As we conclude our 10th anniversary year, we are reflecting on the past 12 months, celebrating our key achievements and the collective strength we demonstrate when we work together. Despite the significant challenges our sector has faced in 2025, your membership has empowered us to champion the interests of our community.
Representing over 600 members with a combined turnover of over £12.7 billion, 2025 has seen us expand our member services, provide extensive guidance, enhance our legal and contractual support, and support over 1,100 individuals through our e-learning courses. We also developed new competency frameworks across core interior systems, helping raise workforce standards and create clear career pathways – these will be available to all members in the New Year.
We understand the crippling effect of late payments and retentions has on businesses. And our submission to the Government’s consultation on this asked for bold reform; mandatory 60-day payment terms, statutory interest on late payments, and the abolition or protection of retention funds. Our message was clear. Enough is enough. Reform is not optional – it is essential – to protect livelihoods, restore trust, and unlock the full potential of UK construction.
Sustainability has also been a key focus over the last 12 months. The FIS Project Reuse initiative now has a physical hub for storing and redistributing materials between projects, earning the Build Back Better Green Award this year.
Reflecting on the last decade, FIS President Ian Strangward said:
“This milestone not only represents a decade of growth, but the evolution of a unified and influential voice for our industry.
“This year’s achievements reinforce why that unity matters, and why our role is more important than ever.”
Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive added:
“Our members have told us repeatedly that the support, technical guidance, and collective strength FIS provides is invaluable – especially in challenging times. Our efforts this year reaffirm the power of collaboration to drive positive change across the sector.”
2025 demonstrated the power of a united sector voice and as we move into 2026, our core values remain clear:
- Members first: always putting the best interests of members at the heart of decisions, engaging, listening and learning to target our activities.
- Be relevant and authoritative: listen, engage and understand the problems of our community today and take all reasonable steps to provide comprehensive, professional support.
- Be generous in sharing knowledge: for the benefit of all involved in the design, specification and construction process.
- Raising standards and improving quality: champion best practice and the principles of our code of conduct and vetting procedure for the benefit of our members and our clients.
- Taking the extra step: always focus on distilling, refining and improving what we do for the benefit of everyone in the sector
Because, together we are stronger.