by Clair Mooney | 5 Apr, 2023 | Membership
FIS and The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers have once again joined forces and are delighted to announce that entries are now open for the annual Training Awards, an award event which recognises excellence and achievement in the recruitment, training and development of people in the plastering and interior trades.
Following the huge success of the inaugural Training Awards in 2022, the second annual awards will once again showcase the very best of the sector’s occupations and the achievements of students and apprentices, supportive employers and mentors, colleges and training providers. Last year saw 11 award winners including Plastering Student of the Year Natasha Williams, Apprentice of the Year (Interior Trades) George Batchelor and training provider winners NPTC College and Craven College all recognised for their outstanding contributions to the sector.
The 2023 awards categories will acknowledge the students, mentors and training providers who have made an exceptional contribution to learning and development in the sector.
The 2023 award categories are:
- Student of the Year – Plaisterers’ Award for Plastering Trades
- Student of the Year – FIS Award for Interior Trades
- Apprentice of the Year – Plaisterers’ Award for Plastering Trades
- Apprentice of the Year – FIS Award for Interior Trades
- Colleges and Independent Training Providers (large)
- Colleges and Independent Training Providers (small)
- FIS Member Training Programme
- Mentors Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Trade-specific sponsored awards include the British Gypsum Trophy – which recognises the highest achievement in drylining skills education – and the Formula Trophy, for contributions to the development of skills and long-term future of Fibrous and GRG plasterwork.
Master Plaisterer Stephen Gilbert said: “The Plaisterers’ Company is really pleased to be continuing its partnership with FIS in recognising those within the industry who are going above and beyond their remit either as students, mentors or training providers; it bodes well for the industry.”
FIS President Philip Brown added: “We are delighted to once again recognise and reward the outstanding talent, both in students themselves but also training providers and the mentors that work so hard to help the students forge hugely successful and rewarding careers.”
Entry into the awards is now open and closes on 7 July. The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony at Plaisterers’ Hall on 21 November.
For more details on entering these awards visit www.thefis.org/training-awards-home/
For further information or for any questions please contact FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121 707 0077 or The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers on clerk@plaistererslivery.co.uk or call 0207 7964333.
by Clair Mooney | 30 Mar, 2023 | Building Safety Act, Main News Feed
With colleagues from across the sector, FIS Chief Executive Iain McIlwee attended the first Building Safety Conference hosted last week by the Building Safety Regulator (and shared his reflections here).
This week we hear from colleagues at Build UK (of whom FIS is an active member) who have provided a summary of 10 lessons learnt which answers a number of the queries raised during Build UK member meetings.
Building Safety Conference – 10 Things We Learnt
- The Building Safety Regulator becomes operational on 1 April 2023.
- The new Building Safety Regime will apply to all buildings – “from Shed to Shard” in the words of the Building Safety Regulator.
- The terms ‘High-Rise Building’ and ‘High-Rise Residential Building’ are being used interchangeably with ‘Higher-Risk Building’, and the Building Safety Regulator has committed to work with Build UK to ensure consistent terminology is used across the industry.
- Existing Higher-Risk Buildings (with the exception of hospitals and care homes unless they have at least two permanent residential units) must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator by 1 October 2023. This includes those that will be occupied for the first time during the transition period between 6 April and 1 October 2023. From 1 October 2023, new Higher-Risk Buildings must be registered before they can be occupied.
- The building registration process will be a multiple-choice tick box format and require a completion certification for each building. The fee for registering each building will be £251.
- It is anticipated that those who fulfil the roles of Principal Designer and Principal Contractor under CDM will also fulfil these dutyholder roles under the Building Safety Act.
- The Building Safety Regulator will become the Building Control Authority for all Higher-Risk Buildings from 1 October 2023. Work can continue under an existing Building Control Body where a building/initial notice has been submitted or plans deposited by 1 October 2023 and work has commenced by 1 April 2024.
