At FIS we are keen to support this change, frankly it is why we exist – we are owned, effectively as a co-operative, by our community to help make the market better for you and get our members specified on jobs. In this work we are constantly asking ourselves and using our network to interrogate:
To this end and off the back of a growing and increasingly engaged membership, our Board have decided to invest in two new roles. The first focussed on the vetting and technical support provided by FIS and the second to look at the opportunity that the net zero and wider sustainability work presents in terms of driving early engagement and improving the reputation of the sector as a whole and specifically our membership as value driven businesses and leaders. This second role is on a contingent basis initially, but we hope with continued growth and support we will be able to develop the individual and the role into a permanent role. Initially we would be prepared to consider secondment options to test and support our views about the ongoing requirement.
Both of these roles will help us to develop resource and add to the collective wisdom – helping us not just to do, but to have the time to listen and improve our understanding of our community and ultimately the customers of our sector and will crucially adds weight to our ability to influence.
Please do share an pass on details to help FIS better support you. Together we are stronger.
Find out more about this role
Find out more about this role
As an employer it will be your responsibility to check that an individual has a right to work (this applies to both employed and contracted workers). You could face a civil penalty if you employ an illegal worker and have not carried out a correct right to work check. FIS has updated its Employment & Workforce Management Toolkit to give you access to the most up to date information. This includes access to a webinar, run in collaboration with the Association of Labour Providers and Stronger Together to help FIS members understand the responsibility and steps that must be taken to discharge this responsibility.
At the same time, it is vital that you consider Modern Slavery. A recent report by the Association of Labour Providers reflects that, despite Right to Work Checks being more onerous, the likely shortages and background means that new immigration rules are likely to have an adverse impact on Modern Slavery. Modern Slavery and Right to Work should not be confused, someone can have the Right to Work, but still be operating under coercion.
You can access the updated FIS Employment and Workforce Management Toolkit here
You can access the updated FIS Modern Slavery Toolkit here
You can access a recent recording of our webinar on Modern Slavery and Right to Work Checks here
FIS has become acutely aware of the growing issues within our supply chain regarding requirement, availability, and escalating cost of insurance (particularly professional indemnity), but also overall concern regarding support for our sector from the insurance industry. This has been widely reported across construction with the latest report from the Construction Leadership Council identifying that 55% of businesses responding had been unable to secure the level of cover that they wanted to buy.
FIS is exploring the possibility of developing a tailored, comprehensive, insurance solution aligned to the risk management principles identified in our FIS Product Process People Quality Framework that ultimately fairly prices risk and delivers value for money to our community. Through this process FIS intends to challenge the market by interrogating claims history and policy wording with a view to supporting a more structured and informed dialogue, address some of the trust issues that have built up and ultimately look at how we best share risk with the insurance sector.
Insurance is the ultimate trust based sector – premiums go up when trust goes down. Our remit from the Board is to challenge and, if necessary, disrupt and we are considering a number of potentially radical options, even the possibility of setting up a mutual insurance offering that ultimately would be owned by the industry.
We are not going to run before we can walk, but wanted to give you a bit of a heads up as to where this may go. Key to supporting change is information – it is critical now that we build on the anecdotal information members have shared and use hard stats to challenge and, if necessary, to disrupt insurance provision for our sector. So to this end please complete this short survey on insurance, even if you are perfectly happy with the support you are getting, we need a clear picture and the full range of views to understand scale and identify ground truths and ultimately support reform.
The survey is available here, should take no more than 5 minutes to complete and we are requesting responses by close of play on Thursday 27 May.
For more information on insurance, visit the FIS Business & Taxation Toolkit here
CPA has issued its latest weekly update, which is available to members here. The updated issues are in Pages 1-6 of the weekly update including:
Subsequent pages have existing construction data that remain relevant.
The CPA’s latest forecasts (Spring 2021) is available here.
The government has taken the next step to ensure materials used to build the nation’s homes are safe and tested properly, by announcing the appointment of two experts to lead an independent review of the system for testing construction products.
Paul Morrell OBE will be the chair of the independent panel, along with legal expert Anneliese Day QC. The review will examine how to strengthen the current system for testing construction products to provide confidence that these materials are safe and perform as marketed. The panel will engage with a wide range of stakeholders with a report published later this year with recommendations.
