The The Construction Industry Joint Council (CIJC) has published the Holiday Entitlement 2023 with guidance on annual and public/bank holidays that apply under the CIJC Working Rule Agreement. There will be an additional bank holiday on Monday 8 May 2023 to mark the King’s coronation.
FIS has met with the New Hospital Programme to understand how its members can support this ambitious programme effectively. The commitment to build new hospitals forms part of the Government’s wider Health Infrastructure Plan, a long term, rolling programme of strategic investment in health and care buildings, estates, and equipment. The Government has committed to build 40 new hospitals by 2030 and together with eight previously announced schemes, this will mean 48 hospitals delivered by the end of the decade. The new hospitals will result in outdated infrastructure being replaced by facilities for both staff and patients that are on the cutting edge of modern technology, innovation and sustainability. Further details on the NHP can be found here.
Jonathan Hall from the Supply Markets Management Team stated:
“This is an ambitious programme and we are keen to work more closely with the supply chain and through organisations such as FIS to ensure that we are delivering value in all ways in a more collaborative and open way”.
As part of this new approach, the NHP inviting FIS members to respond to a Market Sounding Briefing and Questionnaire regarding the NHP’s ambition to deliver programmatic benefits through the standardisation of components that are common across hospitals.
We are seeking market feedback exploring potential opportunities, understanding existing challenges and ‘blockers’ to enable efficiencies and standardisation of components in a healthcare setting for second fix items including;
Further components are being considered as part of an iterative approach to standardisation and we anticipate seeking further market feedback in due course.
The information the NHP’s receives during this market sounding exercise will be used to inform NHP’s strategy and further development of our plans for delivery. Feedback will also be used to inform, validate, and refine our emerging approach to modern methods of construction across the programme.
The link to the market sounding briefing and questionnaire can be found here. To encourage further responses to this Market Sounding Questionnaire, the NHP has extended the deadline for responses until 5pm on 20 January 2023. The NHP thanks all those who have reviewed and responded to the Market Sounding to date.
Please do also feel free to contact the team directly at nhp.suppliers@nhs.net should you have further questions or queries in relation to the Programme.
Construction Product Availability: 21 December 2022
Statement from John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation and Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association, co-chairs of the Construction Leadership Council’s Product Availability working group.
Overall product availability is good and returning to pre-Covid levels, while some bricks, blocks, plasterboard and roofing products are occasionally still subject to disruption or allocation. Despite this, lead times for these products are now far lower than earlier in the year.
The availability of gas boilers and other products containing semi-conductors and electrical components remains the most problematic in terms of supply, as sub-component manufacturers operating in a highly competitive global market continue to experience restricted supply. In addition, the electro-technical sector has highlighted a new area of concern regarding the supply of solar and environmental products, with difficulty identifying those coming from Chinese manufacturers with the proper accreditation. This is a growing product area with increasing demand, so the UK construction industry is challenged to ensure such products are of the proper standard and quality.
Timber availability is good with further reductions in prices due to the large amount of stock already in the UK and reduced shipping costs. The one issue for timber centres on birch plywood which, due to sanctions, cannot be legally sourced from Russia. With limited supplies available from Latvia and Finland, we advise speaking to plywood suppliers regarding alternatives.
Shipping lead times from the Far East are improving, though China is now experiencing rising Covid rates following the relaxation of their lockdown regulations which may lead to more bottlenecks. However, with a surplus of containers in China and container rates generally down by 80% from their peak, this is a great improvement.
Price inflation for products has slightly moderated across the board this month, but looking ahead, rising energy and wage costs are expected to put significant upward pressure on prices in the New Year. In particular, manufacturers of energy-intensive products (such as bricks, cement, glass, insulation and plasterboard) warn that although many have been able to hedge energy costs through Q1 of 2023, energy prices in Q2 and Q3 are expected to be considerably above historical (pre-Ukraine war) levels without further Government support. Several plaster, plasterboard and insulation manufacturers have notified there will be double-digit inflationary increases in the New Year.
Against this, a gradual slowing of demand for construction products across most sub-sectors over the last three months of 2022 has helped ease the pressures on product supply. Most industry forecasts project further declines in demand in 2023 although some sub-sectors will fare better than others. With less strain on the supply chain, general product availability should have an opportunity to recover further.
