The Skills Centre, an approved training provider for the sector, delivers a range of NVQ qualifications.

As part of its commitment to supporting the sector, FIS members benefit from an exclusive 10% discount on each of the NVQs listed below, helping businesses and individuals achieve recognised qualifications while reducing training costs.

Level 3

• NVQ Diploma in Occupational Work Supervision
• NVQ Diploma in Construction Contracting Operations
• NVQ Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety

Level 4

• NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Supervision – Building and Civil Engineering
• NVQ Diploma in Controlling Lifting Operations – Supervising Lifts

Level 5

• NVQ Diploma in Controlling Lifting Operations – Planning Lifts

Level 6

• NVQ Diploma in Construction Construction Contracting Operations Management
• NVQ Diploma in Construction Site Management – Building and Civil Engineering
• NVQ Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Practice

Level 7

NVQ Diploma in Construction Senior Management

For more details and to access this funding email info@theskillscentre.co.uk or call 020 3621 1942.

FIS Member Note: Zentia Administration

FIS legal advisers, Hill Dickinson, have provided guidance for FIS members regarding the current administration of Zentia.

The note includes guidance on products already in situ on schemes that are nearing completion (i.e. in relation to the status of the product), as well as concerns regarding fulfilment of orders for existing products.

June 2026

Zentia (acoustic ceiling manufacturers) went into administration on 8 June.

Initial reports indicate production has ceased, and it is uncertain whether operations will resume or be acquired.

What might developers, construction professionals and contractors consider now where products have been specified on a project?

Regulatory Context and Duty holder Responsibilities

There is currently no advertised formal regulatory position that prevents the use of construction products supplied by a manufacturer in administration. However, established guidance makes clear that product compliance must be actively demonstrated throughout the lifecycle of a project. Legislation such as the Construction Products Regulations (CPR) and the Building Safety Act requires manufacturers to maintain Declarations of Performance (DoP) and valid UKCA or CE markings. The consistent message across this guidance is that responsibility sits firmly with dutyholders, including designers and contractors. It is not sufficient to rely on manufacturer assurances or historic approvals.

Implications of Manufacturer Insolvency

Insolvency poses a key risk by undermining access to, or confidence in, the information needed to evidence compliance.

The question is not about the status of the manufacturer, but the ability of dutyholders to evidence compliance at the point the product is used. Where that evidence remains complete, accessible and verifiable, the product may still be acceptable. Where it cannot be reliably obtained or validated, the risk profile changes significantly.

In practical terms, products become increasingly difficult to justify where test data cannot be accessed, certification cannot be confirmed, or ongoing technical support and lifecycle information are no longer available.

Gateway 2 and Higher-Risk Buildings

For Higher-Risk Buildings (HRBs), these issues are amplified. Gateway 2 approval rests on demonstrating compliance, competence and traceability across the design and construction process.

If manufacturer insolvency undermines access to product evidence, or creates uncertainty about the reliability or completeness of that evidence, it may affect the basis on which approval was originally granted. In such cases, project teams may need to revisit design assumptions, initiate formal change control, or consider product substitution.

This is not simply a technical issue but one of regulatory assurance. Without demonstrable evidence, compliance cannot be confidently maintained.

Building Control Compliance

From a Building Control perspective, the key issue is whether any change arising from this situation affects the approved design or its performance characteristics.

Where a Zentia product is replaced on a like-for-like basis, and the alternative can be clearly shown to deliver equivalent or better performance without altering the design intent, the impact on Building Control approval may be limited. In these circumstances, the focus should remain on evidencing equivalence and ensuring that documentation is properly recorded within the project in line with BSA specifications.

However, where a replacement product differs in its performance, or where its introduction alters any aspect of the approved design, the position becomes more complex. Such changes must be treated as design changes and should be reviewed with the project designer. The Principal Designer must be satisfied that the revised solution continues to meet regulatory requirements, and that the change has been properly assessed and justified.