- Gateway Two, which requires Building Control Approval by the Building Safety Regulator before construction work can begin, and Gateway Three, which is when a completion certificate is issued by the Building Safety Regulator, are expected to come into force on 1 October 2023.
- The Building Safety Regulator will not be specifying the format for the Golden Thread of information, which is the digital record of what has been built to enable those responsible for Higher-Risk Buildings to manage and maintain them safely.
- The Industry Safety Steering Group (ISSG), chaired by Dame Judith Hackitt, will shortly be issuing its fourth report with an update on progress made by the industry.
BuildUK have developed an excellent simple introduction to the Building Safety Act which FIS Members can download for free here.
by Clair Mooney | 30 Mar, 2023 | Skills
Having interrogated the CITB Construction Skills Network data it’s estimated 266,000 people are employed in the construction occupations of the finishes and interiors sector. To sustain this there’s an Annual Recruitment Requirement of approximately 6052 people per year to 2027. As there are approximately 10,000 organisations working in the sector that’s 1.65 people per organisation, or if every FIS member took on one new entrant per year that would meet one tenth of the estimated requirement. The recent FIS Skills Pulse Survey shows 45.5% of respondents are currently experiencing labour shortages and do not feel there will be any improvement in recruitment for the next 12 months.
It’s certainly no longer feasible to think other bigger organisations with more resource will train enough people to go round. People poaching, the act of tempting or accepting newly qualified individuals away from the organisation that supported the training for a pound or so more, is rife within the finishes and interiors sector. Evidence shows people poaching contributes to a decline in the quality of workmanship as these individuals although qualified often do have the full range of experience needed by the sector and without the ‘safety net’ of the people who trained, coached and mentored them mistakes are inevitable.
Apprenticeships are the employers preferred training and qualification option for new entrants. As an indication here are the figures for two occupations in the sector 2022 to 2023, due to the duration of the training programmes successful achievements are not shown:
| Nation |
Route |
Registration Numbers |
| England |
Interior Systems Installer |
220 |
| Plasterer |
900 |
| Scotland |
Interior Systems |
81 |
| Plastering |
65 |
| Wales |
Interior Systems |
28 |
| Plastering |
121 |
| |
Total |
1415 |
This is approximately 80% of the estimated Annual Recruitment Rate for these two occupations reinforcing the drive needed by employers to ensure there will be enough competent people to complete work coming up through to 2027. If you have never taken on a apprentice there is a raft of free support available from recruitment to funding and the rewards for an organisation can be unlimited. To help decision making have a read of the FIS Apprentice – Guidance for Employers available to download here You will likely be surprised at the options and what is there, free of charge, to help employers.
The current business environment is making it more challenging to invest in the training and qualifications needed to ensure a future workforce for the sector, but if organisations don’t step up now what is it going to be like in the years ahead. Everyone knows investing in training can bring competitive advantages, helping businesses to retain and attract more workers and to ensure they have an upskilled workforce to win new work is a focus for FIS. With increased legislative demands for proof of competence at every occupational level the FIS Sector Guide to Competency Management Plans: https://www.thefis.org/skills-hub/competency/ can help organisations avoid falling foul of the law.
If you are still undecided and would like to talk through taking on a new entrant, general recruitment or upskilling your workforce give FIS a call on 0121 707 0077.
by Clair Mooney | 30 Mar, 2023 | Health and Safety, Skills
To help improve standards, CITB in consultation with the industry, has been developing two new online fire safety courses to help improve awareness of fire safety in the workplace. Specifically developed for people working in the construction industry the course aim to provide detailed information on how to keep safe at work.
Fire Safety Awareness in Construction and the Built Environment – is available now as a FREE eCourse:
- Suitable for workers of all levels and occupations
- Basic fire safety awareness in construction and the built environment
You can find out more here.