More information is available at www.gov.uk/government/news/independent-experts-to-review-safety-of-construction-materials
Today FIS hosted a webinar on covering the topics of Right to Work and Modern Slavery. Delegates were made aware that they are two very different and important subjects and should not be confused.
From July this year, in line with the new points based immigration system, all employers will be required to conduct right to work checks to ensure that their workforce is legal to work in the UK. Remember EU workers (excluding the Republic of Ireland) who have not applied through the settlement scheme by the 30 June will not be legal workers and this may have serious implications for your business. Beyond your legal responsibility to ensure someone is legal to work, it is also vital that we look for and ensure that our workforce is not exploiting individuals through modern slavery. The cost and implications of getting it wrong are serious.
FIS was joined by experts Pamela Zielinski, Construction Programme Manager from Stronger Together and Joanne Young a consultant for the Association of Labour Providers who discussed the risks and how to manage them. The presentations covered:
1. Right To Work offences and sanctions
2. The statutory excuse
3. Manual right to work checks
4. Online right to work checks
5. Impact of coronavirus on RTW checks
6. Routes to work in the UK
7. EU Workers – the grace period
8. Changes from June
9. Retrospective checks
10. How to identify Modern Slavery, what to do if you suspect and the risk of getting it wrong
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said these new laws “are the rocket fuel that we need to level up this country and ensure equal opportunities for all”. Education secretary Gavin Williamson added: “Through legislation, our vision is to transform the sector (Education and Training) and expand opportunity right across the country, so that more people can get the skills they need to get good jobs.”
The main benefits of the Skills Bill will be:
The hub provides information on sector careers, apprenticeships and funding, as well as access to e-learning, CPD and other training. It brings together details of courses specific to the finishes and interiors sector, making accessing and booking training quick and easy.
The results of the third cross-industry ‘People Survey’, carried out by Build UK on behalf of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) in April, have now been published. Providing an up to date snapshot of the ongoing impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the construction workforce, Maintaining Employment in Construction indicates that there will be a reduction of 1.2% in the size of the workforce by July. However, the number of apprentices employed is expected to increase by 2.7 % over the next three months, and the number of graduates taken on this September is expected to be 17% higher than last September.
Listed up front in the report the data highlights the following:
Commenting on the findings, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated:
“With this report it is important to look beyond the headlines, the data and summary provided reflects wider construction and it shows a fairly stable picture. When we look beyond the surface at the Specialist Contractors, it is a different story. Plans are to scale the workforce up by over 10% between July and April and that is going to be tough when we know that immigration is tight and we still have the unknown impact of the July Right to Work checks and the Settlement Scheme and travel opening up for people who may not have seen their family for months and be keen to extend their holidays. At FIS we remain concerned that labour is and will remain short. The apprentice numbers are encouraging, but a drop in the ocean for our sector where, even if the immigration system has no impact on the existing workforce, our domestic recruitment target doubles. We need to be conscious of this when planning and pricing work in the coming months and longer term there needs to be a huge cultural change in the way that we recruit and train across the UK.”
Download the results here
A half day Women in Construction event, hosted by the Department for International Trade Sweden, will be taking place on Wedneday 26 May to facilitate knowledge exchange, stimulate ideas and give UK and Swedish stakeholders’ insight into the two markets.
Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol will be a keynote speaker at the event, which will feature panel discussions with stakeholders from the UK and Sweden. Attendance at the virtual event is free and you can register online here.
A range of speakers, from the private sector, civil society and other organisations, will offer their perspectives on the markets, both in the UK and in Sweden. Together, the panellists will discuss their experiences and the challenges they face as women in their professions, in the office and on site. The speakers, from both Sweden and the UK, will give their unique insights into the differences and similarities in the two markets.
Following the latest easing of restrictions on 17 May, face‐to‐face teaching can resume at all schools, colleges and other further education settings. However, there has been no further guidance on resuming face‐to‐face training in the workplace, and companies should continue to determine if any training required can be undertaken remotely or is essential at this time, as they may be required to explain how they are complying with the current restrictions, which include working from home where possible.
The hub provides information on sector careers, apprenticeships and funding, as well as access to e-learning, CPD and other training. It brings together details of courses specific to the finishes and interiors sector, making accessing and booking training quick and easy.