The position is more stringent still on Higher-Risk Buildings. Under the Higher-Risk Buildings (HRB) Procedures Regulations, changes to specified products may constitute either notifiable or major changes, depending on their nature and impact.

Where a substitution affects fire performance (for example, a fire-rated ceiling system), it is likely to be at least a notifiable change and may be classified as a major change where it alters or undermines the approved fire strategy or the basis of compliance. This reflects the fact that such elements may form part of the building’s passive fire protection strategy.

Major changes require formal approval and can’t be implemented without following the prescribed process. Failure to recognise and manage this correctly carries significant regulatory risk, including the potential to invalidate approvals or delay project progression.

In this context, the safest and most robust approach is to treat any product substitution as a potential design change unless it can be clearly demonstrated otherwise. Early engagement with the design team, the Principal Designer, and the Building Safety Regulator or Building Control Body is essential. All decisions should be supported by clear evidence, including performance comparisons and impact assessments, and fully documented within the project record.

Other Considerations

If a manufacturer warranty is no longer available or valid, this may affect the contractual position for the parties, particularly where warranties are required as part of the project deliverables.

One practical tip for a project team would be to act quickly to secure all relevant documentation. At present, product data remains available via Zentia’s website, but there is no guarantee as to how long this will remain the case. Consider downloading and retaining all relevant test reports, certifications and technical data.

Over the last 10 days FIS has briefed several Lords, attended separate meetings with the Small Business Commissioner (SBC), the Small Business Minister and Department of Business all looking to support the progress of the Commercial Payments Bill.  The Bill has taken a significant step forward completing its Second Reading in the House of Lords on 9 June.  The Bill is a landmark intervention to tackle late payment culture (across the UK).  At its core, the Bill brings together three strands of reform:

• Capped payment terms (60 days, or 30 days for certain public bodies)
• A fundamental reset of construction payment practices, including a ban on retentions
• A major expansion of the Small Business Commissioner’s powers

The good news is at the second reading debate, Peers in the Lords were clear – construction is one of the sectors most affected by late payment and poor practice, and reform here is a priority.   An area generating particular interest is the ability to exempt certain contracts from maximum payment terms.  At present FIS is not too concerned by the exemptions as, whilst adding a tier of complexity, they should not impact the core issue of power imbalance.  Proposed exemptions are limited to :

• where the purchaser is the smaller party,
• where both parties are large undertakings, or
• where categories are defined in future regulations (this is likely to be addressing particular sectoral issues that exist in industries such as publishing).

To manage exemptions, contracts must be in writing and explicitly state the exemption being relied on.  The proposed ban on retentions received broad support in principle, but with a clear message that implementation will be critical.  Debate in the Lords suggests scrutiny is likely to focus on:

• how the transition period operates in practice
• what replaces retentions as a risk management tool
• whether any unintended consequences emerge in contracting behaviour

Whilst principle is widely backed, but the mechanics are far from settled and there is more work to be done here.  Again we are reassured by discussions with the Minister and Civil Servants that Government is intent on preserving the core values that this Bill is intended to uphold, ending the abuse of retention and the practice of starving the supply chain of vital cash (termed in discussion as “unapproved credit”.

The Bill also transforms the role of the Small Business Commissioner (SBC) into a more active market regulator and in the meeting with the SBC we heard more about how fines for “persistent late payers” could be implemented.  It was particularly interesting to get early sight of new research into how different systems have been adopted across the globe.  The Minister again reassured that the intent it to ensure SMEs in Britain are working in a culture that encourages investment and growth and are not providing a line of “unapproved credit” to large corporations.    As it stands, the SBC will step up to:

• Provide advice, training and guidance across all sectors
• investigate persistent late payers and enforce reporting requirements
• use stronger enforcement powers, including sanctions

Importantly for construction:

• The intent is that fines for persistent late payers will be administered through the SBC
• Adjudication powers for the SBC will not apply to construction contracts, given the existing statutory regime
• However, they will apply to non-construction contracts involving construction businesses

This reflects a deliberate attempt to strengthen enforcement without duplicating the existing adjudication framework. There is recognition that changes will be required to the Construction Act to carry this into law and consultation will be required for this.    The Second Reading debate confirmed broad cross-party support for the Bill’s objectives and a clear recognition that late payment is a systemic issue requiring intervention.  But it also highlighted where attention will now turn:

• How exemptions are defined and controlled
• How the retentions ban is implemented in practice
• How the expanded SBC powers are deployed and resourced

With Committee Stage next, the Bill will now undergo line-by-line scrutiny, where many of these issues are likely to be tested and refined.  FIS are continuing to hold the line that late payment and retentions are more than commercial irritants, they impact decision-making, the transfer of risk and undermine investment in training, supervision, innovation and safety. When cash flow becomes uncertain, behaviours deteriorate.

We will continue to track developments closely as the Bill progresses and provide further updates over the coming months. In the meantime, please do get in touch with any queries or feedback.

You can see the full transcript of the Lords Debate here.

Silica dust remains one of the most serious, and often overlooked, killers in construction. Every day, workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica, a hazard linked to life‑changing and fatal illnesses, yet awareness, training and consistency of control still vary widely across the industry.  This exposure is causing irreparable damage with direct links to cardiovascular, autoimmune and cancer risks.

Research funded by CIOB, led by Dr Scott McGibbon and supported by FIS is working to change that. The project is already highlighting critical gaps in knowledge, skills, and behaviours around silica dust management, from understanding legal duties and health impacts, to applying effective control measures and monitoring exposure.

This is where you come in.

Your experience will directly shape practical tools, industry guidance and training interventions designed to improve how we assess, control and manage dust risk across our sector – protecting both workers and the public. The outputs will influence real-world practices, from site decision-making to leadership capability and compliance approaches.

Take 5 minutes. Make a real difference.

We need as many industry voices as possible to build a credible, evidence-led response to this issue.

Please complete the survey now: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/T008FM/
And if you can share it with colleagues or contacts in your network – this is important.

The stronger the response, the greater the impact this work can have and the more people that understand the risk the better it will be.

Let’s not accept harmful exposure to dust is “part of the job” or stand by whilst people don’t think ahead to the impact on them and others, help us drive meaningful change.  Together we are stronger.

The skills shortage in the Finishes and Interiors Sector isn’t going away and addressing it will take a more joined-up, practical approach across our industry. That’s exactly what we’re working to deliver.

FIS has partnered with The Skills Centre to run a series of Skills Bootcamps designed to produce job-ready individuals who are trained, motivated, and ready to start work immediately.

Each candidate completes an intensive four-week programme, developed with industry input, combining hands-on training with the core practical skills required for dry lining and interior fit-out roles.

How you can get involved

We’re now looking for employers to support the next stage by helping these candidates transition into the workplace. You’ll be fully supported in structuring your involvement.

We’re seeking employers who can offer:

• Interviews
• Two-week work placements
• Job opportunities

What you’ll gain

• Early access to motivated, entry-level talent with relevant training
• A direct pipeline into your workforce
• Support in meeting social value and local employment commitments

When

You can visit and get involved during the following dates:

• 29 June and 10 July at the Build East Skills Centre – Bassett Lane, Stratford, London, E9 5EN

or

• 6 July, 10 July and 31 July at the Essex (Drylining Housing) – Unit 64, Horndon Industrial Estate, West Horndon, Brentwood CM13 3XD

This is a great opportunity to see the training in action, understand the process, and meet potential future employees.

We’re aiming to roll this model out more widely across the UK but its success depends on industry engagement.

If not you, who?

We need to build the workforce our sector needs – together.

