by Clair Mooney | Nov 18, 2021 | Skills
To help organisations secure funding for training, the CICV Forum has produced a guide to the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.
This guide is designed to explain the fund clearly and concisely and help organisations secure financial assistance for training. More details available here in a summary developed for the CICV Members (FIS is a member on your behalf).
As it currently stands, every construction company in Scotland is entitled to either £5,000 or £15,000 to spend on training of their choice, thanks to the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF).
This versatile and easily accessible fund can help you identify and achieve your digital enablement goals and aspirations, and is available regardless of whether you’re registered with, or receiving funding from, the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
It can be used for any kind of training, coaching, or professional development, one-to-one training, standard courses or designed bespoke for your .company.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 18, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Technical
BSI has launched BSI Identify to allow permanent structured product data to be found at any stage in the design, installation, maintenance and deconstruction of the product or system.
The Construction Product Association (CPA) said ‘This unique initiative aims to improve safety across the built environment through digital product identification’
BSI Identify has been in development with CPA and its members since 2024 and was supported with Innovate funding
How does it work?
- Manufacturers are issued a unique digital identifier called a BSI UPIN for every product
- The manufacturer can mark or tag their products via QR codes, NFC or RFID tags
- The BSI UPIN, once scanned, directs users to an open-access permanent page that holds all relevant and up to date product information
- All product queries can be routed back to the manufacturer
By using this revolutionary technology, manufacturers can support the Golden Thread of Information and improve industry safety. It’s good for business and good for your customers.
FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia sai:
‘Being able to access product information at the point of installation or even years after its been integrated in the fabric of a building is vitally important if we are to maintain buildings for the safety of all occupants in future. BSI identify will allow this to happen using a data base that will be available in perpetuity even if the company is no longer in business, and that’s a game changer.’
Peter Caplehorn CEO at the CPA said
‘By moving everything into a fully joined-up digital process, we can improve overall efficiency, product performance, safety, customer satisfaction, environmental performance and profit margins, which is a good thing because some money can be put back into R&D. BSI Identify is a unique digital identification service that looks to improve industry safety by solving the challenge of product identification.’
Watch this video to see how BSI Identify helps manufacturers
Find out more about BSI Identify on the BSI Identify website or CPA website.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 17, 2021 | Market data
All parts of the construction supply chain experienced continued growth in Q3, according to the Construction Trade Survey.
Construction product manufacturers reported a fifth consecutive quarterly rise in product sales, whilst SME building contractors and chartered surveyors registered another increase in workloads. However, given ongoing issues on the supply side and the subsequent impact on cost inflation, all balances came in lower than in Q2. Nevertheless, growth remained widespread across sectors and continued to be steered by private housing and RM&I due to strong demand for larger properties with outdoor and office/study space to accommodate homeworking.
The CPA’s Construction Trade Survey brings together results from surveys of building contractors, specialist contractors, civil contractors and product manufacturers. It provides a pan-industry assessment of current and expected conditions. FIS members can download the full report here.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 12, 2021 | Technical
FIS is pleased to announce the appointment of James Parlour as its new Technical and Vetting Manager to support the technical work of the organisation and develop the membership vetting process.
With more than 16 years’ technical, compliance and design experience across a wide range of sectors, James Parlour arrives at FIS to play a key role in ensuring FIS Members are specified and selected for projects. Formerly Project Coordinator at Ergonom, James has worked as Senior Design Engineer at Komfort Partitions, Technical Supervisor at SIG (Ocula Systems) and brings more than 10 years’ experience as a design technician at SAS International and Avanti Systems.
Working with the FIS Community in this new role, James will review and upgrade current vetting processes to better embrace the risk management approach defined by the FIS Product Process People Quality Framework and ensure that the members understand and uphold the values outlined in the Code of Conduct.
He will also provide support to the FIS Technical Director in responding to technical enquiries from members, supporting the various working groups and reviewing, developing and monitoring the FIS Vetting activities.
Commenting on the new appointment, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:
“We are delighted to welcome James to the FIS team. James has a wealth of experience across the finishes and interiors sector, and his skills and passion will make him a great asset in supporting the FIS Working Groups and projects, as well as the vetting process.”