Fire Safety in Buildings – available in the summer:
- Course created in collaboration with Working Group 2 and Build UK and FIS
- Higher level than first course, providing industry a greater level of knowledge of fire safety in buildings, following the construction stage
- Focuses on key topics such as how legislation and regulations have changed since the Grenfell tragedy
by Clair Mooney | 29 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
The
Building Product Performance Part 2 – Good Practice Regulatory Framework paper is now available. Developed by an International Building Quality Centre (IBQC) working group, this report incorporates elements from the
Building Product Performance Part 1 – Discussion Paper as well as the
Feedback Paper that summarised the comments and feedback on the Discussion Paper.
by Clair Mooney | 29 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
At the heart of our industry’s efforts to demonstrate a change in culture and practices is the Code for Construction Product Information. The Code was developed by the CPA and its members to help make product information clear, accurate, up-to-date, accessible and unambiguous. It will mark a step change for the industry by driving higher standards in construction product information management systems and assessing ethical leadership and culture standards. It also makes strong business sense as well, providing third-party verification and increased assurance to clients, customers, and insurers. Information about the Code – including FAQs, Practical Tips to Prepare, and the business case for your organisation – can be found on the CPA website here. Webinars are planned on the following dates:
If you have any questions prior to the webinar, please see the FAQs on the Code website: FAQ – Code for Construction Product Information or contact Rachel Philpott on enquiries@cpicode.org.uk
by Clair Mooney | 23 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed, Skills
CITB’s latest Construction Skills Network report highlights that 224,900 workers will be required over the next five years to meet the demands of the construction industry. To help employers tackle the skills shortage of workers across the industry, and to address rising costs, CITB has made changes to its grants from April 2023.
The CITB Grants Scheme is available to all CITB-registered employers and provides financial support for employers who offer construction-specific training to their workforce. Below is an overview of the changes:
- Grant rates doubled for short courses. Employers can now receive up to £240 grant when an individual successfully completes a short course from 1st April 2023.
- Grant rates have been increased to support individuals impacted by the withdrawal of the Industry Accreditation card. Grant rates for specific supervision and management qualifications have increased to £1,250 and £1,500 for achievements from 1st April 2023.
- The grant application deadline has been extended to 52 weeks for all grant types.
You can find out more information on the CITB website at www.citb.co.uk/levy-grants-and-funding/grants-and-funding/what-s-new-in-the-grants-scheme
by Clair Mooney | 17 Mar, 2023 | Skills
This week Awarding body NOCN has confirmed that the Installation of Fire Resistant Walls and Linings Qualification will now be available as a Vocational Qualification within the Interior Systems Installers family of qualifications.
This qualification was previously included in the Passive Fire Protection vocational qualification and following a review involving discussions with FIS members and the FIS Skills Board, the organisation has worked with the Association of Specialist Fire Protection and CITB (who are responsible for Occupational Standards in the Construction Industry) to instigate this restructure. The qualification is now an option within the interior system family of qualifications and can be endorsed on the CSCS card, thus helping those working in Dry Lining prove competence in the Installation of fire resistant walls and linings.
The Awarding organisation NOCN has committed to administering the qualification which will be available via NOCN accredited centres: https://trainingcentre-search.nocn.org/ later this year. When the qualification is fully available FIS Approved Training Providers will be advised and members should be able to acquire this qualification with an FIS member discount. In addition CITB will pay the vocational qualification achievement grant of £600 to organisations in scope for the construction industry levy.
Speaking about the these changes, FIS Skills and Training Lead, George Swann stated:
“We appreciate that the qualification landscape can be quite confusing and it is vital that we apply the logic of the way people work to the way that the qualifications are structured. As new competency requirements come in to force aligned to the Building Safety Act, this qualification option will support FIS Members in demonstrating competence in a more onerous compliance environment.”