We are delighted to commend to you the first in a new series of newsletters from the Link Consortium. The Link Consortium brings together experts in building materials reuse (including FIS) looking at how the sector can adopt latest artificial intelligence and object recognition technology to provide rapid listing software to help increase reuse of used construction materials and significantly reduce carbon emissions.
This project, funded by InnovateUK, was launched in October 2022.
National Construction College East in Bircham Newton has an Interior Systems Installer Apprenticeship training course starting on Monday 06 February 2023. The course content is outlined below:
| The course will cover practical principles in: | Apprentices will learn basic skills, knowledge and awareness in: | Plus, there is a focus on personal skills in: |
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For more information or to arrange a visit of the training centre, contact the centre directly via the methods below.
FIS is working with CITB to develop training standards for the finishes and interiors sector, these standards will attract Grant Eligible Training, GET code support per candidate as follows:
FIS has been requested to seek subject matter experts to populate standards with the following titles:
TS0200 Grant Tier 1 British Gypsum Site Managers Certificate Interior Systems Installation (title will probably change to Interior Systems Site Managers Certificate)
TS0203 Grant Tier 2 Ceiling Fixing Installation
TS1966 Grant Tier 2 Introduction to setting out and installation of lay in grid systems
TS0198 Grant Tier 1 Movable Partitioning Installation
TS1963 Grant Tier 2 The design and selection of correct systems (acoustic/fire/loading and penetrations)
TS1965 Grant Tier 2 The introduction to identifying laying grid suspended ceiling systems
TS1967 Grant Tier 2 The repairs and alterations of laying grid system and various types of ceiling tiles
TS1490 Grant Tier 2 Producing Internal Solid Finishes
TS1491 Grant Tier 2 Producing External Render Finishes
TS1492 Grant Tier 2 Applying Plasters to Complex Internal Surfaces
TS1498 Grant Tier 2 Producing Specialist Plastering Finishes
TS1505 Grant Tier 2 Applying Projection Plaster and Maintaining Equipment
If you would like to get involved in this work, potentially one day of your time in the new year, please email George Swann georgeswann@thefis.org or if you would like discuss in more detail call George on 07553 874383.
FIS is supporing a project being led by Hire Association Europe, to provide FIS members the opportunity to experience training delivered using virtual reality (VR). pHAEton is a VR app for mobile phones and tablets and the following modules, applicable to the operations of the sector are currently available:
| ● Cordless Drill | ● Hand-Arm Vibration |
| ● Cut-off Saw | ● Materials Hoist |
| ● Dangers of Dust, Silica and Asbestos | ● Mental Health at Work |
| ● Dust Extraction | ● Reciprocating Saw |
| ● Electrical Safety | ● Safe Use of Ladders |
| ● Environment | ● Working At Height (Alloy Tower) |
| ● Generators |
Each module explores the essentials of safe tool and equipment using interactive puzzles, and each one finishes with a short multiple-choice knowledge test.
The app is available for iOS and Android mobile devices and can be run on tablets or using the cardboard headset with a mobile phone for a more virtual experience. Users will be able to provide feedback at a later date.
Search for pHAEton on either the App Store or Google Play
For full access to the app and all of the modules you will require a username and password to get these send an email to fisvr@hae.org.uk including the names and email addresses for all users. Please ensure you include your postal address and we will send a Cardboard VR headset in the post.
Last chance to register your sites for Open Doors 2023
FIS Supports Open Doors, run on behalf of the industry by Build UK. There is now just one month to go until booking opens for Open Doors visitors on Monday 9 January. Recruiting the next generation is vital if we are to maintain the pipeline of talent coming into the industry, and Open Doors is one of the best ways to show young people the fantastic work we do! Please upload all your sites, factories, offices and other facilities on the Open Doors website as soon as possible and start promoting them to potential visitors in the local area.
Students from Walsall College visited HS2’s Long Itchington Wood Tunnel site last month to kickstart the countdown to Open Doors and 16‐year‐old Ethan said:
“If someone else had the chance [to go on site during Open Doors], I’d say definitely go for it. It gives you a really great insight into all the opportunities and careers, and there’s excellent people to speak to that can recommend any path to you within construction!”.
