Clair Mooney

Parallel trade between the UK and the EEA

by Clair Mooney | 29 Sep, 2021 | Main News Feed

On 29 September 2021, the UK government updated its information on Parallel Trade Between the UK and the EEA with regards to Intellectual Property. This can be viewed here.

The IP rights in goods placed on the UK market by, or with the consent of the right holder after the transition period may no longer be considered exhausted in the EEA. This means that businesses parallel exporting these IP-protected goods from the UK to the EEA might need the right holder’s consent.

The IP rights in goods placed on the EEA market by, or with the consent of the right holder after the transition period will continue to be considered exhausted in the UK. This means that parallel imports into the UK from the EEA will be unaffected.

The UK government is currently considering what the UK’s future IP exhaustion regime should be. The government ran a consultation for 12 weeks from June to August 2021 and is now carefully considering consultation responses. Once the analysis of consultation responses is complete, the government will make a decision and choose the option which best serves the UK economy, the UK public and the UK as a whole. We are aware that many businesses and consumers are interested on this matter so when that decision is made, we will work as quickly as possible to make an announcement.

Apprenticeship support and recruitment

by Clair Mooney | 25 Sep, 2021 | Labour, Skills

We need an extra 217,000 workers over the next five years to ensure construction can continue to thrive and apprenticeships will help futureproof the industry and provide an excellent route to secure a skilled, diverse future workforce.

There are a number of schemes that are supported by Levy and are free to access, and with your involvement will help bring new talent into the industry.

Here you can find out the support available from CITB and the UK Government to take on an apprentice.

Cooperating to insure our future

by Clair Mooney | 24 Sep, 2021 | Insurance

FIS has been listening to its members who have felt increasingly frustrated by the lack of real support from the insurance industry, as appetite has become restricted and where cover is available it is universally increased and, in some circumstances, it has become uncommercial and very difficult to place.

In a survey conducted by FIS at the start of the summer it was identified that around 90% of members have experienced rising insurance costs over the past three years. Further that, over half of the respondents had experienced difficulty in securing insurance and 60% of respondents believe that the price of insurance is now a problem to their business. Key concerns raised through our research were a need to switch to aggregate cover in order to get any insurance at all and having to deal with onerous endorsements within Professional Indemnity Insurance that prohibited certain key tasks, curtailing those jobs that our membership could take on.

This cannot continue; in reaction to these findings and further dialogue with our members, FIS has reviewed the options and is planning further intervention including setting up a new facility to broker insurance for members. The aim is to establish FIS Insurance Services (FIiNIS) as ‘cooperative’ insurance brokerage and risk management advisory service. The brokerage will be run in partnership with Construction Shield and will support FIS in advising on and of providing insurance-related services.

Commenting on the announcement FIS CEO Iain McIlwee stated:

“We keep coming back to the realisation that there is a fundamental breakdown in the way that we are engaging with the insurance sector. This needs to start with a clearer understanding of the risks, interrogating claims data and looking to support an ongoing improvement in quality and risk management. This isn’t just about cheaper cover, but about transparency and a new and holistic approach to risk management that will help us support individual members and sectoral change.

Through this open brokerage approach, built around the FIS PPP Quality Framework, our aim is to establish a new relationship with the insurance sector, separating legacy from future works and targeting better provision built around the needs and risks of our sector. By doing this as a co-operative we can share the upside back with those companies that are effectively managing the risks.

In time it is an aspiration to look at the potential to evolve this co-operative approach to the natural progression of becoming an insurance mutual – we are a vast industry and taking a position in our own risk makes a lot of sense.”

Over the next few months, FIS Insurance partner Construction Shield will be reaching out to members, helping to analyse the cover they have and vitally don’t have with a view to offering tailored and targeted packages exclusively to companies signed up to the FIS Ongoing Vetting Process.

James Reid, Chief Executive at Construction Shield said:

We are delighted to be in partnership with the FIS on this project to help re-address the balance between genuine risk management and risk transfer. It is clear that the FIS leadership have heard and reacted to the voice of its membership and it is for the membership to now join together strategically to put the buyers of insurance in a stronger and more stable bargaining position in a hardening ‘traditional’ insurance market. With genuine risk management, the championing of best practise and greater understanding of activities there is no reason why insurers and insureds alike cannot come to a commercial sensible compromise between the availability of cover and the cost of proper risk transfer. We, like FIS, are excited to be able to build this meaningful project together for the benefit of its membership.