FIS has this week launched a new Sustainability Toolkit to help the sector to take a pro-active lead as a supply chain in supporting the UK ambition and meeting legal requirements linked to UK Net Zero carbon commitments, but also to look more broadly at the ethical and environmental aspects of sustainability.
In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. With the The (Conference of the Parties) COP26 Summit taking place in the UK in November 2021, this year has been designated “The UK’s year or Climate Action”. With Construction accounting for 40% of UK Carbon Consumption, the construction industry is critical to supporting this commitment. In turn the Finishes and Interiors Sector representing around 11% of UK Construction and decisions and processes associated with the fit-out and finishing of buildings is estimated to account for 40% of energy in a building and hence has a big part to play in realising change. A recent manifesto published by Perkins & Will sets down a clear strategy to moving to zero carbon and identifies that the built environment is responsible for 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint and within this fit-out is responsible for 40% of energy in a building. A key figure to target improvement identified in this report is that 300 tonnes of fit-out material goes to landfill every day.
The Sustainability Toolkit is the first output of a new Sustainability Working Group (which is being developed in partnership with the Supply Chain Sustainability School) has been established within the FIS community to help inform activity and provide a platform to encourage collaboration through the FIS and with wider industry initiatives. The plan is to use this group of experts to set down a clear action plan for the sector and highlight key strategic relationships that can be developed through the FIS to support transformation. Initially focus is in 5 core areas:
FIS Chief Executive Iain McIlwee stated:
“Whilst many have not been hit by the full force of the Net Zero tidal wave that seems to be heading our way, it is absolutely dominating discussions around the transformation of construction. When you step back and look at the principles of sustainability, they sit very closely to everything FIS stands for. Beyond the obvious environmental considerations, the ingredients of change are value led change, resource efficiency, innovation and harnessing technology, productivity, quality, collaboration and ultimately early engagement and dialogue up and down the supply chain. We are really grateful to the members who have got stuck in to date and look forward to exploring the full potential of the race to Net Zero and a focus on fairness and inclusivity that will be a key to transforming our supply chain for the better”.
The FIS Sustainability Toolkit is available here
If you are interested in joining the working group or simply seeing the draft action plan email info@thefis.org or call FIS on 0121 707 0077
Next meeting of the FIS Sustainability Working Group is set for 3pm on the 27th May – the meeting will be virtual. If interested in attending, email info@thefis.org
At the FIS Board Meeting on 27 April, industry challenges related to shortages, transformation, evolution of FIS as a community and leadership were discussed. One key outcome was that Helen Tapper of Tapper Interiors and current serving President, was invited, and has agreed to extend her term of presidency for another year. As part of the process, Lydia Sharples, Encon Group has been nominated and has agreed to take on the role of Vice President.
Former Vice President Richard Jones remains committed to supporting the Board and will stand for re-election at the 2021 Board elections, but has opted to step aside to focus his energy on being an ordinary board member and managing growth within his own business Paramount Office Interiors.
FIS is a not-for-profit organisation that exists to support members, improve safety, minimise risk, enhance productivity and drive innovation in the sector. It is governed by an elected Board of Directors which sets policy and direction and provides oversight and scrutiny to the operation of the organisation. The FIS President and Vice President assume the duties of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board as well as representing the organisation when called upon. All Directors are nominated from the membership and serve as volunteers – they are supported by the FIS Executive Team.
Commenting on the announcement, Helen Tapper stated:
“COVID-19 has dominated our world in the past 18 months, but as the worst of the impact starts to recede, we need to ensure that we don’t let the lessons learned fade into the background and we continue to drive the transformation agenda.
“Just before the enormity of COVID gripped us, I focussed on the three steps to Rebuilding Construction, I will dedicate my remaining time as President to taking this work forward and ensuring that the finishes and interiors supply chain is exemplar and leading change when we look at fairness, quality, inclusivity and collaboration and that FIS Membership through our vetting process and ongoing work upholds these values and ensures members benefit from the value led change that is being talked about by Government and the Construction Leadership Council. I would also like to take this opportunity again to thank the FIS Board for the support they have given to me as President and the dedication of the FIS team for the daily help they give to my business. I am very proud of our community and it is a real honour to serve it”.
