FIS has today issued the first part of the FIS Manifesto, A Blueprint for Better Construction: Delivering Change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector.
This document, the first in a series of three policy documents sets down FIS views on near- and long-term policy levers that will support transformation in the sector. The Manifesto draws heavily on recent research with the University of Reading on Procurement and Contracting, It is less focussed on the macro-economic picture than the Chancellor’s Budget, instead zoning in on the pressing business challenges which beset the specialist construction sector set against four key headings.
- Public Sector Procurement reform led by a more ambitious Construction Playbook. This needs to be backed by a consistent effort to measure outcomes.
- Eliminate unreasonable risk transfer by enforcing standard form contracts that are aligned with supply chain insurance.
- Revisit the Construction Act to simplify payment, reform retention and extend enforcement powers.
- UK Construction Products Marking rules must be aligned to those for other products to support investment in new testing.
Commenting on the launch of this document, FIS President Philip Brown stated:
“This document draws together a lot of work that the FIS team has been doing through our daily engagement with members. For an organisation to have a strong voice, it must carry a strong mandate and this is what we are seeking here. We have a unique opportunity with Building Regulatory Change and an awakening on Sustainability already adding momentum to transformation. Now is the time to rally the construction voice, to unite our community around a number of key simple statements. The main focus is Policy levers, but it should complement our “Empowering the Responsible No” campaign highlighting areas where clients, including Government have unreasonable and damaging expectations that are ultimately undermining the sector.”
FIS CEO Iain McIlwee added:
“This Manifesto draws together the key challenges and policy levers that identified through our research and wider engagement with members. The essence of this document is simple, but we do not underestimate the scale of the challenge.
My hope in setting these points down with explanation and specificity that we are moving beyond the who and why and starting to get into the what, when and how. We will be encouraging members to engage with their local representatives to carry this points forward and will be sharing with officials and politicians as well as colleagues from across construction to ensure our next Government are clear of the actions they need to take to unlock the full potential of our sector and the broader construction industry.”
The manifesto is available to download here