Attracting new entrants with Construction STEM Ambassadors

by Clair Mooney | 24 Sep, 2021 | Skills

FIS has established a network of FIS Construction STEM Ambassadors to help expose young people the wide range of opportunities available in our sector. We have linked up with STEM Construction and the Built Environment Ambassadors programme to ensure our network is supported by their resources and training and taps in to a wide range of activities which includes school presentations, careers talks and mentoring.

There are around 700,000 annual school leavers, so we need an army of ambassadors to get to all of them!! The CLC’s Industry Skills Plan includes a commitment to recruit 7,000 Construction STEM Ambassadors, as FIS represents around 10% of the sector, to do our share of the lifting we need 700.

The STEM Ambassador programme provides vital training, tools and support – giving you confidence that the message is right and we are working (and learning) consistently as a sector. Becoming an ambassador will also plug you in to the STEM network and will open up opportunities to visit schools and careers fairs (you need to commit to doing at least two of these a year as part of your pledge).

At FIS we are here to help and have members of our team who have completed the training and are actively working as ambassadors, we are maintaining a network of ambassadors and are using this network to better understand how to target our approach and to develop the resources they need to get the message across.

Anyone working in the sector can be a STEM ambassador, from people who have just completed an apprenticeship through to the CEO/Owner. We need to represent all roles and opportunities available and really this can be anyone working in your business with a passion for our industry who can get this message across and wants to help spread the word (and build your links with local schools and colleges).

FIS who members who want to understand get cracking simply need to sign up online to become STEM Ambassador and advise marieflinter@thefis.org that you have started your journey.

Further information on how to get involved can be found in this short film. If you like to have a chat about what is involved before committing please call Marie Flinter at FIS on 0121 707 0077 or email marieflinter@thefis.org and we will be happy to help.

CPA publishes Code for Construction Product Information

by Clair Mooney | 24 Sep, 2021 | Building Safety Act, Technical

The Construction Products Association (CPA) has published the Code for Construction Product Information to ensure that reliable and consistent product information is provided by manufacturers.

Developed in response to the recommendations made in Dame Judith Hackitt’s Building a Safer Future report, the code sets the industry benchmark for how product information is presented and marketed so that it is clear, accurate, up‐to‐date, accessible and unambiguous. It contains 11 clauses including transparency of information on performance and proof of stated claims, and manufacturers can now register their interest in being verified against the code later this year. Guidance has been published to assist with the verification process.

Code for Construction Product Information

Access our webinar here

Building Safety Bill progress

by Clair Mooney | 24 Sep, 2021 | Building Safety Act

The Building Safety Bill is being debated in Parliament after MPs tabled dozens of amendments, including one which would ensure that all owners of residential units in higher‐risk buildings are classed as ‘relevant persons’ and therefore required to be supported by the regulator. The original definition of ‘relevant persons’ proposed in Part 4 of the Bill included only residents, building safety managers and duty holders. Other amendments would allow the recovery of VAT on building safety remedial works paid since 14 June 2017 and extend the period for claims under both the Defective Premises Act and the Building Act from 15 to 25 years.

FIS has prepared a summary of the Building Safety Bill here.

The Government has published a series of factsheets to help stakeholders understand the new requirements set out in the Bill. Of particular interest to members will be those covering Dutyholders and Industry Competence which outline the responsibilities of dutyholders under the new regime.

Get early access to the Construction Manufacturers’ Marketing Index

by Clair Mooney | 21 Sep, 2021 | Market data

NBS & Glenigan are working on some brand new research to create the Construction Manufacturers’ Marketing Index – to find out how manufacturers are marketing their construction products.

These unique findings will provide an essential tool for the construction industry to see holistically how marketing is applied, how digitised the approach is and how manufacturers marketing strategy and activity compares. For those manufacturers that take part they will get early access to the survey results so they can use it for their 2022 marketing planning.

The survey covers the following key topics the survey covers:

Manufacturers approach to marketing
Manufacturers current activity
Marketing within construction
Manufacturers future marketing activity

To take part in the survey, and gain early access to the results, submit your response at www.thenbs.com/marketing-index-2021 Closing date: 24 octobber 2021

Talentview Construction launches to construction employers

by Clair Mooney | 21 Sep, 2021 | Skills

In the face of long-term skills shortages, employers are being urged to sign up to Talentview Construction, a new dedicated online platform for those looking to secure their first role in construction, which is now live.