This short video from the event shows just how we can inspire people across the country to choose a career in construction. Open Doors will run from Monday 13 ‐ Saturday 18 March.
Meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations is the first cornerstone of compliance. There are a number of Approved Documents for England which provide guidance and Approved Document (AD) B1 and B2 provide specific advice for Dwellings (B1) and Buildings other than Dwellings (B2)
On 1 December 2022 the Government reissued ADB1 and ADB2 to incorporate the amendments in 2020 and 2022.
The Department responsible for these approved documents, The Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities (DLUHC), issued a Circular letter concerning revisions to Approved Document B and circular letter 02/2022. This provides further revisions made to correct errors made during amendment process earlier this year. The letter provides the original text plus the revised text which will come into force on 1 December 2022.
To view this circular letter, please click here.
The construction sector has taken a number of significant steps towards net zero according to data published today. At COP26 last year, the Construction Leadership Council launched its CO2nstruct Zero programme, with associated measures to track carbon reduction activities, and challenge the industry to improve in nine key areas.
The first annual review of progress sets out the evidence that UK construction is playing a leading role in cutting carbon.
The annual CO2nstruct Zero Performance Dashboard shows that the last 12 months has seen the sector:
• Train more than 500 retrofit co-ordinators, with associated business accreditation
• Connect 55,000 heat pumps by 4,100 trained & registered installers
• Deliver a 33 per cent increase in EV charging points
• Include carbon literacy in professional qualifications
Alongside these targeted measures, the CO2nstruct Zero network has grown rapidly, with more than 200 organisations now established as Business Champions and Partners under the programme. This network has played a crucial role in supporting carbon reduction policy development, feeding into UK Government work on retrofit and energy security, as well as developing its own detailed plans including a route map to cut diesel usage on sites.
Flavie Lowres, FIS Sustainability Champion said:
It was great to attend the CLC meeting to see the positive steps that are being made and the enthusiasm for change. The opportunity for the FIS members is great, but we do need to be cautious that this isn’t another false green dawn and that we see the principles cascade through to the work on the ground. We need strong collaboration to set the supply chain up to succeed. This came out strongly in the discussion as we focus on making sustainability a habit linked to effective procurement, productivity and resource management.
Construction Leadership Council Co-Chair and Construction Minister Nusrat Ghani MP said:
“We have decarbonised our economy faster than any country in the G20 and remain fully committed to supporting the construction industry in achieving its decarbonisation commitments through initiatives like Construct Zero.
“This report demonstrates the positive start our construction industry is making in the fight against climate change. I look forward to working with the CLC to accelerate progress in the years to come.”
Construction Leadership Council Deputy Co-Chair Richard Robinson said:
“Last year we asked the industry to join us on a journey towards a lower carbon future, and the response has been very encouraging”.
“We must now build on this momentum, pushing ahead with pace and purpose in 2023 as we continue to play a leading role in getting the UK to net zero.”
he Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has released a guidance document on the provision of welfare facilities on construction sites, following frequent reports of poor hygiene and sanitation.
The guidance outlines what HSE Construction Inspectors require from building site managers. It includes their duties, information on the regulations, and guidance on interpreting standards.
The guidance document covers:
FIS Consultant Len Bunton looks at the recently released report published by Kings College London – 2022 Construction Adjudication in the United Kingdom: Tracing trends and guiding reform – which provides a good snapshot of current trends.
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.
Independent Fire Training Ltd has taken the next steps as part of their competency framework to further develop three of their existing courses into formal Ofqual regulated qualifications and are excited to introduce the new courses and qualification delivery from January 2023. All candidates sitting these courses and passing the theory and practical assessments will receive a formal qualification, the first of their types within the industry!
FIS has partnered with Independent Fire Training to offer all members a 10% discount on these new qualifications for courses purchased before 1 January 2023.