“Vetting is central to our values and we are keen to work with the community to test the existing process and develop it to ensure that FIS community reflect these values and meet the standards these values project,” added Iain.
“This is a fantastic opportunity. To play a part in supporting value-led change at FIS and taking this leading trade body to the next level is very exciting,”said James Parlour.
For further information or for any questions please contact the FIS at info@thefis.org or call 0121-0707-0077.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 12, 2021 | Skills
Employers who hired an apprentice between 1 April and 30 September 2021 could be eligible for an incentive payment of £3,000 for each new apprentice. Employers need to apply before midnight on 30 November 2021 to claim the incentive. To receive the payment, employers must submit an application for each eligible apprentice using their
apprenticeship service account.
Apprentices must have an employment start date from 1 April to 30 September 2021. They must also have an apprenticeship start date from 1 April to 30 November 2021. The Education and Skills Funding Agency how to video provides a step-by-step guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUg0AVLLAHQ
Employers are not able to apply for apprentices they have hired from 1 October 2021 to 31 January 2022 until applications open on 11 January 2022. These apprentices must also have an apprenticeship start date from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Review the guidance to find out more.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 12, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Technical
Building Standards Division (BSD), is developing a national Compliance Plan approach to provide greater assurance that compliance with building regulations is achieved from design to completion.
This consultation seeks to obtain the views on the development of a new Compliance Plan Manager role within the building standards system which will apply to specific High Risk Building (HRB) types, the definition of these HRBs and the level of fines where work is not carried out in accordance with the regulations.
This consultation forms part of the work undertaken by the Compliance Plan Working Group, which is one of seven work streams, being directed by the Building Standards Futures Board. The consultation will gather opinions from stakeholders on a review of the building standards system relating to the way in which compliance with the building regulations is assured and enforced to help ensure the health, safety and welfare of people in and around Scotland’s buildings and to further the conservation of fuel and power and further the achievement of sustainable development.
The consultation covers four main areas, as follows:
-
- Creation of a new Compliance Plan Manager (CPM) oversight role on High Risk Building types on behalf of the Relevant Person (normally the owner or developer);
- The definition of High Risk Buildings requiring a CPM;
- Fines and penalties; and
- Impact assessments.
The proposed changes outlined in the consultation aim to:
Require applicants (building owners and developers) to evidence and document how compliance with the building regulations has been approached from a ‘pre-application meeting’ (initial) stage through to completion of the building project. The intention is to strengthen compliance across all building types with the new Compliance Plan approach and also to introduce a requirement for independent professional oversight – a Compliance Plan Manager – on high risk buildings to manage the compliance process from start to finish. Initial considerations have concentrated on application to High Risk Buildings (high rise residential, high public value – schools, healthcare facilities) and also housing sites. But this may be extended, in the future, to apply to a wider range of buildings types if there is evidence to support this. The consultation also seeks views on the definition of buildings classed as ‘High Risk Building Types’ (HRBs).
You can read the consultation paper here.
Members are encouraged to read the consultation and feed back their comments to FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia via email joecilia@thefis.org
by Clair Mooney | Nov 11, 2021 | Sustainability
The construction industry is playing its part in transforming its working practices and leadership models to contribute to the global ambition for a net zero future. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has partnered with ITN Productions Industry News to produce ‘Building a Greener Britain’, a programme exploring some of the new pathways and sustainable methods the sector is adopting, alongside initiatives such as the Construct Zero programme, CLC’s response to the climate emergency.
Anchored by presenter Clare Nasir, Building A Greener Britain, features experts from within the construction industry along with informative interviews, news items and sponsored editorial profiles, filmed in the ITN Productions Industry News London studio and remotely on location. Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, joins Clare Nasir to represent the CLC Steering Coordination Group and discuss how the sector is meeting the challenge.
The feature focusses in on some of the Business Champions who are demonstrating the sector’s commitment towards reducing carbon emissions. These include
Construction company and property consultancy, Rider Levett Bucknall, is making sustainability an integral part of the conversation at the outset of projects to help achieve greener results.