Launched on 21 September, Talentview Construction is completely free to use platform which helps candidates to browse a variety of opportunities by signing up to alerts for job and training opportunities and building their own online profile so employers can find them more easily.

Employers are encouraged to list all their opportunities for new entrants, including apprenticeships and work experience, on the platform. Talentview will sit alongside the Construction Talent Retention Scheme providing a ‘one‐stop shop’ for the recruitment and retention of skills across the industry, and you can watch the recent CLC webinar which outlines how the platform works and the steps to sign up.

With more than 600 relevant apprenticeship vacancies already listed and construction colleges around the country preparing to bring candidates on board, employers can register with TVC and use the scheme to promote their range of early careers opportunities.

Even without the growth of ‘green jobs’, it is estimated that the construction industry needs to recruit more than 217,000 new workers between now and 2025 to support its current activity, including the development of exciting new careers in digitalisation and sustainability[i].

Talentview Construction makes it easier for those searching for such a career in construction to join, taking advantage of an exciting array of opportunities, given the sector’s role at the heart of the UK’s economic recovery. Construction already employs about three million people, providing multiple career paths through the sector.

Mark Reynolds, Group CEO of Mace Group and the Construction Leadership Council’s lead on skills, says:

“More than ever, the industry needs a strong pipeline of talent. Talentview Construction is a window on the industry for all those wishing to enter construction as new entrants and career changers. We must make it easier for people to join our sector to support growth and to improve our levels of diversity – but to do so everyone needs to do more to recruit openly and make flexible opportunities accessible through schemes like this.

“This is exactly what so many businesses have been crying out for, helping them tackle skills shortages and gear up for future growth. Initiatives such as Talentview Construction – part of the Construction Talent Retention Scheme – have the potential to dramatically improve our industry, but we all need to get behind it if it is to be a success.”

Talentview Construction will enable candidates to browse opportunities by signing up to alerts for job and training opportunities, get advice on construction job roles and the best routes into the industry, and build their own online profile so employers can find them.

Employers can use it to showcase their business to talented new recruits on the TVC site, and upload all their early career vacancies, including traineeships, apprenticeships and graduate jobs. They can also search for suitable candidates and directly contact students and apprentices, as well as connecting more closely with schools, universities and construction colleges.

Talentview Construction is the newest offering from the Construction Talent Retention Scheme (CTRS) which was established by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Construction Leadership Council last summer.

Together with complementary sites like CITB’s Go Construct, TVC and CTRS help to create a ‘one stop shop’ sector talent hub for the attraction, development and retention of people and skills within construction and the built environment, as part of the Government’s broader support to business on skills.

The free-to-use site launches on 21 September, supported by a national media campaign to engage young people and other new entrants considering apprenticeships for next year, as well as graduate roles and other ways into the industry.

Employers can sign up at https://talentview.org/construction or contact Christian Warden on 07903 701503 for a demonstration of the new scheme.

https://www.citb.co.uk/about-citb/news-events-and-blogs/britain-builds-back-construction-will-need-216-800-new-workers-by-2025-to-meet-demand/

Changes to Occupational Work Supervision NVQ structure and CSCS cards

by Clair Mooney | 20 Sep, 2021 | Skills

Following consultation with industry the National Working Group (NWG) for Occupational Work Supervision (OWS) has confirmed the removal of the endorsement list and redefined the pre-entry requirements for the OWS N/SVQ.

This means that CSCS no longer require applicants applying for the Supervisory Gold card with an OWS N/SVQ to submit additional evidence demonstrating competence in their occupation.

Applicants need only to provide evidence of their OWS N/SVQ and to have passed the Specialist Supervisor level CITB Health, Safety and Environment test within the last two years.

The announcement from the National Working Group also means that CSCS will stop printing the occupational endorsement on the reverse of the card for any new card applications received from 1 October 2021.

Garry Mortimer, Operations Manager at CSCS said:

“CSCS supports the findings of the National Working Group. The removal of the endorsement will simplify the card application process for our applicants.”