Lydia Sharples has served on the FIS Board since November 2019. She has over 20 years’ experience working within the building industry including brand leaders of drywall and insulation manufacturing and UK market leading distribution, much of which has been in marketing and communications. Having worked with various trade bodies over the years, Lydia fully understands the importance they can play in future development. Lydia commented:
“It is a real honour to step up to support Helen as Vice President of FIS and to get this vote of confidence from the Board. The last year has been exceptional and I have been very proud, not just to support FIS efforts through the Board, but to be a part of a community that has been so steadfastly committed to its values. The FIS team have given all their energy to help members adapt and confront some of the most exacting times we will (hopefully) ever encounter. Helen has been an inspirational and supportive leader over this period and for me it is great news, at the request of myself and our fellow Board members, that she has agreed to stand for election as President for another year. Enabling her to have the time and the opportunity to deliver the clear vision of change she has and we as a Board share – exciting times ahead for our community.”
All members are invited to consider nominating themselves to join the Board. By joining, you have the chance to use your knowledge and experience in the finishes and interiors sector to influence the direction of the Association and support our mission to improve safety and quality, minimise risk, enhance productivity and drive innovation in the sector, ultimately ensuring that membership and guidance are reflected in all relevant specifications.
Reaching out to the wider membership Helen Tapper called on individuals from member companies to get involved:
“The Board is key to ensuring FIS delivers for our community and ensuring our activity is aligned to your needs. I am particularly keen to use my last 12 months as President to encourage new applicants for the board from all sections of the membership, however big or small their companies. We need the next generation to be coming through and I can promise you that the Board is an open, progressive and inclusive group – fresh views, challenging the status quo and your unique insight will be welcome and valued. We know many are reticent to come forward as they are caught up in the ‘day to day’ particularly in the smaller businesses. Like any commitment, joining the FIS Board it is not without challenge, but it is rewarding, allows your voice to be heard and, with modern methods of communication, it has never been easier to engage and support the leadership of our association.”
If you are interested in considering standing in the 2021 elections, contact iainmcilwee@thefis.org for more information.
This information is for general background knowledge concerning government’s proposals with Building a Safer Future. Subject to parliamentary scrutiny government proposes to bring the changes into effect from 1 August 2021.
Responding to the announcement FIS Technical Director Joe Cilia stated: “FIS has supported the development of the Building Safety Bill and the Building a Safer Future work that preceded it –we are fully behind these changes, supportive of the approach and encouraged that finally things are progressing to implementation. As with any change there will be some wrinkles, but it is vital that, as a sector we use this regulatory change to drive the ongoing cultural reform that we know construction needs. If members have any comments or questions that they want us to consider and feed in or around how these changes are likely to impact their work, don’t hesitate to get in touch”.
Building safety: Planning Gateway One
Following its consultation in June 2019 on proposals for reform of the building safety regulatory system, the government’s response published in April 2020 set out their plans for change. This involved the introduction of three gateway points which relevant developments / buildings must go through. Currently, relevant buildings are those which are 18m or higher or 7 or more storeys, whichever is reached first, and contain two or more dwellings or educational accommodation.
This has to demonstrate that the planning application incorporates thinking on fire safety.
A building control application will be required, so this gateway provides a hard stop where construction cannot begin until the Building safety Regulator has approved the building control application.
Provides a hard stop at which the Building Safety Regulator undertakes final inspections and issues a completion certificate. Prescribed documents and information on the as-built building will be required. Information must be handed over to the person9s) responsible for the building in use.
More information on Gateway one
This has two elements:
These requirements will be introduced via secondary legislation.
The fire statement must be submitted on a form published by the Secretary of State – see attachment for a draft fire statement form. (Click here view draft fire statement guidance). The questions to be answered will include information on:
Fire statements will be required to include information on the entire development site as set out on the plan which identifies the land to which the application relates.
How are the fire statements different from the requirements of building regulations or the Fire Safety Order?
The fire safety matters contained in a fire statement are relevant only to the extent they are relevant to land use planning. The level of detail and focus of information should not contain the breadth and depth of information on fire safety which will be submitted at building control application stage. Requirements of the fire statement at planning stage will not duplicate or require compliance with the building regulations or the Fire safety Order and local planning authorities will not be responsible for any building regulation matters or the enforcement of building control requirements.