There are course dates scheduled for 2023. If yor are interested in booking, contact Independent Fire Training on 01522 904189 Opt1, email info@thefiretraining.co.uk or take a look at the website www.thefiretraining.co.uk
With the implementation of the Building Safety Act 2022 and the supporting legislation upcoming, there has never been more of a focus on the competency of those working in fire safety roles and responsible positions within the industry. In line with this, the decision was made to further improve these courses and have them regulated as qualifications, to support the recognition of competency requirements within the industry.
There are currently three employer vacancies for members of the FIS Skills Board. The role involves contributing information that will direct FIS in the support needed for the finishes and interiors sector to ensure a competent and safe workforce.
We are looking for employer representatives from installing organisations that can join discussion on the skills needed by the sector so that we can prioritise activities and focus on the areas of greatest concern.
The commitment is four, two-to-three hour meetings per year where we explain the information FIS has and ask for your input. For more information, a copy of the Terms of Reference or an informal chat please contact George Swann on 07553 874383 or email georgeswann@thefis.org or Marie Flinter on 07799 903103 or email marieflinter@thefis.org
Construction Product Availability: 23 November 2022
Statement from John Newcomb, CEO of the Builders Merchants Federation and Peter Caplehorn, CEO of the Construction Products Association, co-chairs of the Construction Leadership Council’s Product Availability working group
Product supply continues to improve, with the availability of building materials and products overall now at its best since pre-pandemic levels last seen at the end of 2019.
The restricted supply of semi-conductors, however, continues to challenge manufacturers of electro-technical products and gas boilers, though stock volumes are recovering. With current demand in the UK still outstripping supply, coupled with ongoing capacity and logistics issues in Asia, extended delivery times are likely to remain until the middle of 2023 and inflationary pressures will persist for these products.
There is a plentiful supply of timber in the UK and prices have reduced for popular groups such as CLS; however, log prices in Europe and North America are still strong and production is being reduced to reflect demand in the UK and Europe This could lead to gaps in the supply chain if demand rises suddenly but should not be a major issue if demand continues at current levels.
As mentioned in previous statements, birch plywood – currently a sanctioned good from Russia – is in short supply and some sectors will need to look at alternatives. Birch plywood can be legally sourced from Finland and Latvia but users should request full due diligence. Any imports of birch or birch furniture products from China and Vietnam will be manufactured from wood from Russia, which cannot be legally sold in the UK.
Inflationary pressures rather than availability present the main challenges for energy intensive products such as glass, concrete, cement, PIR, plasterboard and bricks. A warm autumn has helped reduce demand for gas but going into colder winter months prices may rise again. It is also unclear what financial relief from government will be available to energy intensive manufacturers in the spring when the current scheme is due to finish.
In his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of tax rises and spending cuts intended to stabilise the economy and lay the foundation for growth. Nonetheless, the near-term outlook will be challenging. While large-scale infrastructure projects will continue and larger housebuilders are currently maintaining volumes, we are already seeing a slight decline in starts by smaller housebuilders and a steady erosion of work in the home improvement sector as homebuyers and customers feel the pressure of rising living costs and interest rates.
We are also seeing a sustained, high level of construction firm insolvencies, particularly amongst SME builders and specialist contractors. This is in part the result of firms that became vulnerable during the pandemic now being wound up due to pandemic support being withdrawn. Other insolvencies are linked to economic uncertainty and the difficulty of reconciling fixed priced contracts with price inflation and reduced cash flow. Collaborative risk sharing will be key to preserving industry resilience and capacity moving forward.
In front of a packed audience at Plaisterers’ Hall, the winners of the 2022 Training Awards were announced and presented by Alderman Sir Charles Bowman of the Lord Mayors Office. The Awards are a collaboration between FIS and The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers to recognise outstanding apprentices and students, and individuals and organisations that have made a lasting contribution to training and development in plastering and interior trades.
Stephen Gilbert, the Master of the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers, said “The Company is absolutely delighted to once again host these prestigious awards in our magnificent Hall. This year, in an exciting move forward, we are very pleased to have teamed up with FIS to recognise the achievements of many within plastering and finishes and interiors sector”.
Commenting on the awards, FIS Immediate Past President Helen Tapper and Member of The Worshipful Company of Plaisterers Industry Committee said: “We are delighted to 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.”