The NWG accepts that it is the responsibility of all employers to ensure that their supervisors are competent to carry out their duties. The NWG for OWS has approved any of the following entry requirements for those taking the OWS NVQ or SVQ:

the individual’s occupational industry experience prior to being registered for the Occupational Work Supervision qualification
the individual’s ability and experience in supervising teams
the individual is occupationally competent to at least level 2 or SCQF level 5 in construction

Awarding Organisations must ensure that candidates provide evidence to demonstrate relevant verifiable experience. This evidence must be verified prior to being registered for the OWS N/SVQ and should meet the following criteria:

The candidate provides evidence to demonstrate relevant verifiable experience and competence in their occupational area for example: qualification to N/SVQ Level 2 or SCQF Level 5, or
A letter from the employer confirming the candidate’s suitability and a professional discussion or portfolio evidence of previous experience.

Garry Mortimer continued:

“To ensure safety on site, it is vital that the Awarding Organisations verify candidates’ evidence before approving their entry onto the N/SVQ.

“Similarly, employers have a duty to not only check the CSCS card thoroughly to ensure the holder has achieved the OWS NVQ, but to ensure that their supervisors are competent to carry out their duties.”

You can find out more about applying for a CSCS card with the Occupational Work Supervision NVQ here or via the OWS FAQ section.

BuildBack in action

by Clair Mooney | 17 Sep, 2021 | Labour, Main News Feed, Skills

Watch to see how BuildBack can benefit your business and the progamme in action

FIS went behind the scenes at Sandwell College to film candidates in action on its BuildBack training programme, which covers the skills and competencies required for installing drylining.

The programme aims to get individuals site ready and aware of the health and safety requirements of being on site, before being placed on two-weeks work experience.

FIS also hosted a webinar to explain how BuildBack offers support for employers who are experiencing labour shortages. The emphasis is on this being of no direct financial cost to employers. You can watch this here and find out how BuildBack can benefit your business.

BuildBack has candidates ready for work placement, so if you have any opportunities to help them get started in our sector, email info@thefis.org and FIS can do the rest.

Background on BuildBack

BuildBack is an standardised recruitment and induction programme for those looking to start a career in drylining. Run by FIS and funded by CITB – it has been developed to help find the next generation of dryliners. The programme recruits and assesses candidates before putting them through two weeks of introduction training in the skills and competencies required for installing drylining, followed by a two-week work placement on-site with a local employer.

To register as an employer and offer BuildBack candidates work placements, or are interested in starting a career in drylining email info@thefis.org or telephone 0121 707 0077.

Join the conversation at #attackthegap

Embracing Change – the story so far

by Clair Mooney | 17 Sep, 2021 | Transformation

The FIS Conference has been focussing on levers for change in the construction sector, how we rechart a course and go through the gears to delivering a better construction product in a healthier and sustainable supply chain. Each week we are debating the levers and barriers to change and two of the five virtual roundtables that we are hosting are now available for members to “listen again”.

Key themes explored in our first session Building Trends in the finishes and interiors sector were how sustainable the recovery is, what is driving investment, regulatory change, how the office is really likely to change from a practical perspective and what this means to construction and how wider design and specification trends are likely to be impacting on future works. Without spoiling the ending, there was some cause for optimism from most of the panel.

In the second session A Path to Net Zero we explored whether sustainability is driving change and the pressure that is washing through the supply chain, focussing not just on how we react, but the need to be proactive as a supply chain. “Don’t wait” was a key message as was the theme, which is further developing through our upcoming sessions, “how do we collaborate outside of the project” and focus on what is important and we can change.

This week our focus was Shortages, Employment Models, Recruitment and Competence and we move to Procurement and Contracts next week and finish looking at Innovation in the finishes and interiors sector.

You can get early access and engage in the debate by booking your place here.

£31 billion of planned investment

by Clair Mooney | 16 Sep, 2021 | Main News Feed

Delivering on the commitment in the Construction Playbook, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has published the National Infrastructure and Construction Procurement Pipeline for 2021/22 setting out up to £31 billion of planned investment in economic and social infrastructure for the current financial year. It is the most comprehensive pipeline ever published and looks to build market confidence in the industry to invest in innovation and develop capability. Following feedback from the CLC, this year’s pipeline includes information on whether a project is part of a framework and if it is a consultancy or contracting opportunity. Looking ahead to the longer term, the pipeline also gives an overview of £650 billion of planned investment to 2030/31.

The IPA has also published Transforming Infrastructure Performance: Roadmap to 2030 which outlines how the Government intends to support the effective delivery of the pipeline by developing and adopting new technologies and ways of working and implementing the Construction Playbook.

