FIS is delighted to announce the appointment of George Swann as Skills and Training lead for the organisation.  George will pick up the exciting training portfolio of FIS and help to drive the organisation’s focus on competence through the FIS For Competency’s SAKE Framework.  He will take up the post in January 2020.

George has been employed in training and training development since 1979.  He served 22 years in the Corps of the Royal Engineers, the construction arm of the British Army.  During his service he worked on various construction sites around the globe including civil engineering projects for road building, dam, bridge, pier, wharf and harbour construction, firing range demolition, repair and construction and in general building work of troop shelters, security posts, sports and recreational facilities (changing rooms, cafes and bars).  He completed his service after a three-year post employed as a Training Development Analyst working at the Combined Arms Training Centre in Warminster.  He left the Army at the rank of Regimental Quarter Master Sargent with qualifications in Management, Health and Safety, Quality Control and Vocational Assessment.

On leaving the Army he was employed in ship building for 18 months, monitoring and tutoring apprentices and was head hunted by a crane hire company, for the development and delivery of training and qualifications.

He has worked for CITB since 2002 initially as a Plant Monitor with the Certificate of Training Achievement department, now known as Construction Plant Competence Scheme.  He moved to Standards and Qualifications Operations in 2003 as a Training Developer providing information, advice and guidance on standards and qualification revision, development and delivery.  The role includes the development of National Occupational Standards and qualifications derived from these standards for construction industry occupations.  He is currently facilitating the review of the National Occupational Standards for Demolition, Construction Operations and Civil Engineering Services and drafting CITB Training Standards.

Iain McIlwee, FIS CEO commented, “We are delighted to welcome George to our team, he brings with him deep knowledge of the skills and qualifications landscape and a reputation for getting stuff done.  As well as helping us to deliver on our existing and ambitious programme, he will be a real asset to the organisation and our members in helping to really get to grips with the changing landscape of qualifications in the four home nations and strengthening our links with and support for our network of training providers.  He will also bring fresh thinking about how we work together to improve assessment, training and competency in the existing and future workforce and manage the CPD requirements that are emerging from the Grenfell Response work.”

George added “I have had opportunity to work with FIS in recent years and admired the whole approach to the development of people and the values that the organisation projects.  It is certainly exciting times at FIS and for the finishes and interiors sector as we look beyond skills and get to grips with what competence is and how we develop our members’ teams across the supply chain.  I am looking forward to joining the team, meeting the members and getting stuck in working within one of the UK and Northern Ireland’s leading construction trade bodies in developing this crucial workforce.”