Change of use applications
Applications for permission for a material change of use of land or buildings will require a fire statement unless the application is for:
Consultation between local planning authorities and HSE
A local planning authority is required to consult HSE before granting planning permission for:
A local planning authority must consult HSE on fire safety before granting permission to develop land without compliance with conditions if the authority considers it appropriate to do so.
For more information on Planning gateway one please click here.
The CROSS scheme (Collaborative Reporting for Safer Structures) has extended its remit to include reporting on fire safety, in line with the Hackitt Review Recommendation 1.4 CROSS provides a secure system for confidentially sharing information and publishes free resources to help make structures safer.
This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week. Research by CITB has shown that almost all construction workers have experienced stress in the last year, and more than a quarter have experienced suicidal thoughts. FIS reported on the growing concerns for mental health on 29 January 2021 emphasising the training and support available for FIS members.
The focus for this week to improve and support good mental health is being close to nature, it won’t cure all problems, but it can help put things in perspective, take the pressure off and bring calm to daily lives. Even just looking at wildlife, trees and plants from a window can help, although a walk exposes our senses to more of the nature around us.
CITB has published a story from Andy Stevens, a self-employed builder who hit rock bottom but who has since recovered “This has to stop. Too many people are struggling, I hope my story can help.” You may find some parts of his powerful story familiar from your own experiences or those of colleagues.
Please take the time to find out about free help for you and those you work with, detailed below.
While the largest employers might offer support to workers, smaller companies and sole traders may not know how to access free assistance that’s available. CITB is funding an initiative to help resolve this by providing accessible and consistent mental health support for everyone working in construction, including a standardised approach across the industry. They also fund The Lighthouse Club charity to provide support, which has trained nearly 5,000 mental health first aiders in the construction sector who have helped around 6,300 people so far.
The Lighthouse Club delivers charitable, financial and emotional support to the construction industry. If you would like to apply for financial or wellbeing support you can either call their 24/7 confidential Construction Industry Helpline on 0345 605 1956 in the UK, and 1800 939 122 in Ireland, download the helpline app (External link – Opens in a new tab or window), or submit your application online here (External link – Opens in a new tab or window).
If you feel your organisation needs to train and qualify someone with skills to support you employees FIS will be happy to assist, give us a call on 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org.
Are you an employer who could provide a T Level industry placement relating to design, surveying and planning for construction, or digital production, design and development?
In September 2020, the Department for Education launched the first three T Level qualifications, designed to equip young people with the technical skills on which to build their future careers. To achieve a T Level pass every student has to complete a substantial Industry Placement with a local employer as part of their course. The Covid-19 pandemic has placed additional pressure on colleges and other training providers in sourcing enough Industry Placements for their students.
You will find some background about T Levels below, along with links to further information, to help you decide if your organisation can get involved by offering students a good quality Industry Placement. As well as providing a young person with their first step into the world of work, it could be your first step to engaging with fresh new talent.
T-Levels are new courses which follow GCSEs and are equivalent to 3 A levels. These 2-year courses, which launched September 2020, are for 16 to 19 year olds and have been developed in collaboration with employers and businesses so that the content meets the needs of industry and prepares students for work, further training or study. T-Levels offer students a mixture of classroom learning and ‘on-the-job’ experience during an industry placement of at least 45 days. Most of the learning will take place in the classroom which makes them different from an Apprenticeship. The placement can take place as a block, day release or a mix of these. There are currently two Construction T-Levels:
Design, surveying and planning for construction (available now) the course offers a core knowledge of how the construction industry works, the principles of design and the role of technology and sustainability. Students then have the chance to specialise in either Building services design, Civil engineering, Hazardous materials analysis or surveying. Eight colleges are currently delivering this programme across England and they are seeking industrial placements for 67 students. If you are an employer interested in taking on an industrial placement please complete the form at https://www.tlevels.gov.uk/employers/next-steps or call 08000 150 600 (choose option 4).
Onsite construction (starting September 2021) learners will have the option to cover at least one trade from a choice of bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, painting and decorating or plastering. FIS are seeking support to develop an occupational specialism in interior systems installation.
There are a number of progression options open to students. These include skilled employment, an apprenticeship and higher education. UCAS points are attached to the overall T-Level achievement grade.
Coming back to work after time away during the pandemic may have its challenges. If workers have been away from the business for prolonged periods they may have experienced a decline in ability or proficiency. They may need additional time and support to get back to pre-pandemic performance.
