual obligations. In addition, you will be able to take on semi-skilled dryliners for a two-week period, providing wage-free assistance on your projects.

The assessment day will be an opportunity to look around the college facilities, talk to college staff, meet the BuildBack trainees and other employers and partners supporting the BuildBack programme.

Such is the confidence in the programme that Steve Coley, the immediate past-president of FIS, will be in attendance at the assessment day and has already agreed to provide work experience for two trainees at his company, Lakeside Ceilings and Partitions.

What is the BuildBack Programme?
BuildBack is designed to provide opportunities for job seekers who are serious about developing a career in drylining. Trainees complete a two-week Specialist Upskilling Programme (SUP) in drylining at Birmingham South and City College to develop the skills and competencies required for installing drylining. Then follows a two-week work placement on-site with a local employer. All trainees will be offered at least one job interview and those who secure full-time employment with an employer will have their fees paid for ongoing training to NVQ Level 2 in drylining. All trainees will receive free personal protective equipment (PPE) and have their CSCS card paid for.

For further information on BuildBack and all partners involved, visit the Skills Hub.

Helen Yeulet, FIS Skills Delivery Director, said: “From an employer’s perspective, this offers new labour that is semi-skilled and keen to progress a career in drylining at minimum cost to them. We are keen for employers to take advantage of this scheme that will handle the recruitment, the training elements and ensure that they have fully skilled labour within six months.”

Local employers can register their interest in the BuildBack programme and attend the Assessment Day by emailing: skills@thefis.org