If you’re interested in attending, or would like to learn more, please contact Marie at FIS marieflinter@thefis.org

FIS has submitted its response to the consultation on the proposed merger of the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), reflecting feedback from employers across the finishes and interiors sector.

While members recognised the potential benefits of closer collaboration between the two organisations, including improved coordination of skills policy and workforce planning, there is limited support for the merger as currently proposed.

Members expressed concerns that a larger organisation could become more bureaucratic and less responsive to the needs of specialist sectors and SMEs. Questions were also raised around levy value, access to funding, employer engagement and whether structural change alone would improve outcomes for industry.

Feedback emphasised that any future training body must remain employer led, maintain strong representation for specialist sectors and demonstrate clear value for levy paying businesses.

The response concludes that improving performance, accountability and accessibility should take priority over organisational restructuring unless there is clear evidence that a merger will deliver measurable benefits for employers, apprentices and workforce development.

As part of its submission, FIS noted that while a merger may offer administrative efficiencies, members remain unconvinced that it would improve support for specialist sectors or increase the value employers receive from the levy.

A government backed review has warned that nearly one million young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET), raising concerns about a potential ‘lost generation’.

The interim report, led by Alan Milburn, found that around one in eight 16 to 24-year-olds are currently disconnected from work and education. It argues that the rise in youth inactivity is being driven by a combination of worsening mental health, fewer entry level job opportunities and fragmented support services.

The review challenges the perception that young people are unwilling to work, highlighting that many NEET young people already hold qualifications, including GCSEs, Level 3 qualifications and degrees.

The report also points to significant changes in the labour market, with fewer apprenticeships and entry level roles available, alongside increasingly complex recruitment processes.

FIS was among the organisations that responded to the review’s call for evidence, contributing insights from the finishes and interiors sector on the challenges of attracting and supporting young people into employment and training.

The report’s findings will inform a second phase of work, which is expected to make recommendations on improving pathways into employment for young people across the UK.

The interim report can be found here Young people and work: interim report – GOV.UK

CITB has opened a consultation on the revised Solid Plastering National Occupational Standards (NOS). The updated standards are now available to view on the CITB website within the National Occupational Standards (NOS) section.

The consultation seeks feedback from across the construction and plastering industries to help ensure the standards continue to reflect current working practices, evolving skills requirements, and the future needs of the workforce.

Employers, training providers, and industry representatives are invited to review the proposed standards and share their views. Input from a broad range of stakeholders is vital to ensure the final standards accurately represent the sector and support the ongoing development of a competent and skilled workforce.

The consultation is now live, and if you are able to support please contact beenanana@thefis.org

The Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and CSCS Cards have today published a draft carding journey and case study, designed to help businesses and individuals within the drylining sector better understand potential future requirements for achieving industry-defined competence.

The Building Safety Act 2022 places a legal duty on individuals to be competent for their roles, defined as the appropriate Skills, Knowledge, Experience and Behaviours (SKEB), with each sector responsible for defining competence for their occupations.

The Drylining case study is intended as a working example for industry of how a sector can move from defining competence to designing a carding journey. It also shows the direction of travel for skilled card renewals more widely, to potentially include additional elements such as Fire Safety training and Continuing Competency Development (CCD).

Working with Build UK and wider industry, FIS has mapped the SKEB needed to carry out drylining safely and competently and translated it into a Drylining Competency Framework, which includes a draft carding journey delivered through CSCS Cards, as the appropriate card scheme within the CSCS Alliance.

The latest draft of the journey sets out:

• Details of the three recognised skilled entry routes: Apprentice, Trainee and Experienced Worker.
• The qualifications, CITB Health, safety and environment test, Fire Safety in Buildings training and CCD expected on application and/or renewal.
• Additional checklist on how other sectors can follow Drylining’s example for their respective journeys

Final requirements remain in development between FIS, the relevant Standard Setting Bodies and Sector Representative Organisations ahead of the proposed implementation timeframe of December 2026. Where any future changes affect individuals already holding skilled drylining cards, CSCS Cards will communicate those changes directly and with appropriate notice.