Businesses also need to be aware of regulatory changes, and a recent change to UK conformity marking has promoted FIS and Guild of Architectural Ironmongers (GAI) to update its joint guide “How Business Owners Can Use Partitioning and Ironmongery to Help Manage Social Distancing”,.
Developed to help those involved in managing workplaces understand key considerations they need to make when adapting their spaces, it provides guidance on using partitioning and ironmongery to manage social distancing in the workplace.
Originally published in November last year, it has been updated to cover the changes to UK conformity marking post-Brexit. UKCA and UKNI marking have been introduced as CE marking will cease to be used in Great Britain from 1 January 2022.
It also includes a list of the relevant EN Harmonised and UK Designated standards that are relevant to partitioning, doors and architectural ironmongery and a summary of product marking sales territories to show where UKCA, UKNI and CE marking can be used going forward.
Joe Cilia, technical director of FIS, said: ‘Dividing spaces, even on a temporary basis may have implications on escape routes and safety depending on how they are installed and as good ventilation has been shown to help reduce the incidence of Covid 19 infection, the advice in this free guide is important and relevant.
Douglas Masterson, technical manager of the GAI, said: “It is critical that business owners and those responsible for property maintenance are aware of the changes and how this impacts the architectural ironmongery they choose for their workplaces. Businesses will need to continue to be responsive to Government advice but the new information in the guide will help them to identify opportunities for business owners to make sensible product choices now, that will offer them compliant solutions longer term.”
The guide can be downloaded here.
The HSE has also created guidance on returning to work, which aims to help support businesses in engaging with their workforce and provide the right support. It includes:
• Who should go to work?
• Returning to work after a lockdown or other closure
• How to help workers who are worried about returning to work
• Questions to help talk about working at home or returning to work
More information on keeping your workplace safe as coronavirus restrictions are eased is available on the HSE website.
For more Health amd Safety information visit the FIS Health and Safey Hub www.thefis.org/knowledge-hub/healthandsafety/
The Queen’s Speech marks the start of the Parliamentary year, it is delivered by the Queen, but written by Ministers and identifies priorities in terms of laws that it wants to pass through the house and vote on this year. This year the Government has identified 31 bills that MPs and peers will be asked to scrutinise and vote on over the next year. Inclusion in the Speech doesn’t necessarily mean it will automatically become law, but the Government has a strong majority and through the Parliamentary process these bills will be scrutinised and adapted.
The themes in the speech reaffirm commitments to build back better, cleaner and greener with Net Zero Strategy central, seizing opportunity from exiting the EU, driving investment and levelling up with a view to strengthening the Union.
Below we look at the areas that will have the most significant impact on businesses in the construction industry and the finishes and interiors sector.
Planning bill
This has been billed as the biggest shake-up of the planning system in decades. Whilst we have heard this statement by successive Governments, the bill does mark a fairly fundamental change as under proposals local planning authorities would no longer have the powers to turn down housing developments if they meet set standards. The Bill also forces local authorities to set new zones for housing. This Bill is already getting opposition from within the Conservative Party, so is by no means a done deal yet.
Skills and Post-16 Education Bill
The Government is planning landmark reforms for the delivery of skills and training with a focus on ensuring that people can train and retrain at any stage in their lives. Central to the Bill is introducing a right to government-funded training for all adults lacking A-levels or a qualificaion of equivalent value. The Bill will also extend the student loan system to those who want to study at local further education colleges. All adults will be entitled to four years’ worth of loans for training or education that can be taken at any point in their life.
Building Safety Bill
Government continues to press ahead with reshaping the regulation and enforcement that impacts building safety, this includes changes to the Building Regulations, new regulators and particular scrutiny on the safety of high-rise buildings and inspections of buildings under construction in the wake of the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster.
Environment Bill
Provides a regulatory framework to impose, adapt and absorb elements previously covered under EU directives. The Bill allows Government to set legally binding targets, restore nature and biodiversity, tackle air pollution, establish an independent Office for Environmental Protection, cut plastic use and includes particular reference to “revolutionising” how we recycle.
Subsidy control bill
State Aid rules are no longer Governed by the EU (although are referenced in the Trade Agreement). This Bill will enable Government to write legislation to establish a state aid regime in the UK that helps to accelerate recovery.