At the University Hospitals of Leicester, NHS Trust, where the company is reconfiguring the estate with new construction alongside repurposing existing buildings, Andrew Reynolds, Chief Executive of Rider Levett Bucknall, talks about the role of the CLC in meeting sustainable development goals.
The Active Building Centre in Gloucester, created as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Transforming Construction Challenge, which is demonstrating how future builds can be both labour and energy efficient.
A familiar face to many in the finishes and interiors sector Mike Chaldecott, CEO, Saint-Gobain, UK & Ireland, outlines the company’s long-term sustainability strategy.The programme goes to the plant in Yorkshire where Saint-Gobain has invested £30m to produce glass using less energy with higher levels of recycling and more innovation.
Find out more about Construct Zero here
To help start or continue your net zero journey, visit the FIS Sustainabilty Hub here.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 11, 2021 | Sustainability
FIS and the Supply Chain Sustainability School are collaborating to help deliver Net Zero in the finishes and interiors sector through a new virtual training portal hosted on the Supply Chain Sustainability School website.
This sustainability training hub is another output of the FIS Sustainability Working Group, which has been established within the FIS community to support a focus on individual change, collective focus and supply chain engagement. The working group has five core objectives:
- Increasing knowledge and understanding within the supply chain
- Setting targets and standardisation (including monitoring and measuring impact)
- Providing an active network and encouraging collaboration
- Highlighting individuals and approaches that help inspire and inform change
- Informing design and encouraging better asset management
At our COP26 webinar this week, FIS Sustainability Champion Flavie Lowres introduced how the tool can be used to support training on Net Zero and wider sustainability matters in our businesses and the School’s tool for measuring the carbon impact of your business available via the Supply Chain Sustainability School’s Finishes and Interiors hub here.
You can listen again to the webinar here.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 11, 2021 | Sustainability, Technical
The Plastics Packaging Tax is due for introduction on 1 April 2022 and HMRC is looking for businesses’ views on the technical application of the regulation. The consultation closes on 1 December 2021 and details are available here.
The Primary legislation establishing the tax was included as part of the Finance Act 2021. The aim is to provide economic incentives for businesses to use recycled plastic in the manufacture of plastic packaging which will stimulate increased levels of recycling of plastic waste. This instrument sets out the detailed administrative requirements for the tax. It establishes when a plastic packaging compound is finished for the purposes of the tax and when it becomes chargeable to tax. It also details the evidence that businesses will need to keep, how to weigh packaging and determine the recycled plastic content as well as setting out the obligations with reference to the administration of the tax including registration and returns.
To view the new information visit https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/technical-consultation-on-plastic-packaging-tax-general-regulations-2021
by Clair Mooney | Nov 11, 2021 | Skills
From 1 November 2021, the reservation period for employers who do not pay the Apprenticeship Levy will be reduced from six months to three months. While the Education and Skills Funding Agency had previously extended the reservation window to six months, they found that very few employers needed to reserve funds more than three months ahead.
Employers can still plan ahead when recruiting apprentices. Employers can reserve funding three months before an apprentice’s expected start date and have a further two months after the planned reservation month to start their apprentice. As is the case now, if no commitment is made on the apprenticeship service by then, the reservation will expire.
Any reservations made before 1 November 2021 will not be affected. For more details including a six minute video please see: How to reserve apprenticeship funding
by Clair Mooney | Nov 11, 2021 | Building Safety Act
Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, attended his first meeting of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee this week, where he confirmed that the development of the leaseholder loan scheme to fund remediation work on buildings outside the scope of the Building Safety Fund has been ‘paused’. The Government is now considering alternative ways to fund cladding remediation work that do not pose an ‘excessive burden’ on leaseholders, although the scheme will not be cancelled outright until an alternative has been identified.
Gove also confirmed that, following the Written Ministerial Statement which clarified that EWS1 forms should not be required on buildings below 18 metres, the Government will remove the consolidated advice note before Christmas.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 11, 2021 | Sustainability
Contractors bidding for central Government contracts worth more than £5 million a year are now required to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan. Plans must be updated at least once a year and meet the standard set out in Procurement Policy Note (PPN) 06/21, which includes a template for contractors to use.