Iain McIlwee, Chief Executive at FIS, said:

“Drylining is one of the largest occupations in finishes and interiors, and the safety performance of the buildings we all live and work in depends on it being done well, by qualified and trained operatives. Defining competence alongside industry experts and working alongside CSCS Cards to reflect those standards within the carding journey provides a strong example for other sectors to adopt as needed.”

Garry Mortimer, Executive Director of Operations at CSCS Cards, said:

“A CSCS card and the My CSCS app currently enable individuals to demonstrate they have the appropriate skills and training for their role, usually a qualification and a health and safety test.

“While these proposed changes are yet to be finalised – and cardholders don’t yet need to do anything different to their normal renewal practices – our cards and the app will soon adapt to reflect sector frameworks as necessary, and include a culture of the ongoing development of skills, knowledge, experience, and behaviours.”

Alongside the case study, FIS and CSCS have published an 8-point Carding Journey Checklist for other Sector Representative Organisations preparing their own Routes to Competence.

The checklist covers defining SKEB, engaging early with the relevant card scheme, designing entry routes that support progression, setting meaningful renewal requirements, phased implementation and fair transitional arrangements.

FIS has led a coalition of specialist construction trade bodies in writing to Housing Minister Steve Reed OBE and the National Housing Bank, calling for urgent action to address growing liquidity pressures in the housing supply chain.

The letter, supported by organisations representing roofing, electrical works, carpentry, flooring, plumbing, groundworks and other key trades highlights mounting evidence that poor payment practices are creating systemic risk across housing delivery.  FIS research shows that specialist contractors are typically providing between 60–78 days of unsecured credit for completed work, with nearly one fifth of invoices paid more than 60 days late.  Retention release, despite recent positive steps from Government towards wholescale reform, continues to be inconsistent and often delayed.

The coalition warns that this hidden, unstructured credit, estimated to exceed £1 billion across the seven largest UK housebuilders on late and disputed payment alone, is undermining investment much needed investment in skills, productivity and capacity, and ultimately constraining the sector’s ability to deliver at scale.  To address the issue, FIS and the supporting organisations are urging Government to use the emerging National Housing Bank as a lever for change.  Specifically, putting forward proposals to link development finance to mechanisms that improve liquidity through the supply chain, including the use of digital payment systems that ringfence funds and improve payment certainty.

These systems, already in use in parts of the industry, can reduce insolvency risk, improve transparency, and support SME investment without increasing public spending.  The proposal aligns closely with wider Government policy on fair payment, procurement reform, and digitalisation, and offers a practical, finance-led intervention ahead of more comprehensive legislative reform on payment and retention.

FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:

“Responsible payment isn’t just a commercial issue – it is fundamental to delivery, skills and system resilience. If we want a housing market that can grow sustainably, we need a supply chain that is stable, has the means and confidence to invest in people and improvement.  It is also a human issue, our research into the Housing Sector identified that approaching 60% of specialists in our supply chain were worried about cash at least half the time”

FIS and its partners have requested a meeting with Ministers and officials to explore how these measures could be implemented proportionately to support a more resilient housing delivery system.

You can see a full copy of the letter here..

FIS has responded to the Government’s consultation on proportionality in the higher-risk building regime, backing the intent to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, but warning that reforms must stay firmly focused on risk.

While supporting proposals to reclassify certain in-flat and small-scale work to Category B, FIS stresses that location is not a proxy for risk. Even minor works can have serious implications where they affect fire compartmentation, fire stopping, or structural elements.

The response highlights concern that proposed thresholds based on time and workforce could create loopholes, encouraging work to be split artificially and leading to inconsistent oversight. Instead, FIS is clear – classification must be driven by the nature and impact of the work itself and a focus on competence in delivery.