For information on new competency requirements in the Building Regulations and implementing a Competency Management Plan, click here
by Clair Mooney | 16 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
With his 4 E’s and a Growth Agenda, there was some welcome news in the Budget, not least that the UK is unlikely to enter recession this year. It is also great to finally see key trades in our sector, such as Plastering, Drylining and Carpentry and Joinery finally getting recognised as Shortage Occupations (we have been round the houses on this for the best part of three years now!). The support for investment, ongoing energy support and fuel duty announcements are also welcome, but the hard landing of Help to Buy is, perhaps, a little short sighted as it will almost certainly keep the brakes on for much needed building of homes. It will be interesting to see how much activity the investment zones generate and support investment in property across the UK.
As ever, Prof Noble Francis of the CPA has done an amazing job in summarising the key points for FIS Members. Members can access this here.
by Clair Mooney | 16 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
FIS has launched a revised Client Guide to Office Fit-Out and Refurbishment to promote best practice in the fit-out process and to take account of new working practices post-pandemic, the Building Safety Act and advances in sustainability.
First published in 2017, this updated guide is aimed at clients, contractors and architects involved in fit-out projects in a changing world. For clients, creating or adapting an office fit-out that can suit businesses in an environment where hybrid working has become the norm can prove daunting. The publication will guide them through the process from the initial decision as to whether to refurbiush an existing office or relocate and fit-out new premises, through to post-occupancy evaluation. It explains step-by-step the process, along with outlining the professional help available to help ensure a successful outcome.
The revised guide reflects the driving forces behind changes to office space design. In the first instance, it considers the responsibilities of a client and other implications of the Building Safety Act such as the interaction with ‘higher risk buildings’ (as defined in the legislation), and how to consider the impact in the early stages of planning a fit-out. It also reflects the evolution and rapid maturation of best practices and methods of measurement relating to sustainability.
Furthermore, the guide will take account of the digitisation of construction information combined with the increasing adoption of video conferencing technology and other post pandemic implications to ways of working that can mean significant changes to the way offices are designed.
Commenting on the launch of the this updated guide, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:
“The guide to office fit-out and refurbishment was developed in 2017 by FIS but since then we have seen many changes in the market including the passing of the Building Safety Act which places new emphasis on safety and digitisation of construction data to fulfil the golden thread of information.
“The updated and revised guide will consider these significant changes whilst at the same time assist clients with the task of fitting out or refurbishing their offices and to promote best practice in the fit-out process.”
The guide is freely available from the FIS website at https://www.thefis.org/membership-hub/publications/client-guide-to-fit-out/
by Clair Mooney | 10 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
by Clair Mooney | 9 Mar, 2023 | Drylining, Technical
FIS has today launched two new expert guides; a Pre-construction Guide for Drylining and a Construction Site Guide for Drylining. They are an invaluable resource for the industry and aim to reduce risk, ensure compliance and guarantee that projects are delivered on time, and to budget.
The guides have been produced off the back of concerning results gathered from an FIS Survey into Challenges in the Drylining sector. The survey found that amongst its member base, 97% of organisations had been asked to commence construction without having sufficient information to accurately detail the installation of the work. Wider discussions had resulted in a number of concerns being raised linked to a lack of standardisation in design detailing required. To start to address this, the FIS Drylining Working Group, which is comprised of manufacturers, designers and contractors working in the drylining sector, produced the guides to continue the provision of information and guidance to the point of installation.
The Pre-construction Guide for Drylining has been pulled together from decades of experience and focuses on the lead-up to commencing installation works. It highlights how to check bids and tenders for compliance, understand time requirements and site conditions, and ensure the design information is sufficient and fit for purpose.
The Site Guide for Drylining provides expert knowledge on preparatory work, sequencing, the checking of design information, how to recognise common issues and address them, and also how to perform quality checks to ensure building compliance.
Commenting on the guides, Iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive said:
“Drylining systems form firewalls, fire escape routes and provide passive internal fire protection so it is incredibly important to get it right at all stages of installation and this has to start far earlier and long before boots hit the ground. Our new guides allow professionals to reduce risks, support compliance and most importantly of all encourage responsible planning.”