An independent body will be established to help government ensure intervention reflects strategic interests and National circumstances without breaching the terms of the trade and co-operation agreement with the EU.
Freeports bill
Again aimed at driving investment and regeneration at the same time as supporting trade, this Bill will allow Government to establish the legal framework for initially eight freeports: Teesside, London Gateway, Liverpool City Region, Humber, Felixstowe, Southampton, Plymouth and East Midlands airport. Discussions continue between the UK Government and the devolved administrations to ensure the delivery of further Freeports in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as soon as possible.
Businesses within Freeport areas will benefit from more generous tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures and wider Government support.
Procurement bill
This Bill is designed to consolidate and streamline the 350 plus EU derived regulations and make our procurement regime quicker, simpler and easier to use, allowing more freedom for suppliers and the public sector to innovate and work in partnership with the private sector. The Bill crystalises that “social value” must be considered a factor in the picking of suppliers (in keeping with the philosophy of the Construction Playbook).
Professional qualifications bill
Provides a new bespoke framework for the UK to recognise professional qualifications from across the world to ensure employers can access professionals where there are UK shortages. Whilst targeting the need to help fill skill shortages after Brexit, it is unlikely to have much impact on trade operative end of construction, but is more targeted at occupations like medicine and teaching, and will provide some freedom in the Engineering, Architectural and Surveying end of the market.
Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill
This is likely to drive investment as the Government focusses on making the UK a global science superpower by developing our Life Sciences sector to attract the best people and businesses from across the world, increasing public expenditure on research and development to £22 billion; and creating the Advanced Research and Invention Agency focused on funding highrisk, high-reward research and development.
Registration of Overseas Entities Bill
It is clear that International Investment will be critical to support growth, but more control is required. This Bill is about transparency and ensuring foreign owners of UK property are no longer able to conceal their identity: a register of beneficial ownership will be set up to crack down on tax evasion.
The Speech also highlights a number of Funds designed to support investment in change these include:
Future Fund: Breakthrough
The £375 million, UK-wide ‘Future Fund: Breakthrough’ scheme will target innovative, R&D-intensive firms and provide them with the capital they need to grow and succeed.
Levelling Up Fund
The £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in infrastructure that improves everyday life across the UK, including regenerating town centre and high streets, upgrading local transport, and investing in cultural and heritage assets.
UK Community Renewal Fund/ UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF)
The £220 million UK-wide Community Renewal Fund will provide funding for local areas across the UK in 2021-22 to help them prepare for the introduction of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, in addition to the continued high level of funding from EU structural funds.
Towns Fund
Through the Towns Fund the Government has confirmed a £1 billion investment in 45 Town Deals across England, which will help local areas to grow their economies, create and sustain local jobs whilst encouraging opportunities to reshape the look and feel of their area.
National Skills Fund
The Government is investing significant amounts into further education – £1.5 billion to improve our college estate; £2.5 billion (£3 billion when including Barnett funding for devolved administrations) in the National Skills Fund; and £650 million extra into 16-19 further education
Commenting on the speech, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated: “As expected, this is a Queens Speech packed full of optimism, all about a fresh start outside the EU and building back after COVID. The focus on Skills is particularly encouraging – we now need to ensure that construction is a key beneficiary of this. The Planning reform is also a good sign of a Government recognition that construction activity is key to growth and hampered by red tape and nymbyism, but I suspect it will be a while before the sector sees the full benefit of this reform as it meets opposition in the House. My sincere hope is that the Building Safety Bill is passed this side of the summer recess so we can crack on with the much needed reform that it heralds.”
Speaking at today’s virtual Business 7 Summit (or ‘B7’), which welcomes around 60 CEO’s from leading UK and global companies across the G7 countries, and feeds into the G7 Summit programme, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Kwasi Kwarteng, recognised the construction industry’s contribution to achieving Net Zero.
In remarks to the concluding session, which aimed to identify how government and business can work together to address global challenges in climate, digital and health, the Secretary of State set out his priorities and views on business leadership, highlighting that over 58 UK construction businesses have already signed-up to Race to Zero, including firms such as Lendlease and Multiplex.
The Secretary of State also highlighted the UK’s leading consultancy businesses working in the built environment, who have today collectively committed to offering ambitious design options and advice that are fully compatible with Net Zero outcomes to their clients. This means that the expert advice received by financiers, asset owners and operators will now be encouraging, and actively driving towards, ambitious Net Zero choices.