The CLC CO2nstruct Zero programme is bringing the construction supply chain together to drive carbon out of the sector. Businesses across the industry are being encouraged to align their own commitments to one or more of the nine priorities and sign up as a ‘Business Champion’.
Businesses that wish to can make a formal commitment to reaching net zero by signing up to the Carbon Reduction Code for the Built Environment. Signatories to the code commit to meeting net zero by 2045, with an interim target to reduce net direct and indirect carbon emissions by 2030, and to publishing annual reports on progress towards their goal.
FIS Members wishing to update or develop a Carbon Reduction Plan can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub for resources and ideas or contact FIS Sustainability Champion, Flavie Lowres to discuss ideas and options.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 10, 2021 | Sustainability
Legislation that will protect and enhance the environment for future generations has now passed into UK law. Through the Act, we will clean up the country’s air, restore natural habitats, increase biodiversity, reduce waste and make better use of resources.
It will halt the decline in species by 2030, require new developments to improve or create habitats for nature, and tackle deforestation overseas.
It will help transition to a more circular economy, incentivising people to recycle more, encouraging businesses to create sustainable packaging, making household recycling easier and stopping the export of polluting plastic waste to developing countries.
These changes will be driven by new legally binding environmental targets, and enforced by a new, independent Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) which will hold government and public bodies to account on their environmental obligations.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
The Environment Act will deliver the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth.
It will halt the decline of species by 2030, clean up our air and protect the health of our rivers, reform the way in which we deal with waste and tackle deforestation overseas.
We are setting an example for the rest of the world to follow.
The Environment Act includes a new legally binding target on species abundance for 2030, which will help to reverse declines of iconic British species like the hedgehog, red squirrel and water vole.
The UK will now be able to go further than ever before to clamp down on illegal deforestation and protect rainforests, through a package of measures will ensure that greater resilience, traceability and sustainability are built into the UK’s supply chains.
The Act will crack down on water companies that discharge sewage into rivers, waterways and coastlines. It will see a duty enshrined in law to ensure water companies secure a progressive reduction in the adverse impacts of discharges from storm overflows. New duties will also require the government to publish a plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows by September 2022 and report to Parliament on the progress towards implementing the plan.
Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Chair of the Environment Agency, said:
We need strong laws, investment by the private sector and clear, well-funded regulation to protect the environment. Without this, we will not see the progress we all want.
The new legal targets for water in the Environment Act today will help wider efforts to tackle pollution, reduce demand for water and secure clean and plentiful water for all.
It is good to see these laws pass as we work to protect the natural world, help people to stay safe from flooding and support communities, businesses and government to make the country more resilient to climate shocks.
Work on implementing Environment Act policies is well underway. Work has begun on developing legally binding environmental targets, and consultations on the deposit return schemes for drinks containers, extended producer responsibility for packaging and consistent recycling collections have been launched, which will transform the way rubbish is dealt with.
A draft Principles Policy Statement has been published which will put protecting the environment at the heart of future policy.
The Office for Environmental Protection was set up in an interim, non-statutory form in July, providing independent oversight of the Government’s environmental progress and accelerating the foundation of the full body. The OEP will formally commence its statutory functions shortly.
The Environment Act has become law during the UK’s hosting of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, during which the UK has brought the world together to secure ambitious commitments to tackle climate change.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 10, 2021 | Skills
Help to Grow is a £520 million scheme to help owners of small and medium-sized business take their business to the next level. There are two Government backed programmes designed to help business leaders:
Help to Grow: Management offers senior business leaders management and leadership training, delivered by Business Schools across the UK
Sign up to the 12-week Help to Grow: Management course and get 1:1 support from a business mentor and access to an alumni network. Delivered in partnership with Small Business Charter, courses are running at leading business schools across the UK. The programme is 90% funded by the government so you only pay £750. Find our more here.
Help to Grow: Digital offers businesses free, impartial advice on how technology can boost business, delivered through a new online platform.