The guide sits alongside other FIS best practice guides that relate to drylining:
The guides utilise the information, knowledge and good practice employed by its members and deliver a valuable resource for improving works package delivery, enhancing quality and aiding projects to be finished on time, safely and within budget.
FIS members can download both the Pre-construction Guide for Drylining and the Site Guide for Drylining at https://www.thefis.org/membership-hub/publications/site-guides/
by Clair Mooney | 9 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
The Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) has issued a a revised Promulgation Notice to reflect the increases in the National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage which will come into effect on 1 April. The General Operative rate is the only one directly impacted by the changes and has increased to £10.42 per hour.
by Clair Mooney | 9 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
Open Doors 2023 gets underway next Monday 13 March and will provide an opportunity for people to take a look behind the hoardings of more than 230 sites across Great Britain during the week! From HS2’s Old Oak Common Station in London to Perth City Hall being refurbished by BAM in Scotland and Willmott Dixon’s BIM Cave ‐ VR Room to CITB’s National Construction Colleges, we know that seeing construction in action can directly lead to a new entrant joining our industry.
Kier, an Open Doors Industry Partner, has highlighted in Building the importance of actually showing young people how construction is “shaping the way we live, travel, work and learn for the better”, so please get out and about to support your sites next week and “give people the confidence to dream big and pursue a career right here in construction”!
You can support Open Doors on social media using the hashtag #OpenDoors23
by Clair Mooney | 9 Mar, 2023 | Building Safety Act
Build UK has updated its comprehensive guide, to the building safety regime to reflect the latest secondary legislation and guidance that has been published. Changes in the March 2023 version include:
Described as “the most straightforward and comprehensive piece of guidance around this issue”, the Build UK guide is designed to ensure all members are aware of their responsibilities, the new bodies that will oversee the regime, and the reforms to existing legislation which may extend liability. The next update will be published in early April.
by Clair Mooney | 8 Mar, 2023 | Skills
Employers can now receive expert advice and support from sector specific networks, as part of the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) employer network pilot. As well as the local training networks, selected sectors will also be supported making it even easier to find and fund appropriate construction training.
The CITB pilot launched its local training networks in August 2022 with an initial £800,000 investment. With a focus on connecting employers to established and experienced delivery partners, the aim is to help employers recognise their training priorities and the best routes to achieving them. This transformative way of working provides a huge opportunity for employers to not only voice their training requirements, but also play a fundamental role in deciding how funds are used in their local area.
The 12-month local initiative is available to 3,800 levy-registered construction businesses and offered across five locations in England, Scotland, and Wales. One business already reaping the rewards is Aspect Group Services Ltd. The East Anglian business provides various services across roofing, scaffolding, property refurbishment and development, and was informed about the employer network pilot through the Norfolk Construction Training Group (NCTG).
Katie Laws-Chapman, Aspect Group Services Office Manager, said: “Initially we were hesitant, as we were accustomed to claiming training back from CITB through the usual process. However, through discussions with our contacts at NCTG, we were assured the process would be simple and we would have greater benefits due to the wide scope the employer network covered. As we are a mix of site-based operatives and office-based staff, we were able to request support for a wider variety of courses than previously possible. It was very beneficial to be able to combine both sets of training requirements for our staff through the employer network.”
FIS is working with CITB to involve the Fit Out and Interiors Sector Training Group (FISTG). If you need any information advice or guidance on claiming funds for training please contact Marie Flinter on 07799 903103 or email marieflinter@thefis.org or book a skills and funding clinic here.
by Clair Mooney | 8 Mar, 2023 | Health and Safety, Main News Feed
The Condor Collective are partnering with The FIS on Project Happiness; to better understand the metrics around topics such as mental health, retention, apprenticeships, collaboration, communication and general happiness of the people and businesses that make up the fitout sector.