FIS also calls out a key gap in the proposals associated with mixed-use buildings where similar works in residential and commercial units risk being treated differently despite comparable safety implications.

Crucially, FIS warns that without clear, consolidated guidance for clients, reforms could increase confusion, misclassification and risk-averse behaviour rather than reduce burden.   The response also raises a red flag on the “Golden Thread”, cautioning that reduced oversight must not lead to gaps in recording and managing safety-critical information.

FIS concludes that the proposals can deliver a better balance between proportionality and safety, but only if backed by clear definitions, practical guidance, and full recognition of both individual competence and organisational capability.

You can read the full response here.

FIS is inviting members to review and comment on our draft response to the Building Safety Regulator’s latest consultation on Category A and Category B works, ahead of a final submission at the end of May.

The consultation focuses on improving proportionality within the Higher-Risk Building (HRB) regime by reclassifying certain works and expanding the potential role of Competent Person Schemes (CPS). While the proposed reforms aim to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and speed up delivery, they also signal a significant shift in how compliance is managed.

The details of the consultation were presented at a workshop on 18th May.  The suggestion is to reclassify most in-flat works as Category B, this would mean many small projects inside flates, such as work on internal (non load bearing) partitions or fire door replacements are currently captured within Category A, creating a seemingly disproportionate levels of documentation and delay.  The consultation also seeks to recategorise smaller works in communal areas in a similar way. 

A number of critical issues were discussed that will form the core of the FIS response.

Mixed-use buildings – a key gap

One of the strongest themes from the meeting was the lack of consideration for mixed-use buildings.

The consultation currently focuses on residential units, but it was emphasised in the discussion that similar compartmented environments exist in other categories of space – including offices, retail spaces, and other commercial units. In these cases, comparable works could face very different regulatory treatment despite carrying similar levels of risk.

FIS is therefore questioning whether the current approach reflects modern building design and delivery, and is calling for greater consistency in how different unit types are treated. The response also highlights the need for clearer guidance to avoid confusion, particularly in projects where multiple uses sit within the same building.

Competence vs Capability – getting the balance right

Another key issue raised during the workshop was the shift towards competence-based regulation.

While members recognise the benefits of reducing reliance on prescriptive documentation, there is concern that current proposals place too much emphasis on individual competence, particularly through the expansion of self-certification schemes.

The FIS response stresses that successful delivery depends not only on skilled individuals, but also on organisational capability – including supervision, coordination, quality systems, and ongoing assurance. Existing certification schemes such as FIRAS and IFC were cited as providing this broader assurance, and members were clear that reforms should build on these frameworks rather than introducing new, overlapping accreditation requirements.

Guidance, clarity and practicality

Concerns about the practical implementation of the proposals, particularly around defining “small-scale” works using thresholds such as time and workforce. There was a strong view that these measures do not always align with real risk and could introduce further ambiguity.

As a result, FIS is calling for:

• Clearer, consolidated guidance
• Better alignment with real-world project delivery
• More practical examples to support consistent decision-making

Without this, there is a risk that the industry continues to default to Category A as a precaution, undermining the intended benefits of reform.

Have your say

FIS is now asking members to review the draft response and contribute any additional comments or examples from their own experience.

Deadline for comments: 26 May
Final submission: 28 May

This consultation represents a critical opportunity to shape how building safety regulation evolves, particularly for fit-out, refurbishment, and interiors work.

As Iain McIlwee commented during the session:

“This is about getting the balance right – reducing unnecessary burden without losing control of safety. But we need to make sure the system reflects how buildings are actually delivered.”

Members are encouraged to share feedback.  Details of the meeting and the draft response are available below.

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Ministers announce the introduction of legislation to tackle late payments and protect small businesses.

Small businesses will no longer be left chasing money they are already owed, as ministers today [Tuesday 19 May] introduce landmark legislation to end the scourge of late payments and back millions of sole traders, freelancers, and family firms across the country.