The 2022 award winners are:
Student of the Year – Plastering
Winner – Natasha Williams
Runners up – Rebecca Street and Jason Ssebbata
Student of the Year – Interior Systems
Winner – Anna Bell
Runners up – Ignas Kurasavos and Tommy Norton
Apprentice of the Year – Plastering
Winner – Johnathan Donaldson
Runners up – Thomas Devine and Lenny Miller
Apprentice of the Year – Interior Systems
Winner – George Batchelor
Runners up – Archie Downham and Ewen MacIntyre
British Gypsum Trophy
Now Get Qualified
Saint Gobain Formula Trophy
BCS Plaster Moulding
Colleges and Independent Training Providers (large)
Winner – NPTC College
Runner up – Leeds College of Building
Colleges and Independent Training Providers (small)
Winner – Craven College
Runner up – Barking and Dagenham College
FIS Member Training Programme
Errigal Contracts
Mentor Award
Rikki Wild – Measom Dryline
Lifetime Achievement Award
Matty McLeish – Tutor, Carlisle College
The awards and event were supported by sponsors Formula, British Gypsum, Go Interiors, Plaisterers Charity, CITB and STEPs.
To celebrate the World Cup, FIS hosted its own Fit Out World Cup Tournament for members and the wider community earlier this month at Sutton Coldfield Town Football Club. The event raised a fantastic £1,200 for the Lighthouse Club, a Construction Industry Charity that provides emotional, physical and financial wellbeing support to construction workers and their families.
Eight teams took part in the competition, battling it out in seven, 10-minute matches to produce the top two teams. Midlands Mafia (DCL) and CGR (CG Reynolds) went through to the final game, with CGR holding on to their early goal and winning 1-0.
A huge thanks to everyone that took part, and congratulations to CGR on lifting the Fit Out World Cup! You can see more pictures of the day over on our Facebook page
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt highlighted ‘stability, growth and public services’ as the three main priorities of his Autumn Statement 2022. For construction product manufacturers, as well as the wider construction industry, the announcements made under the ‘growth’ priority will perhaps be most pertinent.
While the Chancellor announced that the UK economy is now in recession, his aim was to regain credibility following the previous Chancellor’s ‘Mini-Budget’ – to calm markets, tackle inflation, and bring down interest rates through a mixture of tax increases and longer-term public spending cuts. His fiscal position will be crucial to our overall economic outlook, but the big announcements that are likely to directly impact construction looking ahead fell under his announcements for ‘Energy, Infrastructure and Innovation’.
Key announcements include:
Commenting on the Autumn Statement, CPA Economics Director Professor Noble Francis, said: “While the additional funding for energy efficiency from 2025 is welcome news, this funding is for further years after the current £6.6 billion finishes and clearly delivery in 2030 still signifies a longer-term goal for Government rather than a quick win. The detail of delivery for energy efficiency is crucial given previous flops in Government policy, and the CPA will closely follow further details as they emerge. Retrofitting our existing housing stock is crucial both for growth in the sector and to meet our net zero targets.
The commitment to infrastructure projects at both a local and national level will be welcome news to the industry, given some calls to reduce HS2 to Birmingham to help avoid tax increases. However, the announcement that funding for infrastructure would be “maintained in cash terms” in times of double-digit construction cost inflation means that we will see less activity down on the ground, particularly for financially constrained councils. Levelling Up through investment in infrastructure is a crucial way in which the construction industry can support wider economic growth, as well as its own, so it is vital that it is fully funded.
For housing, the stamp duty cut is likely to have only a marginal impact given the greater issue of interest rate rises and negative housing market sentiment. As a result, substantially more will be needed to stimulate both housebuilding over the coming years.”
This is designed to assist where perceptions of an industry “rule of thumb” can mislead some to believe that these types of limitations simply represent best practice, when in fact they are often a function of much stricter rules.
FIS provides a wide-range of technical guidance for its members. You can find it all within our Technical Resources Library here
SMEs can get grants from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure in their commercial car parks.
Eligible businesses can claim £350 for each chargepoint socket installed and £500 per parking space enabled with supporting infrastructure, up to a maximum of £15,000 per car park.