Access free, impartial online support about how digital technology can boost your business’s performance. From December 2021, if your business is eligible, you can also get a discount of up to 50% towards the costs of buying approved software, worth up to £5,000. Register here.
by Clair Mooney | Nov 9, 2021 | Main News Feed, Skills
FIS has secured a discount for its members on the Foundation in Hardware online course which concentrates on ensuring those working with or selling architectural ironmongery or door hardware are aware of the range of hardware, its uses and responsibilities if specifying or offering alternatives.
Foundation in Hardware
The GAI education programme starts with the Foundation in Hardware module, an online introductory course designed to raise knowledge and standards among those who need to understand the basics but don’t need to live and breathe ironmongery in their day-to-day jobs.
- Covers all the basics of hardware and access control
- Online course featuring 12 modules with 6 months to complete upon enrolment
- Learn at your own pace
- Self-assessment tests and examination with a printed certificate upon passing
The Foundation in Hardware is suitable for:
Those who aren’t involved in the detail of architectural ironmongery but want to gain a basic understanding of the industry
- Locksmiths
- Builders merchants
- Staff on sales or trade counters
To find out more please follow this link and to register and enjoy a 20% discount. Quote OFFER20GAI when registering at www.gai.org.uk/FiH
by Clair Mooney | Nov 5, 2021 | Main News Feed
FIS today announced the winners of its 2021 Contractors Awards to members and guests who packed out the Nine Kings Suite at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.
The long-awaited ceremony celebrated the fantastic projects completed by FIS members in nine categories.
Guest architect Darren Ross-Dreher of architectural practice Gensler, announced the winner of the 2021 Project of the Year, which he selected from the Gold award winning projects.
Independent FIS Award Judges, Tony Pieri and Clive Perry said: “The quality of all the entries we have seen has been excellent, making our task of selecting overall winners in the various categories very difficult. The differences in quality are minimal – decimal points separate those who have and have not won an award.
“To all entrants, we would like to say thank you for making this year’s awards so difficult – but so enjoyable. Our industry is producing truly excellent work and you should all be proud of your achievements.”
The FIS Contractors Awards are held annually to encourage and promote high levels of craftsmanship and design. Not only does the FIS member who installed the contract win an award, but so does the architect or interior designer of a Gold award-winning project.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 28, 2021 | Main News Feed
The Cabinet Office has published an updated Procurement Policy Note (PPN) confirming that the prompt payment threshold is going to be increased for suppliers bidding for Government contracts above £5 million per annum.
From 1 April 2022, suppliers will be required to show that they pay 90% of invoices within 60 days and have an action plan in place to achieve the required standard of 95% in future, otherwise they risk being prevented from bidding. Currently a company can still pass if they pay 85% of invoices within 60 days and submit an action plan, and the Cabinet Office is continuing to take a phased approach with the threshold being “ratcheted up over time until it reaches 95%”.
On average, Build UK Contractor members now pay 94% of their invoices within 60 days, and the payment performance table shows the percentage of invoices paid within 60 days for more than 100 of the industry’s largest companies.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 28, 2021 | Main News Feed
Build UK has published an executive summary of the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline 2021/22 to help the industry understand recent Government announcements on the delivery of £31 billion of economic and social infrastructure procurements in this financial year.
With the Government aiming to build confidence in the industry to invest in innovation and develop capability, the summary provides a breakdown of the 418 public sector projects by sector, together with when they are anticipated to be awarded. It also includes an overview of planned and projected spend of up to £650 billion over the next 10 years to 2030/31.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 28, 2021 | Main News Feed, Skills
Chancellor, the Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, spoke about the absolute critical role of skills throughout his Budget speech on Wednesday afternoon. He stated: “Strengthening the skills of our people, the country’s greatest asset. That’s a real plan for growth. Higher skills lead to higher regional productivity and higher productivity leads to higher wages. With 80% of the UK’s 2030 workforce already in work, our future success depends not just on the schooling we give our children but the lifelong learning we offer to adults. We’ve already done a lot. Our Plan for Jobs invested in apprenticeships, traineeships, and the Kickstart scheme. But we need to go further. Today’s Budget invests in the most wide-ranging skills agenda this country has seen in decades. We’re increasing skills spending, over the Parliament by £3.8bn – an increase of 42%. We’re expanding T Levels, Building Institutes of Technology, Rolling out the Prime Minister’s lifetime skills guarantee, upgrading our FE college estate, quadrupling the number of places on our Skills Bootcamps and significantly increasing funding for apprenticeships.”