Sector experts debate the benefits of flexible working

by Clair Mooney | 14 Sep, 2021 | Transformation

‘Worth more than pay’ – sector experts debate the benefits of flexible working

Demand for flexible working has grown in the wake of the pandemic, but does flexibility fit with construction, and can it ease the sector’s gender balance and skills issues? Recently Build UK Chief Executive Suzannah Nichol joined a Construction News roundtable to highlight how it is key to retaining a more diverse workforce.

Suzannah said:

“We keep talking about more diversity in construction but we’ve actually got to do things differently to make a difference”.

“It feels like we’ve been through a massive social experiment over the last 18 months and the virus crisis has instigated many conversations about people, processes and productivity “that we’re not generally very good at having in construction”.

You can read the full aticle at https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/agenda/worth-more-than-pay-sector-experts-debate-the-benefits-of-flexible-working-24-08-2021/

Build UK has created a toolkit to assist businesses in implementing flexible working across your business, which includes a 10‐point action plan that companies of all sizes can use.

Open Doors isn’t just a chance to Open Doors, but to engage with schools

by Clair Mooney | 14 Sep, 2021 | Main News Feed

Recruiting the next generation is vital if we are to maintain the pipeline of talent coming into the industry and one of the best ways to show young people the fantastic work we do is through Open Doors! This year’s event is now less than three weeks away and we are encouraging members to open up their sites, offices and other workplaces or to host an online event from Monday 4 ‐ Saturday 9 October.

There are already more than 140 events registered and if your organisation is yet to get involved what are you waiting for! Please help us to showcase the diverse range of opportunities the industry has to offer by uploading your sites and virtual events on the Open Doors website by next Friday 24 September.

If you can’t offer an event or Open a site, you can still get involved, below is an example of an email prepared by FIS that you could send to your local school (you can find the events near or accessible to you via this link).

I wanted to flag up an initiative that might be of interest to some of the kids at XX School. It is something we are supporting as a business to help young people to understand the opportunities in Construction.

Open Doors goes behind the site hoardings to showcase the fantastic range of careers available in construction. From Monday 4 until Saturday 9 October 2021, we will be offering site visits across the UK as well as a wide range of live virtual experiences, such as ‘meet the apprentice’.

So whether you are thinking about a new career or just curious to see how the buildings and structures in your community are constructed – Open Doors has something for you.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the industry and what it has to offer can book their place on any number of exciting events hosted by Build UK, its members and partners.

A site close to us that may be of particular interest is Millford Green – Net Zero Carbon Retirement Village. I checked the details and groups of up to 10 can go for a 90 minute visit. There are others that you can see through the website here.

Even if just something you can communicate to the kids as an opportunity would be much appreciated. There are an amazing array of careers in construction, in trade, professional and supporting roles, a big focus now is sustainable improvement and Millford Green will be a great insight into how this is playing out in the sector.

Remember to direct this email FAO of “Careers Lead” if you do not have a named person – remember every secondary school or FE College now must have a member of staff (teaching or non teaching) that is the main contact for careers information.

We urge all members to reach out to their local schools. There are a number of initiatives to support you, for example Build UK has produced a two-minute film encouraging members to become STEM Construction and Built Environment Ambassadors or Employers.

For FIS Careers Guidance click here – if you are involved in any schools outreach programmes or initiatives that have been successful or wish to discuss tactics for optimising your work in the local community, don’t hesitate to call FIS on 0121 707 0077 or email info@thefis.org

Are you are Net Zero Hero?

by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2021 | Sustainability

As part of Net Zero Week at the FIS we are supporting the ‘Heroes of Net Zero’ competition to find the UK’s best small businesses taking innovative steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The best entries will be invited to attend the COP26 international climate change summit in Glasgow on 2 November, where the winners will be announced and receive an exclusive prize package worth £4,500:

21 hours consultancy with an Energy Manager and one-year free access to ‘Business Energy Intelligence’ energy management platform, worth £3,500, from SSE;
Six hours of bespoke mentoring with a NatWest Enterprise Manager from its Climate Accelerator programme, helping winning businesses gain climate friendly skills in accessing new markets to attracting talent, and;
Up to £1,000 in vouchers to access a brand-new digital advertising support package from BT to grow your business

To take part in the Heroes of Net Zero competition, entrants must tell us in 200 words the exciting measures they have taken on the journey to net-zero. Reaching net-zero means the amount of greenhouse gases your business produces is no more than the amount taken away, eliminating all negative impact on the planet. Submissions can be made via an online form at the competition website.