The Outlook: Construction and the fit-out sector
Construction contributes £117 billion to the UK economy (6%) with 2.4 million jobs in the sector, 7% of the UK total. You are an important bunch!
According to the latest Construction Skills Network (CSN) report an extra 225,000 construction workers may be needed by 2027 to keep up with projections. This means the Greater London construction industry would have to increase current recruitment by 3,450 new workers each year to deliver expected projects, in addition to retaining its current workforce.
For the industry to meet increasing demand, it is imperative that construction leaders have useful and relevant data to inform their decisions around engagement, attraction and retention. Culture and employee engagement are crucial metrics for any construction company in the current climate.
For business leaders to be fully informed, they need access to up-to-date, sector specific benchmarking data relevant to size and location of their business. With this information leaders and employees can more accurately compare, and learn about the successes and challenges most applicable to them.
How will Project Happiness help business leaders?
The benchmark data gathered in this process will inform business leaders of engagement within the fitout sector, allowing leaders to make informed decisions on engagement and impact retention for their own teams.
All FIS members who participate & qualify* will receive their own set of results against the benchmark data.
Sample questions:
“I still see myself working at my company in two years’ time” – The data we gather around questions like this will deliver insights on an individual business’ retention, as well as loyalty & overall engagement levels in the fitout sector.
“My manager coaches me and supports my professional development.” – The data we gather around questions like this will deliver insights on career progression & development and engagement derived from purpose & mastery in the fitout sector.
“Decisions are communicated clearly and openly by the leadership team.” – The data we gather around questions like this will deliver insights on company cultures in the fitout sector and to what degree are businesses adopting modern leadership practises.
“I would feel comfortable discussing my mental health with someone at my company.” – The data we gather around questions like this will deliver insights on how individual businesses are investing in support and allow us to benchmark how well the sector is ensuring mental health support & training is a priority.
Employees, why participate?
We want to hear from as many employees working in the fitout sector as possible on topics such as engagement, leadership, learning & development, collaboration & communication in fitout companies and across the sector.
This mass data capture will provide a snapshot of how the sector approaches employee engagement, and from the insights we will be able to look at what can be improved not only to retain employees at business level, but also attract new people into fitout.
This is an opportunity for all employees to have a voice and a platform to report on how they feel their employer is performing and how they feel about the industry as a whole. The more people who participate, the clearer the picture we gain insights in to.
All employees who complete the survey before the 1/7/2023 will be entered into a draw to win a £250 gift vouchers!
by Clair Mooney | 7 Mar, 2023 | Contractual and Legal, Lens Blog, Main News Feed
FIS Consultant Len Bunton looks at the importance of keeping records and why this is vital. It is not uncommon for disputes to emerge on contracts that were concluded 3-4 years ago, so your records need to be collated and stored and archived, because you never know when you might need them.
These monthly Blogs are designed to help FIS Members avoid common traps and build on our focus on collective experience. They share ideas about improving the commercial management of your contracts. In other words, instilling best practice into the way FIS members run and manage their business. What I have endeavored to suggest is ways to ensure you get paid on time, and what you are due.
by Clair Mooney | 1 Mar, 2023 | Main News Feed
FIS announced the winners of its inaugural Innovation Awards at a ceremony held at is Conference in London.
In front of a packed audience at the Business Design Centre, the winners of the 2023 FIS Innovation Awards were announced and presented. The Awards recognise and celebrate innovation in the finishes and interiors sector showcasing companies that are paving the way for greater efficiency and collaboration. The aawards comprised four categories: Product Fit-Out, Product FF&E, Digital and Sustainability.
All entries were independently assessed by a panel of expert judges and the winner of each category was announced in front of a live audience. The winner of each category was then invited to deliver a short pitch on their innovation to the audience, who then determined the overall 2023 Innovation of the Year winner.