These firms are respected around the globe for their expertise and include AECOM, Arcadis, Arup, Atkins, Buro Happold, Jacobs, Mott MacDonald, Mace, Turner & Townsend and WSP.
Kwasi Kwarteng said: “The UK’s construction and engineering industries are leading the world in the drive to cut emissions, and I am thrilled to see so many businesses from all over the globe share this ambition.
“As we build back better, the commitments made at this summit will support the construction industry to make this essential low carbon transition and I look forward to working closely with the sector and the Construction Leadership Council on this journey.”
iain McIlwee, FIS Chief Executive said: “Net Zero is fast emerging as the most talked about subject in construction, rightly driven by an understanding we need to be better and a Build Back Greener mindset from Government. Beyond growing understanding of environmental impact, we are living through a time when material supply is short and global supply chains fractured – we are being forced to confront and consider carefully everything we use, make sure we avoid waste by getting it right first time and ultimately how we can reuse and reinvent to prevent waste.
Recognition from the Secretary of State in terms of the work done so far is encouraging and I am encouraged by the CO2nstruct Zero work of the CLC, but to hit the targets being talked about we need a monumental supply chain shift in terms of the way we design, procure, construct and manage buildings.
For me Net Zero starts, as with every element of improvement in construction, with early engagement and genuine attempts to manage risk through collaboration. Let’s be clear being unsustainable is another risk, one that crystalises when the supply chain is not engaged with and informing the design, site planning and communicates effectively about how we can be better together, rather than simply contractualises the problem. Our new sustainability working group is focussing on five key areas; informing design, encouraging better material and asset management, increasing knowledge and understanding within the supply chain, setting targets and standardisation in monitoring and measuring, providing a collaborative support network and highlighting individuals and approaches that help inspire and inform change. As a first step we have updated our Sustainability Toolkit and we are calling on any member interested in supporting us in this work to join our new working group.”
You can access the upgraded FIS Sustainability Toolkit here
Hannah Vickers, chief executive of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering (ACE) and CO2nstructZero lead at the CLC said: “I’m delighted to see ACE members among those demonstrating the leadership required if our industry is to play its part in helping society to meet its ambitious Net Zero targets.
“The UK’s leading global consultancy businesses are well advanced in achieving Net Zero on their direct emissions. In order to deliver significant reductions to society’s carbon emissions, these firms are now also committing to proactively shaping their clients’ decisions and approach. This means that more projects will start out with Net Zero at their core, delivering a positive knock-on effect along the entire construction supply chain.”
Now that the UK has left the European Union, freedom of movement of people no longer applies and a new points based system has been implemented to manage immigration. There are a number of actions that employers are recommended to undertake.
The Home Office has now confirmed that changes to the Right to Work checks that were introduced as a temporary measure in response to the coronavirus panedemic will now end on 20 June (not Sunday 16 May as originally planned).
Whilst employers are currently able to conduct checks via video calls and use scanned copies rather than original documents, from 21 June 2021 they must either:
• check the applicant’s original documents, or
• check the applicant’s right to work online using their share code.
Within this there are two groups to consider, those who will have a right to work through the settlement scheme (those resident before 31 December 2020) and those relying on a visa (i.e. individuals newly arriving from the 1 January 2021). Note Irish citizens, based on historic agreement that pre-dates UK – EU arrangements, retain a right to work in the UK and are not subjected to the new rules detailed below.
It has been confirmed that employers will not need to carry out retrospective checks on employees verified between 30 March 2020 and 21 June 2021.
See the Latest Government Guidance on Right to Work checks here
You can access guidance on Hiring Overseas Workers in the FIS Employment and Workforce Management Toolkit here
Build UK has produced a flowchart to help members through the process of employing a foreign worker. The flowchart covers the EU Settlement Scheme, which closes for applications on 30 June 2021, the Points‐Based Immigration System and the Skilled Worker Visa, which is required from 1 July 2021, and provides links to further guidance on a particular area if required.
On 20 May, FIS will be joined by experts who will provide guidance on the right to work checks to ensure that your workforce is legal to work in the UK. Employing EU workers (excluding the Republic of Ireland) who have not applied through the settlement scheme by the 30 June will not be legal workers and this may have serious implications for your business.