The Small Business Protections Bill (formally known as the Commercial Payments Bill) delivers the toughest crackdown on late payments in a generation – putting a clear duty on large firms to pay smaller suppliers on time and giving small businesses the certainty they need to keep investing, supporting jobs and growing their communities.

It comes as the Prime Minister and Business Secretary are expected to welcome small business owners to Downing Street to mark what leaders have called a “historic moment for small firms”.

Late payments close 38 businesses every single day because they are not paid on time. That’s the equivalent of 266 a week, and well over a thousand in any given month. For business owners, the impact is immediate and personal – forcing them to spend hours chasing invoices instead of running their businesses and putting jobs and livelihoods at risk.

The Bill fundamentally changes how businesses pay each other, putting an end to excessive delays and unfair practices that hit small firms hardest, through sweeping new reforms.

Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive said:

“This is a historic and very good day for all in construction who have suffered from Late Payment and Retentions Abuse.  It isn’t the end, but my strong hope and belief it is the beginning of the end and an opportunity for the sector to grasp and use to find a better way to do business and remove the frictions associated with the dash for cash and behaviours that have undermined relationships and constrained opportunity to evolve.  I’d like to thank colleagues from within the Department and across the sector who have tirelessly championed better and brought us to this moment”.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy – run by people who take risks, create jobs and keep communities going. This government is firmly on their side.

Too many small business owners are spending hours chasing money they are owed and when payments don’t come through, the cost is personal. It’s about whether you can pay your staff, keep the lights on, or invest in your future.

Today we’re changing that with the toughest action on late payments in a generation, so small businesses get paid on time and get the backing they need to grow, create jobs and serve their communities.”

Reforms include a clear 60-day cap on payment terms on all large firms paying smaller suppliers, mandatory interest on late payments, set at 8% above the Bank of England base rate, and a ban on the practice of withholding retention payments under construction contracts.

On top of this, the Small Business Commissioner is getting major new powers to investigate poor payment practices,  adjudicate disputes, and fine the worst offenders – with potential fines that could be worth tens of millions for persistently late payers.

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner has already recovered more money for small firms in the last year than in the previous four years combined.

By improving cashflow through supply chains, the Bill supports productivity, growth and keeps our small businesses afloat, by giving them the certainty they need to invest and grow.

Vitally too for construction, the Bill starts to set down how abolition of retention will be enacted.  

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said:

Costing the UK economy £11 billion every single year, late payments choke growth, cost jobs, and force too many good businesses to close. That ends today.

Through this landmark bill we are delivering the toughest payment reforms in over a generation, to give the UK the strongest legal framework in the G7, and back small businesses with the certainty they need to grow and thrive.

The Bill builds upon and strengthens legislation first laid out in the 1998 Late Payment of Commercial Debt Act, over 25 years ago, to give us the strongest legal framework on late payments in the G7.  It will also require changes to the

Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996 (commonly referred to as the Construction Act. 

To find out more about the  Small Business Protections Bill Click Here. 

The Bill is due to be introduced in the House of Lords on Tuesday 19 May.

FIS has refreshed its Specifiers’ Guide to Partitioning to reflect the most up-to-date advice and guidance, to support specification writers in fully understanding the key criteria involved when preparing partitioning specifications, including those for movable walls and pods.

The Specifiers’ Guide to Partitioning was first written in 2022 by the FIS Partitioning and Pods Working Group which comprises representation from manufacturers, designers and contractors working in the sector. Pulling together decades of experience, this guide is designed to help specifiers and designers understand the questions that should be addressed before the specification can be produced and then how the specification should be structured, and which standards referenced.

The 2026 update includes a significant expansion of guidance on pre-cycle agreements, reuse considerations, and end-of-service-life planning. It also reflects recent and forthcoming changes to fire resistance and reaction-to-fire classification systems, alongside updates to UK and EU conformity marking requirements. In addition, all references have been revised to align with current BS/EN standards and established industry best practice.