The competition is open for entries from Thursday 9 September until 6 October, with judging happening during the week of 11 October.

The competition is open to businesses across the United Kingdom with fewer than 50 employees, the competition will be split into two categories:

Micro businesses – 1-9 employees
Small businesses – 10-50 employees

In order to enter the competition, businesses must first make a commitment at the UK Business Climate Hub to achieve net zero by 2050, in line with the Government’s own climate commitment.

The shortlist and winners in each category will be selected by judges Andrew Griffith MP, the UK’s Business Net Zero Champion, James Close from NatWest Group, Gabrielle Giner from BT, and Marta Smart from SSE.

FIS Members can recieve support in developing a carbon reduction plan via the FIS Sustainability Hub.

Members are being encouraged to share positive examples of carbon reduction on social media via #FISNetZeroChallenge

Each week in September FIS is theming around an element of transformation in construction via our Annual Conference: Embracing Change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector

Join the conversation #FISNetZeroChallenge.

Public sector to mandate Carbon Reduction Plans on all projects over £5 million

by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2021 | Sustainability

In a week themed with a focus on Net Zero in the Finishes and Interiors Sector, new and stricter guidelines have been revealed to focus attention on Carbon Reduction in Central Government contracts.

From 30 September 2021, contractors bidding for Central Government contracts worth more than £5 million a year will be required to provide a Carbon Reduction Plan, which confirms their commitment to achieving net zero by 2050 and sets out the environmental management measures they will have in place during the performance of the contract. Carbon Reduction 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 that contractors can use.

FIS Members can recieve support in developing a carbon reduction plan via the FIS Sustainability Hub.

Members are being encouraged to share positive examples of carbon reduction on social media via #FISNetZeroChallenge

Each week in September FIS is theming around an element of transformation in construction via our Annual Conference: Embracing Change in the Finishes and Interiors Sector

CPA and Barbour ABI collaborate to help identify hotspots and coldspots in regional construction

by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2021 | Market data

This new report, a collaboration between Barbour ABI and CPA, seeks to analyse construction contract awards at a high level of regional granularity, firstly to identify pockets of growth or contraction – hotspots and coldspots – in regional activity and secondly, to offer a forward-looking indication of growth by region and by sector.

The report identifies London remains the UK’s largest regional economy and construction gross value added (GVA) in 2019 (the latest available from the ONS) was £22.6 billion, accounting for 18.5% of the UK construction total. With a construction GVA of £19.4 billion, the South East accounts for a similar proportion of UK construction (15.7%).

Given the relative size of the London and South East economies, populations and concentration of the services-based industry, it is easy to think that the majority of construction work is taking place in these regions. By using ONS regional economic data, it becomes clear that despite its overall dominance, there were only three London sub-regions in the top ten largest local authority areas for construction activity in 2019: Camden and City of London, Harrow and Hillingdon, and Westminster. Similarly, two sub-regions in the South East feature in this ranking. However, it is Hertfordshire, in the East of England, that remains as the sub-region with the largest value of construction activity in 2019. The South West, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the East of England complete the top ten list, underscoring the fact that there are large areas of activity beyond the traditional engines of growth.

The full report can be downloaded by FIS Members here.

The latest information from Builders’ Conference shows that there were 454 contracts worth £4.7 billion awarded in August. Whilst this was lower than the previous month as the industry had its traditional and well‐deserved summer break, both the number and value of contracts awarded this August were higher than August 2020, indicating that construction’s recovery is holding steady. 41% of all the contracts awarded by value were housing (£1.9 billion), 16% were office projects (£754 million) and 9% were education projects (£407 million).

The number of tender opportunities was 22% down on July and remained 40% below the monthly average for the past year.

Manufacturers given time, but costs of Brexit could be significant

by Clair Mooney | 9 Sep, 2021 | Main News Feed

The Construction Products Association (CPA) has established a Working Group, supported by FIS, within the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) focussed on collaboration across the construction supply chain. The key aim is to ensure that there is consistent intepretation, clear understanding and effective communication with Government on how regulation and legislation are amended to manage transition.

At the end of October it was confirmed that manufacturers would be given an extra 12 months to prepare. This was communicated in the statement below from MHCLG (who have responsibility for aligning the Construction Products Regulations).