On Departmental spending, Sunak declared: “Today’s Budget increases total Departmental spending over this Parliament by £150bn. That’s the largest increase this century, with spending growing by 3.8% a year in real terms. As a result of this Spending Review, and contrary to speculation…there will be a real terms rise in overall spending for every single Department.”
The Treasury subsequently published its Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021. This reveals that: To boost wages and prospects for all, total spending on skills will increase over the Parliament; by £3.8 billion by 2024-25. This funding will quadruple the number of places on Skills Bootcamps, expand the Lifetime Skills Guarantee on free Level 3 qualifications, and improve numeracy skills through a new Multiply programme. There will be extra classroom hours for up to 100,000 T Level students.
Spending Review 2021 also confirms funding to open 20 Institutes of Technology and investment for improvements to the condition of post 16 estates; including more specialist equipment and facilities for T Levels. This will be funded through a £2.8 billion capital investment in skills. Apprenticeship’s funding will increase to £2.7 billion by 2024-25 – the first increase since 2019-20. The document cites the delivery of “apprenticeship system improvements for all employers”. These include:
- an enhanced recruitment service by May 2022 for SMEs helping them hire new apprentices.
- supporting flexible apprenticeship training models to ensure that apprenticeship training continues to meet the needs of employers.
By April 2022, the Government will consider changes to the provider payment profiles aimed at giving employers more choice over how the apprenticeship training is delivered and explore the streamlining of existing additional employer support payments so that they go directly to employers. Introducing a return on investment tool in October 2022 to ensure employers can see the benefits apprentices create in their business. Extending the 3k apprentice hiring incentive for employers until 31 January 2022.
Investing approximately £10 million a year over the Spending Review in the Sector Based Work Academy Programme. Funding for the Help to Grow schemes will help SMEs improve their productivity through world-class management, skills training, and support for digital adoption.
Sunak also announced funding to extend the Kickstart scheme to March 2022. The KickStart Gateway support programme will close in December 2021.
George Swann Skills and Training Lead said,
“This budget speech clearly indicates the governments drive to encourage investment in home grown talent when it’s known the sector needs competent workers now. The first qualified Interior Systems Installer apprentices will trickle through at the end of this year, but it will not be enough to fill the current vacancies as the apprenticeship training is an 18 month programme. Although individuals will be able to fast track if they complete a T-Level or Traineeship prior to finding employment. To have an impact the government are relying on employers taking on new entrants. It’s still a complicated system, but FIS can provide information, advise and guidance on all things skills, training, qualifications and funding”.
If you need help or just want to talk something through please call George on 07552 874838, Catherine on 07900 083325 or Marie on 07799 903103.
by Clair Mooney | Oct 28, 2021 | Main News Feed
There have been mixed reviews to yesterday’s Autumn budget and spending review, with Construction News referring to it as ‘something of a soggy souffle’. Responding Jeff May, Director of Government Relations and Business Development at the Construction Products Association (CPA) said:
“We think it is understandable that the focus of the Chancellor’s Budget today was on encouraging economic growth, fiscal discipline and resisting demands from the private sector for further expenditure, and rising inflation in all its forms triggering a vulnerability to interest rate rises.
“We were disappointed to see little help for major industrial users with energy costs, or any further financial details on net zero strategies. That said, we welcome a handful of relevant items in particular: the announcements of a 12-month relief on businesses rate hikes arising from premises investment, the cancellation of the planned increase to the business rates multiplier, and the extension of the uplift to the Annual Investment Allowance will go some way to supporting manufacturers while we seek to exit the pandemic in the short-term.
“Given the pre-Budget announcements around various net zero and related sustainability strategies, along with the release in September of the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline, the major elements of spending for our sector appear set. The key then, as always, will be delivery. If industry and government can work together and address the supply side risks in particular – labour and skills shortages, energy prices, logistics bottlenecks, for example – then the economic stimulus from our sector in support of this Budget will be considerable.”
FIS members can read the full CPA response here.