The 2023 award winners are:
Innovation of the Year
FireDNA for its Passive Fire Product Monitoring Software
Product – Fit Out
Eekowall for its off-site manufactured eekowall panels]
Product – FF&E
Rockfon for its modular slatted wood acoustic wall system, Lamella
Sustainability
Adaptavate for its plasterboard alternative, Breathaboard
The awards and event were supported by sponsors Etag Fixings, Protektor, Fire DNA and Payapps.
by Clair Mooney | 27 Feb, 2023 | Main News Feed
The University of Reading, Finishes and Interiors Sector (FIS) and AMA Research (part of Barbour ABI) have today launched a new report Procurement in the Finishes, Fit-Out and Interiors Sector, aiming to better understand how procurement practices are affecting the £10 billion fit-out industry and most importantly, how they can be improved.
FIS last year raised concerns that the push for modern methods of construction was being undermined by lack of focus on modern methods of procurement. To better understand the evolution of procurement practices, the organisation commissioned Professor Stuart Green of the University of Reading to explore procurement practices in the UK fit-out sector. FIS has a close working relationship with AMA Research, who were also keen to explore this topic and support this work and were able to offer assistance in developing the survey and extending the reach for participation.
This result is a fascinating new report that benchmarks current practices from those contractors directly involved and explores how procurement impacts effective delivery. Through better understanding of the challenges facing the industry, the sector can deliver better value and improve supply chain relationships.
The nature of the procurement process is often identified as a barrier to change. Dame Judith Hackitt’s statement from the 2018 ‘Building a Safer Future’ Report, confirmed that ‘Improving the procurement process will play a large part in setting the tone for any construction project. This is where the drive for quality and good outcomes, rather than lowest costs must start.’
FIS Chief Executive Iain Mcllwee stated:
“The key to unlocking the potential of construction and unleashing the culture change that we need in the finishes and interiors sector sits squarely in procurement. That isn’t a revelation. Virtually every report written about the construction process has raised concerns about procurement practices that facilitate a race to the bottom and create adversarial relationships and it crops up in almost every conversation I have about improving the sector. This is felt most acutely in our sector which absolutely sits at the whip end of construction when programmes and budgets are stretched or there is huge pressure to get the work done to leverage the value of a building.”
This new report furnishes the ongoing debate with concrete data and provides a voice to those who work in the fit-out sector. It is based on both a questionnaire conducted online during July and August 2022 that returned 269 responses with 100% quality rating on results and then supplemented with 20 in-depth interviews with selected practitioners representing contractors operating at all tiers of the supply chain. The research raised serious questions about time allocation in procurement and tendering processes, and worryingly how risks are routinely pushed down the supply chain.
Professor Stuart Green, School of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Reading said:
“I have been hugely impressed with the leading-edge firms in the fit-out and interiors sector. They are crucially focused on delivering high-quality work to demanding deadlines. Such firms act as exemplars for collaborative working at its very best.
“But many firms within the sector don’t get the chance to work collaboratively. This is especially true of the smaller firms who act as subcontractors. Procurement practices are too often focused on low-cost tendering with little consideration of other factors. Subcontractors are further obliged to accept highly onerous conditions of contract which undermine trust from the outset. The smaller firms are frequently pressurised to reduce their tender price retrospectively and to offer discounts in return for prompt payment. It seems that old-fashioned subbie bashing is alive and well in the fit-out sector. This cannot be the basis upon which to sustain a modern industry.”
Laura Pardoe, Director at AMA Research said:
‘Connecting with people working directly in the field helps understand the real issues they are dealing with daily. This is critical to being able to decipher what needs improving. It has been a pleasure to support FIS in reaching out to people across their sector to canvass views and gather thoughts and experiences. The objective perspective we can bring as an expert researcher provides robustness to our understanding across the array of issues uncovered.’
In conclusion, Iain Mcllwee said:
“The regulatory, environmental, commercial and moral drivers for change have never been stronger and this research-based report has given a voice to all in the supply chain and is the start of a practical call to action for positive change.”