I am writing to let you know that Government has just announced plans to introduce legislation which will enable CE marked goods to continue being placed on the Great British market until 1 January 2023. Although we are in a different legislative situation for the construction products sector, this new date for the end of recognition of the CE mark in Great Britain will also apply to construction products. MHCLG have updated guidance on GOV.UK (GB and NI) for construction products to reflect this.

We have been working hard to support industry make the transition to the new UKCA regime and we are grateful for all the work the CPA have already done in order to facilitate business preparedness. However, we are aware that the pandemic continues to impact businesses, and this has made adapting to the new regime more challenging. As a result, we have decided to provide an additional year for businesses to adapt to UKCA requirements.

Whilst this is a welcome relief and allays initial concerns over capacity and availability of testing, it still does not address wider concerns related to mutual recognition of assessment and test reports that is creating a duplication of costs associated with testing and conformity assessment for the UK and the EU markets particularly for AVCP System 3 for CE marking (such as suspended ceilings and products requiring reaction to fire tests) which, according to interpretation now will require historic tests to be repeated.

To assist companies in managing change the Government has updated key parts of their Brexit guidance that impacts companies in the Finishes and Interiors Sector.

Using the UKCA marking – click here
Placing manufactured goods on the market in Great Britain – click here
Construction Products Regulation in Great Britain – click here
Construction Products Regulation in Northern Ireland – click here.

The Construction Products Association, through the working group, has produced a great summary of all outstanding issues impacting the construction sector and continute to work with MHCLG and the European Construction Products Association to find practical resolution you can view this summary here.

If you have any comments, examples or additions for this list, please send them to iainmcilwee@thefis.org or call the office on 0121 707 0077 if you want to understand better or discuss any aspects of the guidance or concerns being reaised.

You can visit the FIS Brexit Toolkit here.

CITB secures construction industry support for Levy proposals

by Clair Mooney | 8 Sep, 2021 | Skills

Construction employers have backed CITB’s Levy Proposals to support skills and training across England, Scotland and Wales, by way of the Consensus process.

The provisional result will now be taken to the Secretary of State for Education to make the final decision on the issue of a new, three-year Levy Order which, if approved, would be issued for 2022-2025. This will see the Levy continue at the following rates at 0.35% for PAYE and 1.25% for Net paid (Taxable) CIS Sub-contractors.

CITB will now get on with delivering this year’s Business Plan and working with industry to agree its forward plan. In doing so, it will listen to the feedback it received on how it can communicate its plans and impact more clearly and ensure its support is relevant, accessible and easily understood.

Overall, 66% or two thirds of the total number of Levy-paying employers agreed to the proposals, with 63% agreeing when measured by the total amount of Levy paid. This result was based on submissions from the 14 Prescribed Organisations (trade bodies representing employers across the industry) and an independent survey of 4,000 employers who were not members of POs. Eleven of the 14 Prescribed Organisations supported the Levy Proposals.

Apprenticeships and Skills Minister Gillian Keegan said:

“My thanks go out to both the staff at the CITB for facilitating a complex process and to the employers, other members and reps for your active participation.

“This last 18 months have been unusually challenging for the construction sector and that is why the CITB decided to delay the consensus process from 2020 to 2021. I recognise that Covid-19, one of the key factors for the postponement, has not gone away. Therefore the sector’s willingness to engage with the CITB is even more valuable.

“The next step in the process to progress the Levy Proposals towards a Levy Order now rests with me, before doing so I will be considering the Proposals in detail.

“I know that the CITB will relish returning its entire focus to delivering skills provision for the construction sector at a time when it is more crucial than ever. I also want to welcome Tim Balcon in his new role as CITB CEO from 1 October and thank Sarah Beale for the great work she has done for many years in leading the CITB.”

Peter Lauener, CITB Chair, said:

“Construction has been through a tremendously difficult couple of years. CITB moved quickly to support employers by freezing Levy collection last year, cutting bills by half this year, and putting the right support in place.

“We will carry on with delivering our current plans and get started with shaping our future ones. I want to thank everyone who participated in the Consensus process this year – your input is invaluable and will help shape CITB’s support for you in future.”

Sarah Beale, outgoing CITB Chief Executive, said:

“At an extremely tough time, construction employers have demonstrated that they still believe that the Levy and grant system is critical in addressing the industry’s skill needs and their support for the Levy Proposals. In developing our future plans, we will listen hard to what employers told us in how we can ensure that the Levy works for them and provides support that is relevant, easy to understand and accessible.”