In addition to the written update, the guidance has been developed into a CPD e-learning course available via the FIS Academy. This digital format allows individuals to work through the content at their own pace in a structured, interactive way, reinforcing key principles and making complex technical requirements easier to understand.

Commenting on the guide, Chair of the FIS Partitions and Pods Working Group and FIS member Peter Long said:

“Partition systems of all types are always interfaced with adjacent construction products and many of these are critical interfaces, particularly in safety-critical applications like fire resistance and resistance to collapse under loading. This requires building design and the specification of construction products, like partitioning, to be considered holistically and not in isolation. This Specifiers’ Guide aims to support specifiers in this holistic approach.”

The guide explains the vast range of product options and how careful specification can help with relocatability in the building as well as enjoying enhanced tax benefits. The guide also has reference material to regulations for safety, fire performance and standards.

This Specifiers Guide sits alongside other FIS guidance that relates to partitioning:

Best practice guide for installing Partitioning

FIS Acoustic Verification Scheme

Servicing Operable Walls

These guides work well when they are included in proposals and project plans to demonstrate how to best approach a project. They are also good differentiators when someone is in competition with non-members, and are an excellent introduction to new members of the team and any trainees and apprentices.

You can download the Specifiers’ Guide to Partitioning from the Publications Library on the FIS website here.

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The Industry Task and Finish Group (ITFG) has today published its guidance on Managing Competence in the Built Environment: An industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles, providing practical, proportionate and risk-based support for organisations operating across the built environment.

The ITFG is an industry‑led, time‑limited group formed in June 2025 in response to the new Building Safety Regime’s requirement to manage competence in organisations. It brings together more than 50 professional bodies, industry organisations, regulators and assurance bodies, with the shared aim of translating high‑level principles for managing competence in the built environment into a practical day‑to‑day application that is recognised across the sector and helps drive up competence and building safety outcomes.

The guidance sets out what effective organisational competence management looks like in practice for organisations of all sizes and risk profiles, SMEs, micro-businesses and large organisations alike, enabling them to demonstrate that people working for them, or on their behalf, are competent for the work they undertake.

Its flexible and proportionate approach means that the guidance can be used alongside existing management systems, or as a foundation where no formal approach is yet in place. Although prompted to meet competence management requirements set by building safety reforms, it can be used more widely across the built environment.

The guidance has been developed alongside, and is fully aligned with, the Industry Competence Committee (ICC) publication Setting Expectations on Competence Management. Used together, the ICC advice sets out what good looks like at a high level, while the ITFG guidance explains how organisations can put those principles into practice.

The guidance looks at the role of organisational leadership and governance, while emphasising that actively managing competence is not simply about qualifications or training records; it is about ensuring that organisations have enough people with the right skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours for their role.

Using the principles set out in the ICC document, the ITFG guidance sets out the key elements organisations, SME’s and large organisations alike, should think about when putting effective competence management in place, defining what competence is needed for different roles and activities, assessing and verifying competence, and making sure competence is monitored and maintained over time.

Sofie Hooper, Chair of the ITFG comments:

“With competence being a critical determinant of health and safety, building safety and quality outcomes, the management of competence by organisations is not only a requirement for building safety, but it actively underpins the safety, performance and reliability of structures through the built environment.

“This important document will provide much needed guidance across the sector on how to manage competence well and it could not have been done without the cross sector support and the dedication of the experts in the Steering Group. We would also like to thank the ICC for the collaboration so that we could align our guidance- making a difference together.”

The guidance will next play a key role in shaping the development of a future British Standard on managing competence in organisations.

Available from supporting organisations’ websites, the ITFG and ICC documents are both also available from the BSI Competence hub, where organisations using the guidance can share their feedback and practical experience of the guidance. The ITFG will next be developing case studies and encourages organisations wanting to contribute to get in touch with Sofie.Hooper@aps.org.uk.