Tim Balcon, new CITB Chief Executive, said:

“It’s good that so much of what employers are asking for is already in the Business Plan, so we need to make support easier to access and understand and to keep the sector better informed.

“CITB is committed to maximising the value of the Levy for employers, providing practical and financial support for everyday training needs as well as tackling long-term skills needs.”

Commenting on the announcement, FIS CEO Iain McIlwee said:

“This is clearly not what the majority of our members voted for, but we now need to focus on the positives and start looking at how we work better with CITB as a sector to increase our levy utilisation. Whilst the FIS was one of the three prescribed organisations to vote “No”, we did see a higher proportion of members claiming levy in this return and supporting concensus and there is recognition in CITB that there are clear priorities to mobilise resources more effectively to support the growing skills shortages that we face in the finishes and interiors sector. We will continue to offer our free one to one skills clinics to members that focus on reviewing your levy return and ensuring that you are getting all you are entitled through the process and focussing all our efforts on how we can better utilise our levy to attack the shortages that are emerging in key areas.”

Details of the FIS vote are available here

To access the FIS Skills Hubs click here

View the official letter from CITB

For a summary on all FIS Campaign to Attack Skills Shortages click here

FIS and Supply Chain Sustainability School Collaborate to start Net Zero Journeys

by Clair Mooney | 8 Sep, 2021 | Main News Feed, 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

FIS Board Member Phil Brown from Meronden Ltd who has been supporting the FIS Sustainability Working Group said:

“In our supply chain there is a growing understanding, not only of our responsibilities, but also the potential of the sector to support change. Our Working Group really starts with a focus on helping individual businesses in the sector to take the first and identify the next step to being better in terms of sustainability. In the true sense of sustainability there is absolutely no point in reinventing the wheel. The collaboration with Supply Chain Sustainability School was quickly identified as a priority, the School has a amazing wealth of resource that can help educate and inform our supply chain and we just needed as a first stage to curate this and help set up some suggested learning pathways. This launch is the first step, but we have ambitious plans together to develop the content and with it the understanding of sustainability through our supply chain.”

Graham Edgell of Morgan Sindall who is a Board Member of the Supply Chain Sustainability School added

“Collaboration is key to driving change. The School exemplifies this with an open source approach that makes content, developed by experts, available to all. It is great that we have teamed up with FIS, one of the more dynamic bodies in our sector and a key sector within construction to really help drive knowledge and capability on sustainability issues. With an improved understanding of the issues we can all individually and collectively help companies and the sector deliver more sustainable outcomes and play our part in the CLC CO₂nstruct Zero programme and the national Net Zero effort”.

With construction accounting for 40% of UK carbon consumption, the construction industry is critical to supporting the UK Net Zero Effort. The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Roadmap to Recovery has laid out proposals to secure the future of construction businesses nationwide, while setting the industry on a sustainable path towards recovery. The goal of the strategy is to:

Improve design, product selection and manufacturing and construction processes to deliver built assets that achieve a 50% reduction in greenhouse gases as part of the pathway towards net zero.

With the finishes and interiors sector estimated to be responsible for 40% of energy consumed by a building and an estimated 300 tonnes of fit-out materials going to landfill every day, FIS is working to rally the sector and, in addition to work with the Schoo,l has recently signed up as a partner organisation to support the delivery of the Co₂nstruct Zero strategy.

You can view the Finishes and Interiors Sustainability Virtual Training here Finishes & Interiors | Supply Chain Sustainability School (supplychainschool.co.uk)

You can visit the FIS Sustainability Hub here.

FIS Virtual Conference - A Path to Net Zero

Join us on 8 September at midday as we discuss the path to net zero.

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. The Prime Minister has subsequently pledged that the UK will “Build Back Greener” with 2021 being the “defining year of climate action”. But what does all this actually mean to projects in the finishes and interiors sector.

Our three keynote speakers will cover:

Net Zero and the impact on Design – Adam Strudwick, Principal, Corporate Interiors, London, Perkins&Will
How Net Zero will impact construction procurement decisions – Anna Baker, Head of Sustainability, Carey Group
Net Zero, how to bring a focus to support change on your projects – Elina Grigoriou FRSA HonRICS, Design & Sustainability Director, Grigoriou Interiors

Once the keynotes are complete, a debate will be facilitated by Damon Schunmann, a freelance journalist and Strategic Consultant to Barbour ABI, and our speakers will be joined on the panel by representatives of the FIS Board.